LEISTON overcame Eastern Counties League Premier side Walsham-le-Willows Tuesday night to become the first team into the Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup quarter-finals in this season’s competition, writes Craig Cooper.

Two goals from Joe McNeil saw Leiston hit the front and lead by two goals at the break while in the second half, Jude Frostick’s first goal for the club finished off a good evening in West Suffolk.

Leiston enjoyed good possession early on but with Willie Clemons freeing Cameron Rayworth up on the Blues right but the Leiston right back’s cross drifted out of play.

Two minutes later, and Joe McNeil got behind the away defence but Theo Twinn made a good challenge in the box while Kyle Callan-McFadden’s follow up was blocked and the ball went behind for a Leiston corner.

On 14 minutes, Ethan Deeks got at Leiston and in on goal but Callan-McFadden got back to deny the home player going no further.

The break through goal came on 16 minutes. Adam Mills cut in from the Blues left to cross to McNeil who netted at the second attempt, with the ball looking to have gone out of play and onto one of the wheels.

McNeil then linked up well with Ben Fowkes but the latter struck over Olly Moore’s crossbar.

Zac Gayfer tried his luck from distance but Billy Johnson saved his effort before on 28 minutes, Harvey Hubbard shot fork long range but Johnson saved his strike.

On the half hour, good build up play from the Blues allowed Rayworth to deliver from the right and Mills met his cross but headed against the bar from six yards.

Mills’ close range free kick was gathered by Moore at the second attempt seven minutes before the interval but Leiston would double the their lead on the stroke of half time.

McNeil’s run on the right allowed him to cut inside and shoot home left footed under Moore to put Leiston in the ascendancy.

Will Hubbard had a good chance to pull a goal back thirty seconds into the second half but shot over Johnson’s crossbar.

On 48 minutes, Moore saved with his feet to deny Fowkes after good play by Rayworth while two minutes later, Walsham had another chance but Callan-McFadden cleared away the danger eventually.

On the hour mark, Fowkes got into the area again but was just off target with his attempt.

For ten or so minutes, chances for both sides were hard to come by. In the 74th minute, Fowkes’ cross found Fraser Alexander but the midfielder’s shot was blocked in the box.

On 76 minutes, Johnson saved from Will Hubbard and Leiston quickly broke up the pitch and Fowkes again was denied by a good Moore save.

Moore, who was having a fine game in goal, denied Fowkes again while Rayworth’s header was cleared off the line.

Young Stan Horne was foiled by Moore on 88 minutes, however, in the 93rd minute, Leiston secured their passes into the quarter-finals of the Suffolk Premier Cup when Fowkes laid the ball back to Jude Frostick and the midfielder shot home into Moore’s right hand corner to seal the win.

FT: Walsham-le-Willows 0 Blues 3

Chris Wigger’s side now head to Sussex on Saturday to play Lewes in the Isuzu FA Trophy Third Round Qualifying with a 3pm kick off.

Line-ups:

Walsham-le-Willows: Moore, Cooper (Gilbert 69 mins), Theo Twinn, Glover, Gayfer, Moss, Deeks, Gibbs (Arnold 80 mins), Kieron Twinn, Will Hubbard (Nicholls 62 mins), Harvey Hubbard (Bugg 46 mins). Sub not used: Dunne.

Blues: Johnson, Rayworth, Dunbar, Callan-McFadden, Alexander, Clemons (Blois 54 mins), Manly (Jarvis 80 mins), Mills, Frostick, McNeil (Horne 80 mins), Fowkes. Subs not used: Hill and Mehew.

Blues Man Of The Match: Joe McNeil

Attendance: 71