Blues 5 Hendon 0

Leiston finally returned to Victory Road after seven away games in a row, with Hendon being the visitors in this FA Trophy First Qualifying Round game writes Ollie Fairs. The Blues were forced into making three changes from the team that drew with Grays Athletic in midweek due to Jack Ainsley and Byron Lawrence being suspended and Joe Francis having picked up an injury in a MATCH SPONSORED BY POWERCLEAN CHEMICALS LIMITED. Blake Saker, Matt Blake and Regan Pelling were given the go ahead and started in the place of the injured and suspended players. The start of the first half was a very even affair which both teams creating chances. Matt Blake was a constant threat for Leiston and was always looking to make runs in behind as well as being a threat in the air from crosses and corners. Hendon started the half with a clear game plan to retain possession and give Leiston as little time on the ball as possible. This tactic worked well for them in a very positive ten minute spell in which the highlight was a well worked move that ended in Spencer McCall putting his shot over the bar. However, Leiston managed to work their way back into the game and created a great chance from a Christy Finch cross that Matt Blake side footed towards goal, but it was just a bit too high. The Blues managed to break the deadlock in 21st minute when a Leiston corner lead to the ball pinballing around the box until it eventually fell to Matt Blake who calmly headed it into the bottom corner to make it 1-0. Then, in the 30th minute a Seb Dunbar foul lead to a moment of madness with players from both teams starting a confrontation in the box which led to the Hendon’s Casey Maclaren picking up his second yellow card of the game, leaving his side down to 10 men. Leiston certainly made the most of their one man advantage with chances coming thick and fast. The inevitable happened after 40 minutes when Seb Dunbar floated a ball over the shoulder of Matt Blake who plucked it out of the air superbly before hammering it past the Hendon keeper to claim his and Leiston’s second goal of the game. That was not it for the first half as in the final minute of normal time Christy Finch found himself free in the box when the ball was floated into him off visiting defender Chris Seeby, which he volleyed through the bodies and into the back of the net to leave Leiston 3-0 up at the break. Leiston looked to start the second half just as they finished the first when Hendon keeper Billy Collings palmed a shot into the path of Ollie Brown who then laid it off to Regan Pelling who could only place his shot over the bar. The Blue continued to create chances and left Hendon with very few opportunities to get forward. Hendon's best moments in the second half came through Finbarr Robins who’s shot from the edge of the box was tipped over the bar by Jacob Marsden and a few minutes later he was called on again when he pushed a Spencer McCall free kick onto the crossbar. Leiston then scored their fourth of the game when Seb Dunbar headed the ball high into the box and Christy Finch did well to old off his man before bringing the ball down under pressure and finishing it off under pressure. Adam Blades was brought off the bench and almost got a goal of his own when he forced the Hendon keeper into making a fantastic save after he got on the end of a Christy Finch cut back. Leiston were very much dominant for the remainder of the game and looked comfortable throughout. Gareth Heath finished off a tremendous Leiston performance in the 87th minute when he placed a Adam Blades cut back into the bottom corner of the net to make the final score 5-0 to the Blues.

FT - Blues 5 Hendon 0

Blues - Marsden, Brown (Hutchings 59 mins), Dunbar (Ottley-Gooch 69 mins), Brothers, Jefford, Bullard, Saker, Heath, Blake (Blades 66 mins), Finch, Pelling. Subs not used - Winter and Potter.

Hendon - Collings, Seeby (Vassell 46 mins) , Balogun, Tingey, Lee, Maclaren, Murphy, McCall, Muir, Cole (Ibe 66 mins), Robins (Milenge 73 mins). Subs not used - Sprague and Diedhiou.

Match Sponsors POWERCLEAN CHEMICALS LIMITED Man of the Match - Christy Finch

Attendance - 173