Blues 2 Framlingham Town 2 (Blues win 4-2 on penalties)

The U18's made progress to the Suffolk FA County Cup Quarter-finals for the second year on the trot with a win over Framlingham Town at Victory Road on a freezing cold evening. Adam Blades got down the left wing to cross after just two minutes but away keeper Oliver Smith dealt with it. A great ball by Toby Groom sent Adam Blades through on goal but Smith blocked him well and Blades put the rebound over the crossbar. Harry Humphrey tried an effort with the outside of his right boot which Charlie Beckwith caught well, but the referee’s assistants flag was up for offside. Joe Murphy’s ball from the right hand side was dummied by Adam Blades, but no one was on hand to convert the loose ball. Charlie Beckwith claimed well from Kit McCausland while Oliver Smith saved easily from Jac Garrard. The deadlock was broken in the 28th minute when Jac Garrard finished well from outside the 18 yard box, the ball going into Smith’s top right hand corner. Charlie Coe and Kit McCausland tried their luck for the way side, before Will Aldis had the last chance of the half but he blazed over the bar.

Leiston struggled to get a foothold in the match in the second period as Framlingham started to find their feet. Ben Snowling had a shot deflected for a corner, while Adam Chenery fired over the bar after a good move. Jac Garrard had a free kick that went narrowly wide, but it was Fram who levelled when Ethan Hayward finished excellently from outside the box as Leiston failed to clear their lines. They took the lead on 75 minutes when after a fierce strike smashed against the crossbar, Will Aldis made no mistake from the rebound. Leiston were shocked. However, Connor Williams was dismissed with eight minutes of normal time remaining, leaving Adam Blades to restore parity from the penalty spot. Both sides had chances to take the lead again but after three minutes of stoppages the Referee blew meaning it was straight to a penalty shootout.

FT - Leiston 2 Framlingham Town 2

Leiston progressed via the shootout. Jac Garrard saw his penalty pushed onto a post first up, but Adam Blades, Charlie Canham, Owen Pierce and Ben Snowling made no mistake from the spot. A miss by Framlingham and a Charlie Beckwith save meant Leiston won 4-2 and set up a Quarter-Final match away to Newmarket Town in late February.

Leiston - Beckwith, Mayhew, Snowling, Canham, Seaber, Darling, Groom, Murphy, Blades, Smith, Garrard. Subs used - Toby Chenery, Adam Chenery, Ling, Pierce. Sub not used - Gacita.

Framlingham Town - Smith, Poacher, Humphrey, Maw, Chapman, Williams, McCausland, Coe, Goddard, Aldis, Scott. Subs (all used) - Mansfield, Hayward, Brooks.

Man of the Match - Toby Groom