TEN-MAN Leiston fought back from a goal down to grab a dramatic penalty shoot-out win at Lowestoft Town in the Suffolk Premier Cup on Tuesday night, writes Craig Cooper.

The Blues had taken the lead when Cameron Rayworth, making his first start of the season, netted on the half-hour mark.

However, a red card to Blues defender, Kyle Callan-McFadden, changed the complexion of the game and a buoyed up Lowestoft were level just before the break, through Aaron Bullent.

The hosts took the lead on 72 minutes when Harvey Peters headed home. However, Chris Wigger’s side would not lie down despite their numerical disadvantage, and Ben Fowkes got the equaliser with three minutes left.

The game went to penalties, and the Blues didn’t miss one, Ryan Jarvis slotting home the winner, after Peters was the only player to miss in the Lowestoft side.

Leiston travel to Walsham-le Willows in the next round.

Willie Clemons was away on international duty for Leiston, while Jarvis, Ben Batho, Fraser Alexander and Joao Rangel dropped to the bench. Rayworth, Billy Walsh, Joe McNeil, Fowkes and Jude Frostick all came into the starting XI.

Fowkes won an early corner after two minutes but the hosts cleared the Blues corner. Bullent shot wide on 13 minutes to have the first shot at goal by either side, his strike going wide of Billy Johnson’s post.

Leiston went down the left wing just a minute later, with Adam Mills’ ball into the box going out of play.

Leiston continued to press forward and on 26 minutes, Fowkes and Billy Walsh combined well on Leiston’s right hand side, but the former shot straight at Ben Self in the home goal.

However, Wigger’s side took the lead on 30 minutes after Jack Manly took a short corner to set up Fowkes, who crossed the ball into the six yard box and Rayworth reacted first in a crowded penalty box to net home past Self.

The game changed in the 38th minute when Callan-McFadden made a challenge just outside the penalty area, which referee Callum Walchester deemed a red card. From the ball into the box, Johnson made a good save, low to his left to keep Leiston ahead.

But six minutes into injury time at the end of the half, Bullent headed home well in the box into Johnson’s bottom right-hand corner, to make sure the sides went in level at the break.

Manly received an early yellow card in the second half, and Johnson did well to punch away a corner by the hosts. Manly had an effort just inside the area on the hour mark after a good Leiston move, but Self saved his effort.

Rayworth was then booked before Sam Aldous was denied by Johnson at the keeper’s near post. Joe McNeil put in a delivery from the Blues left a little later but while the ball was good, no one could meet it.

Lowestoft took the lead on 72 minutes. With the rain now hammering down, a period of pressure from the hosts saw Peters meet the ball and nod into Johnson’s bottom left hand corner.

This seemed to spark Leiston into life. Frostick and sub Alexander’s shots were blocked in quick succession, but the leveller would come five minutes later on 87 minutes.

Fowkes controlled a ball well to drive into the area and stroked a shot into Self’s bottom left-hand corner. The same player, and Jarvis, had chances to win it in stoppage time but both sides had to settle for penalties.

Bullent, Gabe Overton, Kyle Haylock and Connor Deeks netted for Lowestoft Town, with Adam Mills, Manly, Seb Dunbar and Fowkes scoring for Leiston. Peters smashed the fifth home penalty against Johnson’s crossbar, which gave Jarvis a chance to win it, which he duly obliged, sending Self the wrong way.

FT: Lowestoft Town 2 Blues 2
Leiston win 5-4 on penalties

Leiston now have a home fixture on Saturday, when Quorn visit.

Line-ups;

Lowestoft Town: Self, Abobunde, Heard, Ruffles, Belmar, Bullent, Haylock, Peters, Aldous (Overton 81 mins), Howell (Deeks 60 mins) Pollock (Atkinson 21 mins). Subs not used: Beevor and Haddock.

Blues: Johnson, Rayworth (Batho 90+4 mins), Dunbar, Callan-McFadden, Jackson (Jarvis 46 mins), McNeil (Rangel 76 mins), Frostick, Walsh (Alexander 76 mins), Mills, Manley, Fowkes. Sub not used: Jordan.

Blues Man Of The Match: Ben Fowkes

Attendance: 209

Photo: BEN CUNNINGHAM