Two First half goals enough to sink Blues

Leiston FC Reserves 0 AFC Sudbury Reserves 2

Leiston FC Reserves lost their opening match of the Thurlow Nunn Divison 1 season at home to AFC Sudbury reserves on Friday evening.

It was the away side who settled into the game better, looking to get forward and cause problems for the home defence. Two dangerous balls were driven low across the Leiston area in the first 5 minutes and Leiston produced some sloppy passing gifting the visitor’s possession.

It was the visitors who went ahead after 8 minutes. The ball was worked down the Sudbury right and was swung in with pace. Leiston keeper Nick Whiting went to punch the ball clear, but wasn’t able to make sufficient contact on the ball. It fell to an attacking player who was bundled to the ground by Kurtis Thickett and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Sudbury Captain Scott Kemp calmly tucked the ball away to score the first goal of the Thurlow Nunn Division 1 season.

This spurred the visitors on and on 15 minutes they were awarded a free kick 25 yards out after a mistimed challenge by Blues left back Dan Keeble. Former Leiston midfielder Franco Mallardo whipped the free kick with his left foot and it somehow found its way into the back of the net past the despairing Whiting, who will be disappointed not to have kept it out.

Leiston rallied and had a goal disallowed for offside but it was still the visitors creating the better of the chances and produced a series of corners midway through the first half to keep Leiston pinned back. Leiston’s first shot on target came on 34 minutes but it was easily gathered by the vocal Louis Johnson in the away goal.

HT Leiston Reserves 0 AFC Sudbury Reserves 2

Leiston started the better in the second half and it was only a minute old when Toby Kerslake hit a good free kick that the keeper made look easier than it was to collect.

Neither side were creating much at this point but Leiston certainly came back into the game more, forcing a series of corners on the hour mark after good work by Danny Block and Kyle Horner down the right. It took 68 minutes for Block to break through the Sudbury line of defence and have his first sight of goal but he couldn’t produce anything to worry Johnson.

Leiston were doing more of the probing as the game went on and Nicholls showed good feet to dance past 2, but his shot could only find the side netting. Leiston’s best chance in the closing stages came right at the death but the header was flashed over the bar.

This wasn’t the greatest spectacle that Victory Road will host this season and quality was at a premium for both sides but the young players showed moments of promise and no doubt will gather confidence and experience as the season progresses.

FT Leiston Reserves 0 AFC Sudbury Reserves 2

Leiston FC Reserves: Whiting, Horner, Keeble, Bell, Levett, Thickett, Noy, Kerslake, Block, Haynes, Nicholls. Subs Sprague (for Haynes 51), Valzian (for Thicket 60) Saunders, Stephenson (for Kerslake 89)

ATT: 109