Reserves 2 Woodbridge Town 6

Customary weather report to start. A fine bright, sunny August evening with the sun just beginning to dip below the West Stand. And so to the game. Yet again we conceded within the opening minutes, albeit somewhat disputed. Further controversy surrounded the visitor’s second goal with several issues in doubt. Was the ball kicked out of Harry’s hands? Did it cross the goal line? Were there any other fouls? No, yes and no were the Referee’s opinions. In a niggly game our first chance came with a Kevin Inglis freekick which was comfortably saved by the ‘keeper. On a about the half hour mark Tom Mansfield picked up his first booking of the season for pulling back an opponent. As the half entered the last 10 minutes Adam Blades forced a corner, following a save on the line, Blake Saker saw his shot deflect for another corner which was comfortably dealt with by the defence. Lewis Bell joined Tom in the Referee’s notebook and Ryan Sharman had a good shot saved after good build up. The half finished with our crossbar being rattled by a fierce drive.

Another poor start to a half saw us fall further behind to the best goal of the evening, with the player cutting in from the right leaving two of our defenders in his wake before unleashing a left foot shot low into the net. Within a minute we were given a lifeline when Adam Blades was fouled at a corner, with the same player scoring from the penalty spot. Kevin Inglis became our third player to exercise the Referee’s writing shortly afterwards. Our first substitutions saw Louis Bloom replace Deivydas and Joe Berry come on for Ryan Sharman. However almost immediately the visitors restored their three goal advantage when a cross-come-shot found its way into the net at the far post. Kevin Inglis got his marching orders in the 75th minute following a second yellow card. Down to 10 men the lead was again reduced to two when Louis Bloom fired a left foot shot from outside the box low to the ‘keeper’s right into the back of the net. Again almost immediately the lead was stretched to three following a converted penalty after Harry Lay-Fulcher had brought down an attacker. A foul for which he was surprisingly not booked but which summed up the Referee’s below par performance. The scoring was completed in the last minute, a scramble in the penalty area saw the ball break loose to offer the easiest of tap ins at the far post.

FT - Leiston Reserves 2 Woodbridge Town 6