Woodbridge Town U18’s 1-5 Leiston U18’s - Matc

The U18’s defeated Woodbridge Town 5-1 at Notcutts Park to win in their first match of 2019 on a very cold night.

It was the home side who had the first chance of this encounter but Jaryd Challis hooked the ball wide of Harvey Garnham’s goal. Leiston started to create chances of their own, with Joe Murphy shooting straight at Finn Wickens and then Josh Leggett laid the ball off to Owen Pierce but his strike was parried away by Wickens. Good work by Joe Murphy and Owen Pierce saw the latter pick out Leggett with a good ball over the top of the home defence and Leggett set up Pierce in return but he shot just wide. Pierce went close moments later as did Witness Mhango while at the other end Toby Chenery got in a good challenge to debt thr Woodbridge player and Harvey Garnham saved well from Challis. Leiston took the lead in the 19th minute. Joe Berry was sent in the clear and he rounded Wickens to slot home. Witness Mhango then produced an excellent run into the box and passed the ball across to Dylan Barrack but he connected poorly and Woodbridge cleared. Wickens made a fantastic save from Mhango as the half progressed while Matt Finch headed wide and Thomas Haste was denied by Garnham. In the fourth minute of added on time at the end of the first period, Toby Chenery gave away a penalty and Jaryd Challis stepped up to score a great spot kick.

The Blues took the lead once again in the 47th minute. Joe Berry jinxed past two or three Woodbridge players and crossed into the middle where Witness Mhango met to divert home. Wickens took a cross easily from a dangerous ball from Aaron McGuckin and Berry and Murphy were off target as Leiston began to dominate. Centre back Harry Eyre’s header was cleared off the line but the young Blues were not to be denied and Owen Pierce’s cross was helped into the net by a Woodbridge defender as Pierce claimed the goal. Moments later and another mazy run by Joe Berry helped tee up Zac Gissing to slot home goal number four. The hosts had chances through Challis and Joshua Knight but Blues man of the match Joe Berry finished off the scoring in the 90th minute to seal the win and gain another valuable three points.

Line-ups: -

Woodbridge Town: - Wickens, Cornell, James, Finch, Nethercott, Leech, Buck, Haste, Challis, Knight, Godbold. Subs (all used): - Childs, Nicholls, Field, Mapplebeck, Sheridan.

Leiston: - Garnham, Roberts, Ling, Barrack, Chenery, Eyre, Berry, Murphy, Leggett, Pierce, Mhango. Subs (all used): - McGuckin, Kerry, Page, Gissing, Pearse.

Man Of The Match: - Joe Berry.