Blues U18's 5 Hadleigh United U18's 3

The U18’s welcomed Hadleigh United to Victory Road on Wednesday evening in the FA Youth Cup Preliminary Round, looking for a better scoreline than the 2-0 defeat they suffered to the visitors on the opening game of the season writes Craig Cooper. Having beaten Stowmarket 6-0 the week before Leiston came into the game in confident mood. The game started off very even however, Hadleigh took an early lead when their striker netted after a rare fumble from Charlie Beckwith. This goal though seemed to rejuvenate the home side and after shot from Blades that went straight at the keeper and a Harry Burman free-kick, the hosts levelled. A great ball down the wing allowed Harry Burman to run into space and send a great cross which Jac Garrard diverted past the keeper. Shortly after Leiston took the lead when this time Garrard got away from his marker to send yet another super ball into the box where Adam Blades would this time dispatch another aerial attempt, scoring his third goal of the season in the process. Hadleigh were also playing some nice football themselves and got in behind the Leiston defence a couple of times only for Mansfield and Norman to be in fine form. The third goal did arrive before the interval and once again Jac Garrard would turn provider with yet another sublime cross with Blades once again getting across his marker and powering a header beyond the keeper giving him no chance. Blades could have had a hat-trick by the interval after another neat move, but this time his right foot shot went wide of the left hand post.

HT - Blues U18’s 3 Hadleigh United U18’s 1

The tempo and high pressing that Leiston had shown in the first half carried into the start of the second period and once again a goal would come from a header. Jac Garrard’s corner was fizzed into the six yard box making it difficult to deal with and Harry Burman was on the end of it to what looked like would kill the game off and seal the passage into the next round. But Hadleigh were not going to give up easily though and deserve great credit to keep going right until the end. Leiston would have more chances to seal it but they came and went and after a mix up in midfield a Hadleigh player ran through to side foot pass Beckwith. There was still 25 minutes of normal time to play. As the clock ticked down with a little over ten minutes to go Hadleigh would break away again to finish another move to make the last moments tense. Mansfield would make a rash challenge on the edge of the box to receive a yellow card and Beckwith had to make a decent save from the resulting free kick. The game was put to bed in the 89th minute when Burman was bundled over by the Hadleigh custodian inside the box and Blades would strike hard and high into the left hand corner to confirm his hat-trick and Leiston’s place in the next round.

FT - Blues U18’s 5 Hadleigh United U18’s 3

This was a game where both teams tried to play good passing football with Hadleigh never giving up and nearly sending the game into extra time. The Youths will now play Walsham le Willows in the First Qualifying Round. The Youth team will be looking to making it three wins out of three when they host Ipswich Wanderers in the Suffolk FA Midweek County Cup next Wednesday, kick off 7:45.

Blues - Beckwith, Groom, Smith, Darling (Spurling), Mansfeild ©, Norman (Moore), Burman, Murphy, Blades, Garrard (Gissing), Hanson. Subs Not Used: - McWalter, Mills.

Attendance - 32