Leiston won through to the semi-finals of the Suffolk Premier Cup last night after defeating Lowestoft Town at Crown Meadow. It was the sides 8th meeting in total in the competition, with Leiston now winning three of them.

The Blues were without Eddie Jackson, Ryan Jarvis, Jamar Loza and Kieran Higgs, while obviously Ollie Saunders and Spencer Keller were still out long term. Matt Mullis came into the squad along with youngsters Ben Batho and Mitchell Jackson. Adam Bailey-Dennis and Zach Dronfield also came back into the sixteen, with Albie Armin returning from suspension and captain Seb Dunbar returning after missing the Hornchurch match.

Lowestoft, who have won the Suffolk Premier Cup on 14 occasions, had ex Leiston players Rob Eagle and Jake Reed in their starting line-up.

The first chance of the tie came after just three minutes, with Ross Crane getting into the area but the midfielder slipped before having a chance to shot and Lowestoft cleared. A break up the other end saw the hosts win a corner and home captain Travis Cole headed over Sam Donkin’s bar. The goalkeeper then set up a quick Blues break and Crane this time was denied by Warren Burwood in the Lowestoft goal. On 7 minutes, good play by Lowestoft on the left allowed Sam Johnson to cross into the box but Chris Casement was alert to clear his lines for Leiston. Jack Manly on ten minutes struck the home crossbar on ten minutes after driving at the home defence and striking a shot from 25 yards. Lowestoft played some nice beat football around the Blues area a short while later, with David Hinton shooting wide of Donkin’s right hand post. Chances were then few and far between for a number of minutes but on 36 minutes, Joseph Chidyausiku took advantage of a mistake at the back by Lowestoft and he shot into an empty net of Burwood’s left hand post. Lowestoft had a great chance to level on 41
minutes, with Harvey Sayer delivering from the left and the ball was met by Jake Reed but he couldn’t get enough on the ball and Donkin got back to collect on his goal line. In the final minute of the first period, Wyatt Hill and Jack Manly both had efforts blocked as referee Alan Dale blew the half time whistle.

Lowestoft came at Leiston in the second half as the wind got up and Albie Armin had to get back well to turn behind a ball for a corner. On 52 minutes, Burwood had to make a good save from Crane and the ball then fell to Jack Manly but the players shot was well saved by Burwood down to his right hand side. Cole had a header at the back post saved by Donkin before Armin shot wide of Burwood’s left hand post. The game started to get a bit bitty, with Rossi Jarvis and Joe Marsden picking up bookings and Lowestoft had a great chance to level but Donkin brilliantly tipped round Reed’s attempt round his left hand post. However, the pressure did pay off on 79 minutes, as Ben Batho fouled inside the area and Harvey Sayer stepped up to shoot into Donkin’s bottom left hand post to level the scores. As the game ticked into stoppage time, Cole was sent off for fouling Wyatt Hill on the edge of the box. Burwood then tipped over Casement’s free kick and from the corner, Joe Marsden headed home but a foul was given before the final whistle came shortly later.

FT: - Lowestoft Town 1-1 Blues.

In the shootout, Rob Eagle’s penalty (Lowestoft’s third) proved costly as Donkin saved. Jake Reed, Louis McIntosh, Kyle Haylock and Harvey Sayer scored for Lowestoft, but Leiston netted all five with Wyatt Hill, Ross Crane, Seb Dunbar and Joe Marsden second which left Chris Casement the honour of sending the Blues which he duly obliged.

Leiston head to Alvechurch on Saturday for their first league game in three weeks.

Line-ups: -

Lowestoft Town: - Burwood, Norman, Eagle, Fitzgerald (sub McIntosh 75 mins), Cole, Ruffles, Johnson, Hinton, Reed, Sayer, Haylock. Subs not used: - White, Holt, Aldous, Hipperson.

Blues: - Donkin, Rayworth (sub Batho 45 mins), Dunbar, Armin, Casement, Rossi Jarvis, Crane, Marsden, Hill, Manly (sub Jackson 82 mins), Chidyausiku. Subs not used: - Mullis, Dronfield, Bailey-Dennis.

Blues Man Of The Match: - Sam Donkin.

Attendance: - 281.