Lee Harrison side lost 2-1 to Bromley in the FA Youth Cup at the Flannery Stadium on Tuesday evening but they should be proud of the way they played against a team who’s first team play in League One.

If’s and buts of course, but had Leiston beaten Bromley they would have reached the Second Round for the first time in their history.

15 year old Zion Makan made his first start in this season’s competition as Connor Crane was out injured.

The Blues had the first sight of goal after just three minutes. Ollie Long did well to intercept a Bromley defender and feed the ball into Stan Horne’s path but the Leiston player shot just wide of Charlie Burton’s right hand post.

A couple of minutes later, Thomas O’Donnell shot just wide of Nathaniel Copping’s right hand upright before just two minutes later, Max Rope got into the Blues box on the right at an angle but Copping stood tall and pushed away the shot.

Bromley were having a lot of the ball in the early stages and Leiston had to clear a shot off the line on 11 minutes.

At the other end five minutes later, Horne had a shot but his shot was straight at Burton.

A shot from the away side went just over on 26 minutes while Rope cut inside the Blues right in the 29th minute but was off target with his attempt.

Bromley did take the lead, however, on 33 minutes when Riley Stammers this time got the ball from the right flank and came inside to strike past Copping outside the box.

Leiston, though, were determined to get back into the contest, and they pulled a goal back on 36 minutes when Liam Shaw put in Long and the Leiston player turned in the area to shoot left footed past Burton into the keeper’s bottom left hand corner.

Hano Hawar’s corner was headed away on 40 minutes while a Bromley shot on goal was just over Copping’s bar.

The visitors would again venture in front on 44 minutes.

A good move brought about a chance from close range and the original effort looked to be going in but the Blues defenders tried to get their as Max Rope knocked the ball over the line moments before the half time whistle.

Early into the second period, Copping took a cross at his near post while the Blues keeper did well to push away a delivery into the box shortly later and the resultant shot went over the crossbar.

Horne and Jack McLeavy combined well on 51 minutes and the latter’s ball nearly put Long in on goal but Burton was out to take the ball at the feet of the Blues striker.

Leiston won a free kick on 62 minutes but Harry Bales’ free kick was easy for the away goalkeeper.

Chances were then limited by both sides for a while. Bromley put some dangerous balls into the Leiston box but the Blues were defending well.

Marvellous Oju got into the Blues box but shot just wide on 82 minutes while an away attempt was well off target in the 89th minute.

Leiston won a drop ball in the 94th and final minute of the match but the ball into the box was easy for Burton to take and the referee then blew the whistle for full time.

There were lots of good performances all round and the Blues will hoping to build on this momentum for both U23s and U18s teams in the upcoming games in the next few weeks.

FT: Blues 1 Bromley 2

Lee Harrison’s side now head to Ipswich Wanderers in league action next Tuesday, kick off 7.45pm.

Line-ups;

Blues: Copping, Makan, Pearce, Shaw, Bales, Shanks (Green 58 mins), McLeavy (Hart 70 mins), Horne (Rayworth 81 mins), Long, Hawar (Wynne 70 mins), Dowdeswell. Substitutes not used: Nye, Cusca and Torrance.

Bromley: Burton, Matouu, Amatai, O’Donnell, Cooley, Haftom, Rope, Hassell (Kember 75 mins), Isiwele (Wiltshire 65 mins), Stammers (Beaney 83 mins), Oju. Substitutes not used: Cooney, Ansah, Barbosa and Murphy.

Match Sponsors G & M Eurotex and Sun Enviro Man Of The Match: Ollie Long

Attendance: 134