LEISTON lost on penalties for the first time ever in an FA Competition as they went out to Horsham.

After winning seven shoot-outs in FA competitions, the Blues unfortunately succumbed to penalties this time around.

Leiston were missing Seb Dunbar, Ollie Saunders and Albie Armin through injury, while Wyatt Hill was suspended and Jack Manly was ill. Ryan Jarvis dropped to the bench as Jamar Loza came back into the starting eleven while Cameron Rayworth came into the squad.

Jamar Loza had an early effort blocked for the Blues before on 12 minutes, home keeper Billy Johnson was off his line well to clear a through ball from Horsham. Lewis Carey made a good save with his legs from Ben Fowkes as Leiston started to take control of the game.

Halfway through the half, Loza again was denied by a good defensive block while George Quantrell shot just over moments later. The opening goal came on 29 minutes when. Ollie Yun, Loza and Quantrell combined well to feed Fowkes who shot home off Carey’s left hand post. In the last minute of the half, Quantrell curled a strike just wide of Carey’s left hand post.

Horsham came at the Blues at the start of the second half and Lucas Santos-Rodrigues smashed the crossbar from eight yards. On 69 minutes, Carey made a fine block to thwart Loza and the away side levelled on 74 minutes when Reece Miles-Mekums put a loose ball in the net after Johnson had saved a shot.

Chances were hard to come by late on, with Johnson pushing a cross wide of goal and Ben Batho heading a corner away, with Lee Harding shooting well wide. Carey denied Loza at the other end with a save on 88 minutes as both teams had to settle for penalties.

FT: - Blues 1-1 Horsham.

Jamar Loza, Ben Fowkes and Eddie Jackson all scored for the Blues but George Quantrell and
Fraser Alexander’s spot kicks were saved by Carey. Captain Lee Harding also missed for the away side which left sub Christopher Dickson to shoot home and put Horsham in the First Round.

Leiston have no game in the week as they prepare for the visit of Dagenham & Redbridge in the Emirates FA Cup 4th Round Qualifying next weekend.

Line-ups: -
Blues: - Johnson, Yun, Batho (sub Mitchell Jackson 90+2 mins), Clements, Eddie Jackson, Fatadjo, Alexander, Fowkes, Quantrell, Loza, Curtis (sub Rossi Jarvis 58 mins). Subs not used: - Rayworth, Oldman, Ryan Jarvis.
Horsham: - Carey, Elliott, (sub Hammond 55 mins), Strange, Ogunwamide (sub Fenelon 72 mins), Turner (sub Dickson 63 mins), Daly, Santos-Rodrigues (sub Ajakaiye 72 mins), Miles-Mekums, Agyemang (sub Brivio 72 mins), Harding.

Blues Match Ball Sponsor KP Glass Fibre Ltd Man Of The Match: - Fraser Alexander.
Attendance: - 128.