Leiston went out of the Emirates FA Cup yesterday on a lovely sunny afternoon in Suffolk.

The Blues began the match with Spencer Keller, Adam Bailey-Dennis and Rossi Jarvis still out injured, but Ollie Saunders came back into midfield after missing Tuesday night’s 1-1 home draw with St Ives Town. I Cameron Rayworth came back into the squad yesterday along Marcus Mehew who took his place as sub keeper.

Both sides cancelled each other out in the first twenty minutes, with Leiston defending well and lots of play was in the middle of the park. Ross Crane couldn’t control Sam Donkin’s long free kick after just two minutes whilst at the other end, Donkin took an early header from a corner. Good play by Jot Marsden, Ryan Jarvis and Ross Crane put in Jamar Loza, but Michael Johnson came out well to claim the ball in front of the Blues striker. On 12 minutes, Crane shot from the edge of the box, but Johnson was down to his left to save easily. At the other end, Ryan Jarvis blocked captain Ryan Blackman’s shot on the edge of the box. Gio Rasulo met Josh James’ cross from the right but his header was well wide of Donkin’s right hand post. Leiston came more into the game as an attacking threat after the half hour mark and Joe Marsden controlled a diagonal ball on the left to burst into the box and slipped in Jamar Loza who dribbled round a defender a saw an effort deflected just wide of Michael Johnson’s left hand post. Five minutes before the break, Loza again did well on the left hand side and crossed to Ross Crane who met the ball well but Johnson denied the midfielder with a good save on the goal line. The half ended with Ben Wyatt and Joe Marsden getting treatment for either side, with Marsden having to come off at the interval.

The second half started frantically, with Loza being denied by Johnson and then Albie Armin firing the rebound well over the bar. St Albans went close just after before the Hertfordshire club got in behind the Blues defence on 55 minutes and Gio Rabulo hit a great volley past Donkin to give St Albans the lead. Sub Kieran Higgs levelled the tie on the hour mark, neatly finishing after Ross Crane did well on the byline. Higgs was put in four minutes later but blazed his strike wife of Johnson’s left hand upright but on 70 minutes, St Albans hit the front once again when sub Dylan Fage slotted past Donkin after dribbling into the area from Leiston’s left. Leiston found it hard to get any real clear cut chances after the visitors took the lead once again. Seb Dunbar put a dangerous cross into the area that was cleared while Ollie Saunders ball was claimed by Johnson after a decent move. St Albans then defended well to see out the tie and they had a chance to seal the win on 93rd minutes when Mitchell Weiss got in behind the Blues defence but he slotted the ball wide of Donkin’s right hand post. But there was no time for Leiston to get back into the game and St Albans hung on to book their place in the 3rd Round Qualifying.

FT: - Blues 1-2 St Albans City.

The side are back in action on Tuesday night when Brantham Athletic visit in the Suffolk Premier Cup 2nd Round.

Line-ups: -

Blues: - Donkin, Hill, Dunbar, Saunders, Casement, Jackson, Crane, Armin (sub Dronfield 81 mins), Ryan Jarvis (sub Manly 83 mins), Marsden (sub Higgs 45 mins), Loza. Subs not used: - Rayworth, McNeil, Spooner, Mehew (GK).

St Albans City: - Johnson, James, Brown, Smith, Clark (sub Da Silva 78 mins), Blackman, Rabulo, Weiss, Georgiou (sub Lawal 78 mins), Carlyle, Wyatt (sub Fage 45 mins). Subs not used: - Jeffers, Dunn, Bentley, Morrall.

Blues Man Of The Match: - Eddie Jackson.

Attendance: - 235.