Blues Reserves beaten heavily at home.

Blues Reserves beaten heavily at home.

Leiston FC Reserves were comfortably beaten 5-1 at home by Stowmarket Town on Wednesday evening. Jerome Haynes scored Leiston’s only in a comfortable victory for the visitors in the Thurlow Nunn Division 1.

Leiston were without Josh Merrit, who had played for the first team the night previous and Jarvis Levett through injury, whilst Stowmarket welcomed back three of their key players from injury, including captain Ben Garnham.

The visitors started brightly in the slippery and wet conditions and forced their first corner after 5 minutes. The ball was floated in from the left and the attacker was left with a free header which was well blocked by home keeper Vincent. The home defence had two chances to clear the ball which they were unable to do and Stow Captain Ben Garnham fired low from the edge of the box to give the visitors an early lead.

It could and really should have been two only moments later after good work down the right but the forward could only fire high into Suffolk night.

Leiston forced their first corner on 10 minutes as they looked to get a foothold in the game. There was some nice passes and touches, particularly by the two Haynes’ for Leiston and Velzian had the first attempt on target which was easily gathered by Stow keeper McCarrick.

On 22 minutes Stowmarket doubled their advantage. Nuno was in possession for Leiston midway inside the Stowmarket half when he felt he was fouled. The ref allowed play to continue and Tom Bradlaugh broke down the right and was able to pick out Josh Cheetham with a low ball across the box and he had the simplest of tasks to find the back of the net to make it 2-0.

Ben Vincent denied the same player a couple of minutes later with a save from close range as the visitors ceased the initiative. At this point there was only 1 winner but credit to Leiston who forged their first meaningful attempt on goal on 28 minutes. Danny Block held up the ball well and produced a lovely pass to split the defence. Nuno broke through to latch onto it but the vocal Stow keeper was quick to close him down and block the low driven strike.

Ryan Noy was lively for Leiston down the right hand side as was Jerome Haynes in the centre of the park, but Leiston lacked shape and silly mistakes was gifting possession to their opponents. It was a fairly evenly contested first half, although Stow were worthy of their 2-0 half time lead.

Leiston’s Noy had a real opportunity to reduce the arrears with the 2nd half only a minute old. A cross from the left by Nuno found the head of the Leiston winger but he couldn’t make any significant contact to trouble McCarrick.

Stow made it 3-0 on 51 minutes. A defensive mix up left keeper Vincent running and stretching to get to the ball first but his clearance fell to the feet of Cheetham who calmly controlled and chipped into the empty net from 30+ yards. Stowmarket had a decent shout for a penalty turned down but they continued to control the flow of the game.

On 70 minutes Wayne Proctor for Stowmarket showed some quick feet and good skill to skip past the defender and fire a half volley that cannoned onto the Leiston bar and away to safety. The visitors only had to wait a couple of minutes to make it 4 however as they once again broke through the Leiston back line and coolly slotting home, Tom Bradlaugh this time the scorer.

Leiston grabbed their consolation on 82 minutes after good work by Ryan Noy down the right hand side, crossed for Jerome Haynes to slot home coolly. A very similar goal to Stowmarket’s first. Noy had the chance to grab a second on 88 but a good save denied him and there was no one following up behind.

Stowmarket wrapped up their win in the 95th minute, substitute Ben License sliding the ball home to make it 5.

FT – Leiston Reserves 1 Stowmarket Town 5

Leiston: Vincent, Horner (Johnson 51), Jermaine Haynes, Bell, Thickett, Keeble, Noy, Valzian (Leitao 67), Block (Saunders 67), Jerome Haynes, Nogueria Subs not used: Spurgeon, Nicholls

Att: 26