Oxford City 4 Blues 2

Leiston were looking to progress to the Fourth Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup for the second year on the trot. Robert Eagle replaced Dominic Docherty in the starting eleven while Kyle Hammond was still out injured for the visitors.

Leiston started off the brighter side and deservedly took the lead after just six minutes. Byron Lawrence had some space outside the penalty area and his fierce strike deflected off an Oxford City player, wrong footing home custodian Jack Stevens and ending up in his bottom right hand corner. Leiston had another chance just moments later when Christy Finch's cross was blocked, which resulted in Chris Henderson firing over the crossbar. Ezra Forde had the hosts firsts effort on goal but Marcus Garnham was out well to deny him. However, from the corner that followed, Joe Oastler headed in to level the scores. Jack Ainsley headed wide from a corner before Robert Eagle's delivery from the left was easily gathered by Stevens. Another good ball by Robert Eagle was missed by Matt Blake and Joe Marsden hit into the side netting. Marcus Garnham did well to punch away a free kick and a short while later spread himself well to smoother Matt Paterson's effort away for a corner. The final attempt of note in the half fell to Joe Marsden, but he fired over from twenty five yards.

Leiston started the second half well and had chances. The first was from a Christy Finch's cross which was well cleared by Joe Oastler. Another good chance came when Robert Eagle set up Christy Finch whose ball into the box was cleared to Seb Dunbar but he volleyed well over. Christy Finch shot low on the angle of the box but it just went wide of Stevens' left hand post. Oxford City substitute Jack Tutton headed wide before Dave Pearce's strike was well handled by Marcus Garnham. With just over twenty minutes of the match remaining, Marcus Garnham had to be replaced by Harry Lay-Fulcher in the away goal due to a calf injury. Good interlink play between Byron Lawrence, Matt Blake and Regan Pelling ended with the latter firing at Stevens. Leiston regained the lead in the 73rd minute when Matt Blake got in behind the home defence to side foot home on his right foot off the inside of the post to send the away team into raptures. But Oxford equalised for a second time when Dave Pearce slotted past Harry Lay-Fulcher into his bottom right hand corner just nine minutes from time. Leiston had a shot from Byron Lawrence that was saved, before Oxford came on strong and after Tom Bullard and Jack Ainsley did well to block shots on the edge of the area, Leiston could not hold on and conceded in the 93rd minute when Ezra Forde back-heeled from close range after good build up play to give them the lead. And in the final minute of stoppages, Oxford capitalised on a mistake at the back and Rob Sinclair took advantage to round off proceedings to net a fourth which was very harsh on the visitors.

FT - Oxford City 4 Blues 2

Oxford City - Stevens, Jones, Navarro, Fofana, Poku, Oastler, Forde, Sinclair, Paterson (Tutton 53 mins), McEachran, Pearce. Subs not used - Khawaja, Agyakwa and Landers.

Blues - Garnham (Lay-Fulcher 69 mins), Ainsley, Dunbar, Marsden (Pelling 56 mins), Jefford, Bullard, Lawrence, Henderson, Blake, Finch, Eagle (Docherty 85 mins). Subs not used - Brothers, Ford and Saker.

Man of the Match - Tom Bullard

Attendance - 185