Gareth Heath’s late winner gave the visitors a deserved win at rivals Kingstonian. The Blues leading scorer stroked home with his left foot after K’s keeper Rob Tolfrey had saved well from Craig Parker with eight minutes remaining. After the disappointing home defeat to VCD Athletic four days earlier, the Blues needed to bounce back against a side with aspirations of the play offs. The K’s have games in hand on the Blues so it was set to be a tight affair as ninth hosted sixth. Leiston had gone into the game on the back of two defeats and a few indifferent displays but started strongly which set the tone for their win. Craig Parker wasted an early chance after a Joe Francis cross had found him in space, Tom Bullard shot straight at Rob Tolfrey and later Gareth Heath wasted a good opportunity from another Joe Francis centre in front of goal. Whilst the visitors were well organised the home side contained in-form striker Andre McCollin who had scored an impressive seven goals in his last six games and after a total miss-kick in a telling position from an Alex Addai cross, the K’s striker was inches away from the opening the scoring early in the second half. The hosts had been involved in two stirring FA Cup ties with Romford in the space of three days so perhaps the extra time involvement was beginning to catch up with them as Leiston took control of the game in the final quarter. What proved to be the winning goal arrived with eight minutes remaining. Craig Parker burst through the home defence and though his crisp shot was well saved by the K’s keeper, he was powerless to keep out Gareth Heath’s follow up as he fired home with his left foot for his first goal in six games and second at Kingsmeadow in three visits. It was the Blues midfielder’s seventh goal of the season and moments later it was almost eight but he saw his effort rattle against the post from a Joe Francis pass. Leon Ottley-Gooch also went close in stoppage time, a well hit shot a whisker from finding the net as the visitors ended the game as they had started, on top, with a win that lifts them back into the play-off places.
FT – Kingstonian 0 Blues 1
Blues line up – Gay, Saker, Brothers, Tann, Jefford, Bullard, Mitchell, Heath, Ottley-Gooch, Parker, Francis. Subs – Boardley, Winter, Nwachuku and Rossis
Goals – Heath 82 mins (Leiston)
Yellow cards – Kavanagh & Addai (Kingstonian), Francis & Mitchell (Leiston)
Man of the Match – Adam Tann
Attendance - 269