Match Information
BOSTIK League Premier Division
Blues v Billericay Town
Saturday, February 17th 2018
Kick Off 3pm
LTAA, Victory Road, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4DQ
Tel: 01728 830308

Admission charges
Adults £10
Concessions £7
Students (with ID) £5
Under 16’s Free

Matchday Programme £2

Car Parking (free of charge)
Main Car Park and overspill car park available (weather depending)

Catering Information
Large bars, Internal and external catering facilities with hot and cold food

MATCH SPONSOR – MARQUIS MOTORHOMES
MATCH BALL SPONSOR – GERALD BRAY

Match Preview
Game thirty three. Well just like the film staring Bill Murray February is fast becoming Leiston’s very own Groundhog Day or rather month! This will be the third game this month and two defeats have ensued to date and it doesn’t come much harder this weekend to arrest a run of three successive home defeats as well as leaders Billericay Town are the visitors. In the previous three seasons the best run in February has been 8 points from a possible 18 back in 2014/15 so February repeatedly continues to be a difficult month to pick up points. With the season now heading towards its final quarter if the Blues wish to play a part in the end of season play offs they need to start another winning run.

If the visit of Billericay Town isn’t hard enough, the Blues also have an impressive home record to defend against the Essex side. Of the four previous games the Blues have won two and drawn two and in mid January last year the Blues were victorious here 4-1 just as Billericay were starting their transformation. Their timeline over the past twelve months has been well documented and as well as looking odds on for the Bostik Premier Division title, who would bet against them clinching a place at Wembley in the FA Trophy? A Quarter Final date next Saturday awaits them against Wealdstone after knocking out higher ranked Harrogate Town in the last round and with the semi-finals over two legs, it is a definite possibility. As well as plenty of activity on the field with player movements, owner and boss Glenn Tamplin has transformed the New Lodge ground to a very impressive non League arena as they aim for the Football League. On Tuesday Billericay extended their lead at the top of the table to four points with a thumping 5-0 win over Lowestoft Town.

While the Blues boast an impressive home record, at Billericay’s New Lodge it’s a different story. In all, six visits, six defeats. Back in December the Blues were defeated 4-0 but last time here in January 2017 the Blues fought back from an early Chris Assombalonga goal to impressively score four times with two goals from Matt Blake and one each from Ollie Brown and Niko Muir in front of 272. The sides have also met twice in cup competitions. Leiston victorious in the Ryman League Cup in 2011, Billericay in the FA Cup in 2014.

After the disappointing defeats at Merstham and Hendon, now come two very important games against the top side and a side in third, Margate on Tuesday night. Blues boss Glenn Driver will be hoping for a change in fortunes not only to kick start the play off push but to end the February ‘Groundhog Day’ tag.