The U18’s made it three wins in a row in the league as they beat Ipswich Wanderers 5-0 at Victory Road to stay sixth in the league table.
Riley Dobey had a good chance for the away side early on and lobbed keeper Brandon Ling in the home goal but the ball went wide of Ling’s left hand upright. In fact, Wanderers started the better side but Leiston took the lead in the 7th minute. Joe Murphy picked the ball up in the middle of the midfield and picked out a brilliant ball to Witness Mhango and he rifled an effort into away custodian Callum Johnson’s bottom left hand corner. Four minutes later and the Blues doubled their lead. A through ball once again by captain Murphy
found Josh Smedley who was denied by Johnson but Harrison Bacon was on hand to net the rebound. Wanderers were still looking lively going forward and Rahul Deb tested Ling with a free kick but it was straight at the keeper. A good free kick from the left by Owen Pierce flashed across the face of goal, with George Fricker and Josh Smedley unable to apply the finishing touch. Harrison Bacon drove down the right hand side and into the box shortly afterwards and his pinpoint cross was controlled well by Josh Smedley and he tucked home the third goal into the roof of Johnson’s goal. Before the end of the half, a fine move ended with Joe Murphy’s attempt being brilliantly saved by Johnson and Josh Smedley was denied another goal as the away side cleared off the line.
A good start by Leiston in the second period helped them score their fourth goal of the evening, which came in the 51st minute. Harrison Bacon was in the thick of the action again, this time threading a pass beyond the away defence for Josh Smedley and he curled the ball into Johnson’s bottom left hand corner. The fifth goal came in the 55th minute as Owen Pierce’s free kick was met by the head of Harrison Bacon. From here on in, the game became slightly disjointed and Wanderers picked up 6 yellow cards in the process. Sub Dale Pearse had a goal disallowed and the same player went one on one with the keeper moments later but he was narrowly wide with his strike. Doney and away captain George Ablitt went close for Wanderers but Leiston ran out comfortable winners.
FT: - Leiston U18’s 5-0 Ipswich Wanderers U18’s.
Leiston travel to Stowmarket Town next Thursday evening in league action for their next match.
Line-ups: -
Leiston: - Brandon Ling, Hayden Ling, Page, Fricker, McGuckin, Eyre, Bacon, Murphy, Smedley, Pierce, Mhango. Subs (used): - Roberts, Lockwood, Pearse. Sub (not used): - Gacita.
Ipswich Wanderers: - Johnson, Nikalov, Marshall, Deb, Scott, Groom, Gibson, Mahleka, Ablitt, Boon, Doney. Subs (all used): - Bell, Howell, Proctor.
Man Of The Match: - Harrison Bacon.
Attendance: - 46.