Reserves 5 Needham Market Reserves 2

Leiston welcomed Needham Market to Victory Road for their first league game for three weeks writes Craig Cooper. Although there had been plenty of rain on the day and a couple of days before hand the pitch had withstood the water and it was given the go ahead. Leiston started off well and within three minutes forced a corner with the resulting corner seeing a shot cleared off the line. Kevin Inglis, who was playing for the first team ten years ago, then had a free kick that whistled just wide of the away side’s upright. Needham were trying to push forward as well and Ben Vincent made a couple of neat stops. The deadlock was finally broken in the thirteenth minute with Tom Winter finding space down the left and crossing for Kelsey Trotter whose effort struck the post but the ball fell invitingly to Aaron Thurlow who made no mistake to fire home the opener. Needham went close moments later when a free kick just went wide of Ben Vincent’s goal. Leiston created a good opening halfway through the half when Tom Winter went clean through but he steered his left footed effort just wide of Hursey’s right hand post. Leiston were beginning to dominate now and doubled their lead just after the half hour mark. A free kick about twenty yards out was fired low under the wall to find its way into the bottom right hand corner by Jack Baker. It was three moments after as Aaron Thurlow again was on target to pounce and supply a cool finish. A minute from the end of the first half Toby Kerslake weaved his way into the box and calmly lifted the ball high into the goal. Leiston were playing very well now and Needham were pleased when the half came to an end.

HT - Leiston Reserves 4 Needham Market Reserves 0

Needham came out for the second half playing with more freedom. Leiston at the same time became a bit sloppy and received a couple of silly bookings. Both teams made some substitutions and this seemed to affect the home team. Both Ben Vincent and Hursey had to make a couple of sharp stops before Needham did finally pull a goal back. A corner from the right was delivered to Adam Mills who fired high into the roof of the net with the home bench applauding the quality fnish. With around twenty minutes to go Kevin Inglis made a cycnical challenge leaving the Referee no choice but to give him a second yellow and send him off. Moments later Adam Mills was at it again this time brilliantly looping a shot over the stranded Ben Vincent for his and the visitors second. Now Leiston were looking a little nervous on the ball and Ben Vincent had to tip over from another long range effort. Mills and Smith both looked lively and saw shots clear the home bar. Leiston responded and saw an effort strike the bar before Tom Winter saw an effort well saved. Tom Winter wasnt to be denied and in the second minute of stoppages he found space down the left and curled his shot into the top left hand corner for the fifth home goal. There was barely time to restart the match as the Referee blew for full time.

FT - Leiston Reserves 5 Needham Market Reserves 2

Blues - Vincent, Clarke, Canham, Inglis, Bell, Kerslake, Trotter, Howlett (Sprague 68 mins), Thurlow (Hamilton 66 mins), Winter, Baker (Young 61 mins). Subs not used - Spurgeon and Goodwin.

Needham Market - Hursey, Aldridge, Barrowcliffe, Gittens (Booth 54 mins), O’Donoghe, McLaughlin, Ferguson (Ferguson 66 mins), Baxter, Smith, Bannister, Mills. Subs not used - Turner, Hynard and Sarro-Haire.

Man of the Match - Lloyd Clarke

Attendance - 49