LEISTON made it five straight wins and five clean sheets on the bounce with a hard-working 2-0 win at Stamford.

The Blues top and tailed the match with goals from Ben Fowkes (5 mins) and Adam Mills (89 mins) to seal a victory that took Chris Wigger’s men up to sixth in the Southern League Central Premier Division table, just two points off Halesowen who sit in the final play-off place.

Well organised and showing plenty of guile, the Blues took their chances well and defended even better. The win saw them leapfrog above a Stamford side who are still very much in the play-off hunt.

Without regular first-team ‘keeper Billy Johnson (suspended), teenager Marcus Mehew stepped up to the plate and put in a fine performance to keep Leiston's current clean sheet record intact.

“We knew it was a massive game. It wasn’t pretty but we got the three points which was all that mattered,” Mehew said after the game.

“It’s also a clean sheet which is massive for the boys, another on the bounce which is important for me. They were a tough side, but we ground it out and got the result.

“Billy has big shoes to fill because he’s kept so many clean sheets and we’ve been so good defensively, but I back myself, the boys in front of me trusted me and it showed with the result.”

Eddie Jackson made a good sliding challenge on the Blues right after just 30 seconds to stop a home attack before Fowkes went down Leiston’s left at the other end to cross into the area but Stamford cleared.

However, the first goal came after just five minutes. Good work by George Quantrell and Jamar Loza helped the ball to Fowkes who controlled well and then brilliantly struck a shot into home 'keeper Thomas Jackson’s bottom left-hand corner.

Moments after the restart, Quantrell was set away on goal and deftly lobbed the ball over Thomas Jackson but the ball nestled just wide of the keeper’s right-hand upright as the visitors started well.

The hosts had their first effort on goal a couple of minutes later but captain Joe Burgess shot over Mehew’s crossbar on the edge of the box. In the 12th minute, Jack Duffy dragged his effort wide of Mehew’s post while the same player got away from Eddie Jackson two minutes later but shot high and wide.

Loza got at the home defence down Leiston’s left flank and crossed across the six yard area but no one could get on the end of the delivery, and Cameron Rayworth crossed but Stamford cleared.

Leiston, playing in all yellow, were dictating play and restricting the hosts to any real chances.

Halfway through the first period, Rayworth made a great run and was found by Quantrell but Jackson made a good block to deny the Blues player. Ollie Yun then did well to head away an inviting home cross, while Mehew came off his line well to claim a free kick.

Rayworth was booked and Mehew got behind a header from a free kick well to keep out the hosts. Eddie Jackson blocked a good run and strike from Tobias Liversidge on 41 minutes before Loza went agonisingly close with a free kick a minute later while Fowkes tested Thomas Jackson from distance.

Kyran Clements then received treatment on the pitch after a clash of heads and Leiston saw out nearly four minutes of stoppage time to go into the break ahead.

Just 40 seconds into the second half Duffy’s cross-cum-shot hit Mehew’s crossbar as the home team flew out of the blocks.

Leiston had a chance on 49 minutes when Loza played the ball into Clements’ feet and the Blues player back heeled the ball to Fowkes who fired just wide of Thomas Jackson’s post.

Eddie Jackson headed away a dangerous free kick for Leiston in the box while from the corner Leiston showed some good passing that ended with Rayworth’s effort being blocked.

The home side had a great chance to equalise on 56 minutes after a move from their right found Jordan Cooke but the player put the ball wide of Mehew’s right-hand post.

Mills, back in the Leiston ranks after joining the club from Needham last week, replaced Clements and Stamford also made changes to their personnel as the game reached the 70th minute mark.

Mehew punched away under pressure from a corner as the hosts had four corners on the bounce, with the home side again hitting the crossbar after the fourth corner, with Stamford now on top.

Mehew was bundled over in the area as the home side thought they had levelled but a foul was given on the Blues keeper.

At the other end, Mills’ shot was deflected low down to Thomas Jackson’s left on 78 minutes before the Blues player found himself through on goal but the Stamford stopper again saved. Mills was then booked along with a Stamford player a minute later.

Mehew was booked on 87 minutes for time wasting but it mattered not as Leiston made the game safe on 89 minutes, with Mills heading home Fraser Alexander’s corner, as the Leiston players celebrated the goal in front of their travelling supporters.

Loza nearly made it three in the first minute of stoppage time, as the Blues and their fans enjoyed what was a fine performance.

FT: - Stamford 0-2 Blues.

Leiston host St Ives Town (7.45pm kick off) on Tuesday night in another Southern League fixture.

Line-ups: -
Stamford: - Thomas Jackson, Cooke, Bartle, Hobbins, Blunden, Offler, Chitiza (sub Marzano 68 mins), Burgess (sub Matwasa 82 mins), Duffy, Shaw (sub Gregory 68 mins), Liversidge (sub Challinor 68 mins).
Blues: - Mehew, Yun, Saunders, Armin, Clements (sub Mills 63 mins), Eddie Jackson, Rayworth (sub Batho 90+2 mins), Alexander, Fowkes, Quantrell, Loza. Subs not used: - Fatadjo, Ryan Jarvis, Rossi Jarvis.

Blues Man Of The Match: - Ollie Yun.
Attendance: - 373.