Blues 1 Corinthian Casuals 2

Leiston suffered last minute FA Trophy heartache as Corinthian Casuals snatched a last gasp winner to dump the Blues out of the competition writes Mark Barber. Terry Murray was the heroes for Casuals, pouncing to turn the ball home after Joe Francis’ penalty had cancelled out Emmanuel Akokhia’s 18th minute opener in a match sponsored by Cracknell Properties Limited. In awful conditions at Victory Road Leiston started the game without the suspended Seb Dunbar and injured Tom Bullard in defence whilst earlier in the week striker John Sands had departed for Boston United. The away side set out their stall to get about the Leiston players, committing three fouls in the opening minute and a half but it was their quick passing football that soon caught the eye with their first chance coming on six minutes Sekou Kaba eventually getting his shot away after two initial efforts from King and Akokhia were blocked. Leiston came back into the game shortly after trying to forge some chances of their own but Billy Clark’s low driven cross after some good interplay was smothered by Danny Bracken in the away goal. The breakthrough came on 18 minutes. Emmanuel Akokhia received the ball from Cherno Mendy inside the Leiston penalty area and he had time to turn and get his shot away. A wicked deflection to it up and over Ashlee Jones and it found the back of the net via the inside of the left hand upright. The visitors continued to frustrate the home team but Leiston did equalise on 33 minutes, against the run of play. Poor defending in the Casuals’ left back area gave Leiston a cheap throw. The ball was worked to Gareth Heath, whose delightful reverse pass cut open the Casuals’ defence and released Tom Winter. Winter got to the ball before Bracken and went down under the keeper’s challenge. Referee Rick Bloy pointed to the penalty spot and Joe Francis stepped up to confidently stroke the home side level. Leiston could have taken an undeserved lead into the break. A Billy Clark corner from the left was cleared back out to the wide man and his deep cross was met by Leon Ottley-Gooch whose downward header went wide of the post.

HT - Blues 1 Corinthian Casuals 1

The second half was notable mainly for the monsoon like weather conditions. The heavens opened at half time and the heavy rain persisted for the rest of the game. This made playing conditions very difficult and both sides struggled to adapt. It was perhaps Leiston who had the better of the play with the wind at their backs, having been outplayed for most of the first half. On 63 minutes a mixture of the conditions and high Casual’s pressing caught Leiston out, passing at the back but they couldn’t fashion a meaningful chance from the break. The Blues pressed and after a Joe Francis shot from distance went close a better chance came on 75 minutes when Danny Cunningham found Joe Francis wide left and he beat his man and delivered an excellent cross which was met first time by the head of Tom Winter who rose well but Bracken was equal to the task to turn the ball over the bar. With three minutes of time added on it looked like we were set for a Tuesday night replay. Corinthians had other ideas however and Juevan Spencer was allowed to reach the by-line down the left hand side and was fouled right on the edge of the box. This free kick in a dangerous area had an ominous sense around it for home supporters, whilst the Casuals supporters behind the goal were willing the ball home. Spencer took the free kick himself and it was Murray who got the final touch to turn the ball home to spark mass celebrations from all connected with Casuals.

FT - Blues 1 Corinthian Casuals 2

Blues - Jones, Saker, Brothers, Ottley-Gooch, Jefford, Boardley, Clark (Finch 68 mins), Heath, Winter, Cunningham, Francis. Subs not used - Taylor, Bullard, Trotter and Rossis.

Corinthian Casuals - Bracken, Morgan, Hodges, Dudley, Murray, King, Serbony, Kaba, Emmanuel Akokhia (Joseph 82 mins), Mendy (Reece
94 mins), Spencer. Subs not used - Defoe, Cotton and Petriaggi.

Match sponsors Cracknell Properties Limited Man of the Match - Danny Cunningham

Attendance - 185