Blues 2 Maidstone United 2

What a tremendous advert for Non League and the Ryman Football League. Four goals, a vociferous crowd and a fantastic fight back from Richard Wilkins side in a match sponsored by Powerclean Chemicals. League leaders Maidstone United squandered a two goal interval lead against a Leiston side forced to play with ten men for 79 minutes. With Tom Bullard serving the first of his two game suspension the Blues had midfielder Scott Mitchell alongside Joe Jefford at the heart of the defence. In front of the hosts biggest gate of the season Leiston suffered an early setback when recent signing John Sands was dismissed for clashing with Sonny Miles off the ball with just eleven minutes on the clock. Prior to the red card Sands had forced Lee Worgan in the visitors goal into the only save of the match but his team mates were on the back foot for the next half an hour or so. They did well, fending off the lively Maidstone until the 33rd minute before the impressive Jay May swept home Craig Stone’s inviting right wing cross, Leiston punished for not closing down the right back quick enough. Leiston looked like getting to the interval just the one goal behind but in the third minute of stoppages May prodded home his and Maidstone’s second though there was a strong hint of offside before Alex Brown’s cut back from the goal line.

Up against it the home side made a tactical change at the break with Darren Mills replacing Danny Cunningham and three minutes into the half Mills was partly involved in the second talking point of the match. His pass released Joe Francis down the left flank only to have his run crudely stopped by a lunging Steve Watt, the Maidstone skipper receiving a straight red card for his challenge. The visitors were incensed with the decision but on 54 minutes almost extended their advantage further. May releasing Billy Bricknell clear on goal only for Danny Gay to smartly block. Six minutes later Gay made a fine save to deny Frannie Collin. Leiston sensed a way back as Maidstone seemed content with their two goals and sat deeper into their own half. With fifteen minutes remaining and with Leiston controlling play they reduced the deficit. Leon Ottley-Gooch timing his run to cleverly deflect Joe Francis’ driven centre into the bottom corner. Maidstone felt Ottley-Gooch was offside but no flag was raised. Spurred on by their noisy fans Leiston sensed more joy and after Mills sent an acrobatic effort over the bar they got their just rewards in the first minute of stoppages. Francis cross found Blake Saker whose controlled half volley was parried by Worgan and fell invitingly back into the path of substitute Tom Winter who gleefully stabbed home the equaliser to end a pulsating afternoon’s football at Victory Road.

FT – Blues 2 Maidstone United 2

Blues – Gay, Saker, Boardley (Winter 67 mins), Cunningham (Mills 45 mins), Jefford, Mitchell, Brothers (Mayhew 90 mins), Heath, Sands, Ottley-Gooch, Francis. Subs not used – Merritt and Rossis.

Goals – Ottley-Gooch 75 mins, Winter 91 mins (Leiston), May 33 & 45 mins (Maidstone United)

Red cards – Sands (Leiston), Watts (Maidstone United)

Yellow cards – Brothers, Mills (Leiston), Rogers, Brown & May (Maidstone United)

Powerclean Chemicals Man of the Match – Joe Jefford

Attendance – 362