Youths 2 Framlingham Town 1

Leiston came into this game with a great sense of optimism after last week’s fine victory at Chelmsford City writes Craig Cooper. The game started with a lot of football reserved to the middle of the park but on just 9 minutes Leiston were awarded a penalty when Adam Blades’ run down the right wing saw him blocked off and the Referee duly pointed to the spot. Blades made no mistake when he sent Garner in the away goal the wrong way, coolly slotting into the keeper’s bottom left hand corner. Shortly later, Jac Garrard was put through one-on-one but his lob was wide and high. Charlie Beckwith in the home goal then saw his first action of the night when he pushed away a decent shot at his near post for a corner and the resultant kick was headed over by Max Willett. Willett would level the scores however, when a shot deflected off Alfie Norman and looped over a helpless Beckwith to go into the net via the post. The game was very even at this stage but it was Adam Blades who had the next chance, dribbling past a couple of Framlingham defenders which Garner gathered at the second attempt. Alfie Norman then had a header from a corner and at the other end Willett’s shot was easily dealt with by Beckwith after he had turned Toby Groom. A rare lapse in concentration by Mansfield saw him get caught in possession but Sullivan could only curl an effort wide. As the half drew nearer to it’s conclusion Willett was booked for a foul on right back Groom.

HT - Blues 1 Framlingham Town 1

Framlingham had an early effort in the second period but the header just went wide of the Leiston right hand post. Tommy Smith had Leiston’s first effort after the break but his shot was saved by Garner to his left hand side. Smith again was in action soon after, but Garner gratefully caught it with Blades alert on the follow up. Max Willett, who was lively all evening for the visitors, then had a shot that went over and Mansfield blocked another of his shots a couple minutes later. Jac Garrard then cut in from the right hand side and his feriocious effort skimmed Garner’s right hand post. Leiston would soon take the lead when a ball into the box fell kindly to Jack Gissing who turned his marker and rifled his shot low into the net to give Leiston the lead for the second time of the evening. Framlingham forced a corner within no time at all and Beckwith did well to fist it away. Adam Blades would have another shot that was saved and then Gissing had a pot shot from the edge of the area that was brilliantly clawed away by Garner. Late on Mansfield was booked for a late challenge and Leiston substitute Darling saw an effort that cleared the crossbar. After six minutes of added on time the referee finally blew for one last time to send Leiston into the Quarter-Finals.

FT - Blues 2 Framlingham Town 1

Blues - Beckwith, Groom, Oliver, Spurling, Mansfield ©, Norman, Garrard, Murphy, Blades, Hanson, Smith. Subs - Gissing, Hurren, Darling, Mills and Osbourne.

Framlingham Town - Garner, Smith ©, Batkiter, Seaber, Chapren, Williams, Berry, Godfrey, Willett, Alidis, Sullivan. Subs: - Smith, Brooks, Maw, Jones and Poacher.