Leighton Town 1-2 Blues - Match Report

The Blues progressed to the Third Round Qualifying stage of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday for the first time in three seasons after a 2-1 win at Leighton Town, a side that play two levels below Leiston at Step 5.

Josh Hitter remained on the sidelines but Liam Jackson returned to the starting eleven as did Kyle Hammond at right back, with Jamie Eaton-Collins and George Keys making way.

The match got underway with Leiston pressing well and they were awarded a penalty after just five minutes. LIAM JACKSON was fouled in the area and the same player got up to send Brad Kirkwood the wrong way and put Leiston a goal up. Marcus Wilkinson then forced the home custodian into a decent stop as the home team scrambled the ball to safety but the Blues would double their lead in the 14th minute. Good work by Finlay Barnes and Liam Jackson allowed WILL DAVIES to get on to a cross and tap home from close range. Leiston continued to put pressure on the home goal, with Davies trying his luck from distance and Finlay Barnes striking over the crossbar. The match then became scrappy and Leighton pulled a goal back in the 28th minute. A free kick from the left wasn’t dealt with by the Blues and the ball was eventually turned in by Leighton striker Archie McClelland, with the ball going into Sam Donkin’s bottom right hand corner. Chances were then hard to come by. Marcus Wilkinson was a threat down the left hand side while at the other end Donkin had to be alert to punch clear a free kick. The break came with neither side in control of the contest.

Leiston started the second half quite brightly, with Dylan Switters forcing Kirkwood into a good save to his left in the 51st minute. Finlay Barnes tested the keeper moments later also but there wasn’t enough pace in the shot to trouble Kirkwood. Leiston started to give away free kicks around the penalty area but Marcus Mealing
and Dave Murphy on a couple of occasions were off target with set plays. Halfway through the half, Kyle Hammond hit the base of Kirkwood’s left hand post. Late in the game, Mealing forced Donkin into a good save while Aaron Jewell shoot straight at Donkin in added on time. After six additional minutes of stoppages, the full time whistle finally blew and Leiston can now look forward to the draw tomorrow.

The games also keep coming, as AFC Rushden & Diamonds visit on Tuesday night in league action (7.45pm kick off).

FT: - Leighton Town 1-2 Blues.

Line-ups: -

Leighton Town: - Kirkwood, Silford, Murphy, Fitzgerald, Towell (Calcutt 83 mins), Mealing, Frederick, McClelland, Campbell, (Adams 69 mins), Collier (Jewell 78 mins), Foulger. Subs not used: - Resch, Osbourne, Boland, Rogers.

Leiston: - Donkin, Hammond, Saunders, Eagle (Kyle Richardson 45 mins), Knights, Weaire, Barnes (Matt Richardson 90 mins), Switters, Jackson, Davies, Wilkinson (Eaton-Collins). Subs not used: - Keys, Godbold, Potter.

Man Of The Match: - Harry Knights.

Attendance: - 300.