1st Team
Matches
Sat 06 Sep 2014  ·  Ryman Premier
Leiston Football Club
1st Team
J Francis (76' Pen)
1
1
Metropolitan Police
Blues 1 Metropolitan Police 1

Blues 1 Metropolitan Police 1

David Rees7 Sep 2014 - 20:12
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https://www.leistonfc.co.uk/te

Blues held for third time in four games on Non League Day

The Blues recorded a third draw in four games, coming from behind to claim a point in a match sponsored by Alan Godbold Properties Limited and Jim Girling. Manager Steve Ball was yet again made to shuffle his pack with the injured trio of Patrick Brothers, Tom Bullard and Scott Mitchell joined on the absentee list by Stuart Boardley who was unavailable so Blake Saker moved across to left back and Leon Ottley-Gooch in the opposite full back position. The visitors boasted an unbeaten record at Victory Road from their previous three visits as the Blues kicked off attacking the Fairground End. Both sides played their part in a lively opening with play neat and tidy to box to box but no threat to either goal. The first real opening of the game came on 20 minutes. Michael Charles skipped into the box before a combination of Danny Gay and Joe Jefford blocked the shot with Blake Saker clearing Bradley Hudson-Odoi’s shot off the line. The hosts responded two minutes later with a well crafted opening down the left with Joe Francis’ cross finding Tom Winter whose first time shot rattled against the right post with Stuart Searle beaten but the ball bouncing out of play. Five minutes later the game had its first goal and it went to the visitors. Met Police cleared Gareth Heath’s corner and quickly broke down their left flank, switching play across field to the right and as the ball came into the box from Billy Crook the unopposed Elliott Taylor swept home beyond Danny Gay. An entertaining tussle was now unravelling and just after the half hour visiting keeper Stuart Searle was forced into a flying save to his right to keep out Craig Parker’s shot after a clever exchange with Cliff Akurang. The visitors looked confident defending their lead and for the remainder of the first half kept possession well to frustrate the home side.

The second half began with a second yellow card for the hosts, this time Adam Tann for a late challenge in midfield. Nine minutes into the half Joe Francis raced clear of the Met Police defence and his square pass found Craig Parker but his effort was cleared off the line by the covering Tyron Smith before two excellent Gareth Heath corners flew across the visitor’s box without a telling touch. The home side had made a strong start to the half and after Tom Winter saw a shot go narrowly wide Gareth Heath did the same from the edge of the box with twenty or so minutes of the game remaining. The threat of the visitors still remained and after good work from substitute Jack Knight in the box Bradley Hudson-Odoi fired an effort from the left hand side of the box just wide but with just under a quarter of an hour remaining the Blues got back into the game. Tom Winter did well to keep possession and his clever ball into the box picked out the run of substitute Jack Simmons who was tripped by Ricardo Joseph resulting in a penalty. Joe Francis stepped up to find the right hand corner despite the best efforts of Stuart Searle. Both sides sensed three points and almost achieved them in stoppage time. First Danny Gay produced a super save to his left to keep out Tyron Smith’s goal bound shot and then Jack Simmons cross was met with a glancing header from Tom Winter that sailed agonisingly wide.

FT – Leiston 1 Metropolitan Police 1

Blues line up: Gay, Ottley-Gooch, Saker, M Brothers (Simmons 71 mins), Jefford, Tann, Winter, Heath, Akurang, Parker, Francis. Subs not used: Levett, Noy and Rossis.

Goals: Francis 76 mins (Leiston), Taylor 27 mins (Met Police)

Yellow cards: Michael Brothers & Adam Tann (Leiston), Elliott Taylor, Ricardo Joseph, Steve Sutherland & Tyron Smith (Met Police)

Alan Godbold Properties Ltd & Jim Girling Man of the Match: Joe Francis

Attendance: 192

Match details

Match date

Sat 06 Sep 2014

Kickoff

15:00

Meet time

01:00

Attendance

192

Competition

Ryman Premier
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Main Stand Sponsor - Flick and Sons
Club Sponsor - Fishers Gin
Club Sponsor - Jordan Developments
Club Sponsor - Jordan Fencing
Club Sponsor - Speedy
Sponsor  - Beach View Holiday Park
Main Club Sponsor - Fairweather Law Solicitors
Club Sponsor - Whip Street Motors
Sponsor - Allglass Anglia
1st Team Kit Sponsor - Screwbolt Fixings
Club Sponsor - PowerClean Chemicals
Club Sponsor - Victory Car Sales
Club Sponsor - Watson & Hillhouse
Main Sponsor - Francis Wealth Management
Main Sponsor - Sackers