High-flying Leiston are back at Victory Road on Saturday afternoon with this season’s FA Cup giant-killers, Alvechurch the opposition in Southern League action (3pm).

The Blues are now genuine contenders for promotion from the Premier Central division to the National League Step 2, sitting three points off leaders Tamworth (who lost 0-3 to Stourbridge in midweek). Leiston have three games in hand.

No-one is getting carried away at Victory Road, but Leiston are starting to make waves, as vice-captain Jake Hutchings admits.

“The feeling in the camp is good,” he said. “But we’re being humble about it, taking it game by game.

“It’s been nice being the underdogs for most of the season, not being taken too seriously. But we knew we are a good side, have good players in the dressing room. Now people are starting to take a bit of notice of us.”

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Leiston fans could be in for a goal-fest with Alvechurch being the visitors. Already the two sides have met twice, once at Alvechurch in the league (3-3) and once at Victory Road in the FA Trophy (4-3 to Leiston).

The Worcestershire-based side hit the headlines earlier this season after dumping out League One Cheltenham in the FA Cup first round, before narrowly losing to another League One side, Forest Green Rovers, in round two.

However, they remain in the bottom four of the table, but have games in hand.

“They are certainly in a false position,” Hutchings added. “Their FA Cup run has meant they are playing catch up with league games. We won’t be taking them lightly.

“The two games we have played have certainly been entertaining though.”

In-form Leiston are on a run of five straight league wins, with Hutchings having netted the winner at Bedford last weekend.

“It was nice to get that,” he said. “I always think goals should come from all parts of the pitch and, even as a defender, I set myself a target of six or seven. I’ve already got four, so I’m getting there.”

Hutchings and Leiston are certainly in good form and with a new 3G Community Project pitch being set to take over the current grass pitch in the summer, it’s all systems go at Victory Road.

Jake Hutchings is sponsored by Alan Crane