Aylesbury 1 Blues 3

Leiston took a break from League duties and made the trip to Buckinghamshire on Saturday to face Aylesbury in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round. Leiston welcomed back Matt Blake, Chris Henderson and Patrick Brothers into the squad who all missed the Bank Holiday victory at Lowestoft while Christy Finch was missing (holiday).

On a fine and sunny September afternoon Leiston started in lethargic fashion, struggling to get going from the first whistle and were on the back foot for the first fifteen minutes. Leiston's first chance was created by a cross on the half volley by Matt Blake and Chris Henderson met the ball in the area but his effort flew over the bar. After the hosts had forced a corner, the resultant ball was met by Scott but Marcus Garnham made a good diving save and then did well to stop the follow up. This led to a Leiston attack almost immediately and after Matt Blake was sent through on goal his shot was saved by Weatherill in the home goal. Leiston had another good move that ended with Robert Eagle firing in a shot but it was well gathered. Six minutes before the interval the visitors broke the deadlock and it was a tremendous strike to break the deadlock. There looked little danger when Byron Lawrence collected a ball in a central position but he unleashed a tremendous strike that flew high into the net giving Weatherill no chance in the home goal.

Early in the second half Leiston all but sealed the tie with two goals in three minutes. Dominic Docherty headed in the second and his first Leiston goal, on the end of a Robert Eagle free kick he headed home unchallenged. Three minutes later Seb Dunbar's angled drive gave Weatherill no chance low to his left. A handful of substitutions broke the play up but just after the hour mark Marcus Garnham made a great double save to deny Goss then B Haule as the home side tried to find a way back into the game. As the game entered the final fifteen minutes the home side were given a lifeline as Montgomery bundled home after Goss' effort was parried by Marcus Garnham. Protecting a two goal lead the visitors almost made the closing stages a lot more difficult when Dominic Docherty was dismissed after pulling down Montgomery after the Aylesbury midfielder had intercepted Marcus Garnham's throw. The resulting free kick was safely saved and while Aylesbury had a couple of half chances, the ten men comfortably saw out time to book their place in the Second Qualifying Round draw.

FT - Aylesbury 1 Blues 3

Aylesbury - Weatherill, Goss, Marsden (D Haule 61 mins), Montgomery, J Jenkins, Stevens, Schmidt, Prosper (Brown 69 mins), B Haule, Almond (Fitzgerald 69 mins), Scott. Subs not used - A Jenkins, D Feyi, Deacon and K Feyi.

Blues - Garnham, Hammond, Dunbar (Jefford 65 mins), Marsden (Ford 73 mins), Ainsley, Bullard, Lawrence (Pelling 66 mins), Henderson, Blake, Eagle, Docherty. Subs not used - Brothers and Lay-Fulcher.

Man of the Match - Tom Bullard

Attendance - 109