TEN MAN Leiston produced a tremendous performance at the Watson & Hillhouse Stadium yesterday afternoon, defeating Redditch United 1-0 in front of delighted support.

Jamar Loza's goal in the 65th minute, after great work by Seb Dunbar and George Quantrell sealed the points, but that's only half the story as the Blues played almost 80 minutes with 10 men.

In the 14th minute, miscommunication at the back saw Blues 'keeper Billy Johnson handle outside his area, preventing a likely Redditch goal. The resultant red card for Johnson saw Kyran Clements go in goal for the home side, and he produced a man of the match performance, as Leiston held firm.

It was Leiston's fourth clean sheet on the bounce on an afternoon when finding Leiston heroes on the pitch was like looking for trees in a wood. The win moved the Blues upto seventh in the Southern League Premier Division table, their highest position this season.

"It was certainly a different role for myself today, playing in goal," Clements told Leiston media after the game. "But we managed to come away with three points and a clean sheet. The team is on a high at the moment.

"We didn't have a goalie on the bench or any nominated 'keeper really, but skipper Sebbie came marching over to me with the gloves and I was happy to give it a go for the team."

Blues boss Chris Wigger made just one change from last weekend’s 2-0 victory over Hitchin Town as Cameron Rayworth came in for the injured Wyatt Hill.

Johnson made two good early saves after just two minutes from Marvellous Onabirekhanlen, and then did well to hold Aurlo Neto Teixeira’s effort.

Dunbar’s cross on 11 minutes was easy for Oliver Taylor in the away goal, but three minutes Johnson was sent off, with Clements going in goal.

Clements was straight into action, saving the resultant free kick from Ryan Boothe to his right and did well to claim Bradley Burton’s cross.

It looked set to be a long afternoon for the Blues and their fans but Leiston restricted the away side to limited chances as they defended stoutly, and still broke at pace. Just after the half hour mark, Leiston headed a corner off the line before blocking to close range efforts in the box, while up the other end Loza ran at the visitors defence and shot just wide of Oliver Taylor’s right-hand post, with no score at the break.

Up front, Ben Fowkes was holding the ball up well, while Quantrell had shots blocked early in the second half as Leiston came more into the game, while Clements was still called into action, but equal to Jack Kelly’s free kick on the hour mark.

The Blues were showing no signs of being down to 10 men, defending well, attacking at speed and working hard all over the pitch.

And they got their rewards, and the winning goal on 65 minutes when skipper captain Dunbar burst forward and threaded a ball into Quantrell. The midfielder skilfully beat two men in the box before crossing for Loza who had made a fine run to the near post, where he gleefully tucked the ball home.

Leiston were equal to balls into the box late on and Clements held a couple of dangerous free kicks. The game was finally brought to an end after nearly nine minutes of added on time with Leiston deserved victors much to the delight of the majority of the more than 240 in the crowd.

FT: Blues 1 Redditch United 0

The Blues now head to Stamford next weekend in another Southern League clash.

Line-ups;

Blues: Johnson, Yun, Dunbar, Armin, Clements, Eddie Jackson, Rayworth, Alexander, Fowkes (Fatadjo 88 mins), Quantrell, Loza. Subs not used: Batho, Saunders, Ryan Jarvis and Rossi Jarvis.

Redditch United: Taylor, Burton (Dawkins 66 mins), Kelly, (Dwyer 46 mins), Rowley, King (Burroughs 88 mins), Teixeira, Thomas (Flanagan 80 mins), Onabirekhanlen, Clayton-Phillips, Boothe (Shambrook 66 mins).

Corporate Match Sponsors Leiston Football Club Supporters Man of the Match: Kyran Clements

Attendance: 242