Hadleigh United 2 Blues 1

Leiston were missing Adam Blades, Ben Snowling and Toby Groom for different reasons, but were in good mood before taking on Hadleigh United.

Jamie Smith had the first chance of the match and as he was about to shoot inside the area, looked to have his legs taken away but the referee waved away the protests for a penalty. Carl Mayhew’s effort went wide from a corner before Jamie Smith was allegedly fouled in the box,  with Jac Garrard smashing home the resultant penalty. A Jake Seaber cross cum shot left home keeper Chris Warren stranded but the ball hit his left hand upright and out to safety. Warren then made a superb double save, firstly from Jamie Smith and also from Carl Mayhew’s follow up. Charlie Canham and Joe Murphy had attempts that came to nothing, while Charlie Beckwith made his first save of the evening from Finlay Farthing’s free kick. The trio of Jamie Smith, Toby Chenery and Jac Garrard combined which saw the latter firing just wide of the target. Jamie Smith had another chance late on in the half from a long Charlie Beckwith kick, but once again Chris Warren was on hand to save the day for the hosts.

Leiston started the second half in lethargic fashion. An early corner was cleared by Carl Mayhew just out of the Leiston eighteen yard area, however, Josh Fayers unleashed an unstoppable strike into Charlie Beckwith’s top left hand corner. Jac Garrard had Leiston’s first decent chance of the second period, but Warren again gathered well. James Wilding had a free kick on the angle of the Leiston area, but Charlie Beckwith handled well. Hadleigh then took the lead when Charlie Beckwith’s clearance found Josh Fayers, who fired his effort over everyone and into the back of the net to send the home team wild. Carl Mayhew and Jac Garrard interlinked but Jac Garrard’s snap shot was beaten away by Warren to his right hand side. Goalkeeper Chris Warren had to be replaced by James Colcomb after he smashed into the post. Sub Owen Pierce got onto Carl Bowers header but he dragged his shot wide of the goal. Jamie Smith fired wide with moments to go and Lukas Darling crossed into the top of the netting as Hadleigh saw the game out with the referee playing eleven minutes of added on time.

FT - Hadleigh United 2 Leiston 1

Hadleigh United - Warren (Colcomb), Croft, Tate, Wilding, Sowman, Smith, Farthing, Fayers, Warren-Barber, White, Crowe. Subs not used - Heelas, Bartram.

Leiston - Beckwith, Seaber, Mayhew, Canham, Norman, Darling, Adam Chenery, Murphy, Toby Chenery, Smith, Garrard. Subs (all used) - Pierce, Bowers, Ling, Eyre, Roberts.

Man of the Match - Lukas Darling