LEISTON exited the FA Trophy on Saturday afternoon as they slumped to a 0-3 defeat to Dartford at the Flannery Stadium.

It was only the third time in nine seasons that the Blues have gone out at this stage of the FA Trophy.

The Blues were without Eddie Jackson as he rested an injury, while Adam Marriott dropped to the bench as Seb Dunbar and Joao Rangel returned to the starting eleven.

Leiston has a couple of good moves in the first five minutes of the tie but the balls forward went out of play and for a goal kick.

Emmanuel Oke tried his luck from the halfway line but Callum Robinson dealt with his effort easily.

In the eighth minute, Dartford nearly took the lead but Lorenzo Duncan’s effort was just wide of Robinson’s left hand post.

A minute later, and the Blues won a free kick on the left but Harvey Sayer’s delivery to the back post was cleared, with Adam Mills nearly getting on the end of it.

Robinson did well to punch away a corner in the 16th minute while Dan Smith headed a throw in wide of Robinson’s goal a minute later.

Leiston won two corners in quick succession but the away side cleared the deliveries while in the 23rd minute, Ben Batho’s cross from the right flank was met by Seb Dunbar but the Dartford defence somehow managed to clear the ball off the line.

Fraser Alexander then tested Ryan Sandford in the away goal before Dartford quickly had a move up the pitch and the ball into the area was met by Ben Greenhalgh who headed just over Robinson’s bar.

But the away side took the lead two minutes later, in the 31st minute, when Max Fiddes got into the Blues box and shot in off Robinson’s left hand post to put Dartford ahead.

Adam Mills shot wide on 36 minutes while Milld combined with Dunbar on 41 minutes but the Blues captain’s cross was into the hands of away keeper Sandford.

Dartford came out the brighter in the second period and after two players beat the offside trap, the raced towards goal, with the ball squared across to Ben Greenhalgh who had the simple task of shooting home to double the visitors lead.

Just after the hour, Fiddes was denied by a good Robinson save when through on goal as both teams made changes to their side.

On 64 minutes, Mills’ delivery was a good one but Dartford managed to head away while Alexander’s corner was well dealt with by Dartford.

The Blues had a good chance to pull a goal back on 68 minutes but Aitkens headed over Mills cross.

Just two minutes later, Max Fiddes finished well in the Blues box to add his second and Dartford’s third to finish off the contest.

Chances for both sides were scarce for both sides in the final minutes of the game as Dartford aimed their place in the next round.

FT: Blues 0 Dartford 3

Leiston are on their travels on Tuesday night when they head to current Southern League Premier Division Central leaders Real Bedford.

Line-ups:
Blues: Robinson, Hill (Rayworth 73 mins), Dunbar, Callan-McFadden, Aitkens (Frostick 84 mins), Rangel, Alexander, Sayer, Mills, Batho (Marriott 62 mins), Henman (Clemons 58 mins). Sub not used: Jarvis.

Dartford: Sandford, Oke (Orji 79 mins), Odaudu, Whitefield, Smith (Richie Atkins 79 mins), Fiddes (Louie Atkins 75 mins), Greenhalgh, Gyamera, Higgs (Davey 46 mins), Duncan (Ibe 75 mins), Pinder.

The Gordon Family Man Of The Match: Joao Rangel
Mr Keith Soames Man Of The Match: Ben Batho

Attendance: 283