Hadleigh United U18’s 0-3 Leiston U18’s - Match Report

After a pre-season that saw the U18’s win all 3 games, scoring 26 goals and conceding none, the real work started last Thursday evening!

The young blues travelled to Hadleigh United in the Preliminary Round of the FA Youth Cup, a competition in which they fell at the first hurdle last season with a 2-1 defeat away to Long Melford.

If that wasn’t a reason to set the record straight, Hadleigh was the only place that the blues tasted defeat in the league the previous season, so they were keen to deliver!

Unfortunately after a great pre-season, Grant Overett was back on the injured list, as was Owen Andrews who sustained a broken collar bone in his last game. These were two BIG absentees for Leiston and this saw Mason Sinclair & Tom Bak make their first appearances for the U18’s this season.
The blues kicked off, but the early pressure was applied by Hadleigh United, although there was no pressure on Garnham’s goal, as the Blues defence coped with any attack.
It was taking the blues some time to settle and their normal free flowing football wasn’t showing, but when they did find their rhythm they sliced the Hadleigh defence apart with a driving run from Sinclair, before releasing Connick down the right and his driven cross from the by-line was met at the back post by OLIVER GODBOLD who sweetly stuck the ball home to put the Leiston in the lead.

This appeared to relax the blues and within minutes it was nearly two when quick feet from Ben Morling saw him turn inside and strike from distance with his left foot, but this was brilliantly saved by the young Hadleigh keeper. Two minutes later he was called into action again saving a low blistering shot from Godbold at his near post.
On 16 minutes, a Morling free-kick was headed away but it only fell to Blair on the edge of the box, but again the Hadleigh keeper made a fantastic save after seeing the ball late through the crowded box.
The Blues continued to press, but neither keeper were called upon but with half time approaching, Leiston doubled their lead from the penalty spot. Sinclair rolled the ball back to Morling who found Godbold in the box and his turn was too quick for the Hadleigh defender who pulled him down for a certain penalty. CALLUM TUCKER stepped up and blasted the ball into the top corner of the net, giving the Hadleigh keeper no chance.

Although the blues walked in at half time two goals to the good, it was far from a comprehensive performance and there was plenty of room for improvement for the second half.

The management team had some strong words at half-time and it certainly invoked the response they wanted as the blues won the ball within seconds of the restart and after some neat passes between Godbold, Wilding & Morling, Connick found himself through one on one with the Hadleigh keeper, who was quick out and saved bravely with his feet to keep Hadleigh in the game.
The Blues were pressing for the goal to kill the game, but were coming up against a Hadleigh keeper who was having the game of his life.
In the 49th minute, the Hadleigh keeper made a further double save from Sinclair & Wilding, before beating the ball away.
On 58 minutes, after another weaving run across the pitch by Sinclair, his cross was handled in the box and a second penalty was awarded. Tucker stepped up again, but this time the keeper guessed correctly and saved low down to his right to keep Hadleigh in the game.
On 68 minutes, Godbold saw his shot turned around the post and from the resulting corner, Morling’s delivery fell at the feet of MASON SINCLAIR who was deadly from 5 yards and put the game beyond Hadleigh (0-3);
This allowed the blues to introduce 15 year old Jesse Okpolokpo onto the pitch for his U18’s debut.
The final whistle was blown and Leiston marched into the First Round of the FA Youth Cup lining up a home tie with Mildenhall Town FC on Thursday 24th September.

FULL-TIME: - Hadleigh United U18’s 0-3 Leiston U18’s.

Line-Up: -

Garnham (C), Sinclair, Bailey, French, Tucker (Pearce – 70 mins), Connick (Biaukula – 70 mins), Bak, Morling, Blair (Okpolokpo – 65 mins), Godbold, Wilding. Subs not used: Cowan, Brown, Harding (GK).

Blues Man Of The Match: - ​Kyle French.

Attendance: - 150.