KYRAN Clements came off the bench to net a dramatic 92nd-minute winner for Leiston at AFC Sudbury, as the Blues got their play-off push back on track.

The defender broke the home team’s hearts, burying the ball past home ‘keeper Jamie Bradbrook as his brilliant-timed run saw him finish his one-on-one chance.

Clements had only been on the pitch six minutes and, not for the first time this season, he proved the ace in the pack, to grab Chris Wigger’s side all three points, edging them ever nearer a top five spot.

In a frantic local derby, it was AFC Sudbury who took the lead in the 18th minute, Oliver Peters sending Billy Johnson the wrong way from the spot, after Fraser Alexander’s foul in the box on the same man.

However, Blues top scorer Jamar Loza was on hand in first-half stoppage time to dink the ball over Bradbrook, for his 23rd goal of the campaign, after good work by George Quantrell to level it up, before another Clements late show.

The win means the Blues are three points off the play-offs with a game in hand of most of the teams above them.

Blues boss Wigger made just one change from the home defeat to Kettering Town last week as Wyatt Hill replaced Clements in the Blues defence.

On a fantastic afternoon for football, with sunshine beaming, Leiston started well and we’re keeping possession well early on.

Their first chance came after just three minutes, with Eddie Jackson playing a a ball through the Sudbury defence which Adam Mills latched onto only to produce a shot that was easy for Bradbrook in the home goal.

Three minutes later and Billy Johnson’s long pass found Armin who controlled well and Quantrell crossed from the left by the home side headed the ball away from goal.

Sudbury nearly took the lead when an attempt from a corner saw Armin deflect the ball just wide of Johnson’s left hand post. Moments later, however, Sudbury took the lead.

And attack down the Blues right saw Fraser Alexander foul in the penalty area and up stepped Oliver Peters to send Johnson the wrong way to put the home side in front.

On 35 minutes, Sudbury came close to a second, somehow unable to bundle the ball over the line from a set piece as Johnson made a good save and Leiston cleared the ball away eventually to safety. It was a let-off for the visitors.

Late in the half, Bradbrook claimed Alexander’s corner while Dunbar’s cross went out of play after a good move and Ismael Fatadjo shot just over the bar as Leiston settled down again.

But with virtually the last kick of the half, Quantrell’s ball over the top of the home defence put in Jamar Loza and he made no mistake to guide the ball over Bradbrook to restore parity. It was his 23rd goal of the season.

Joe Neal had a fantastic chance to put Sudbury back in the lead five minutes after the interval but headed just wide of Johnson’s post while, on 54 minutes, Armin headed away a free kick for a corner and Ryan Henshaw headed wide this time for the hosts.

Just before the hour mark, Loza’s effort was deflected wide after he was sent through from Quantrell’s pass but once again, Bradbrook took Alexander’s corner with ease.

Ben Fowkes replaces Mills while Callum Page replaced Peters for Sudbury with a little under half hour to play. Quantrell forced Bradbrook into a good save to his right while Fowkes cut inside but dragged his strike wide.

Chances became hard to come by as both defences gave nothing away but Johnson made a good save from distance on 84 minutes before the follow up was hit just over the crossbar on the edge of the box.

Both teams made more subs to try and make an impact on the match, and Neal had another good chance on 89 minutes but Johnson saved his shot in the area once again.

With the board showing six minutes of additional time, Leiston came forward on 92 minutes and Armin’s shot was controlled by Clements who was played onside by a Sudbury defender and the player shot home into Bradbrook’s net to score his ninth of the season much to the delight of the travelling fans.

Sudbury forced a couple of corners late on before Loza went through with a minute to go but Bradbrook got out well to save at his feet. Sudbury came at the Blues one more time but Ollie Saunders cleared up field prompting the referee to signal the end of the game and send the visiting fans home happy.

FT: AFC Sudbury 1 Blues 2

THE two sides meet again on Tuesday night in the Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup semi-final at Felixstowe & Walton United FC kick off 7.45pm.

How the sides lined up;

AFC Sudbury: Bradbrook, Charlie Lewis, Turner, Henshaw, Dickens, Miles, Peters (Page 62 mins), Neal, Pearce (Terminiello 78 mins), Marcel Lewis, Cowling (Bradley 90 mins). Subs not used: Isaacson and Goredema.

Blues: Johnson, Yun (Rayworth 72 mins), Dunbar (Saunders 82 mins), Armin, Hill, Eddie Jackson, Fatadjo (Clements 86 mins), Alexander, Mills (Fowkes 62 mins), Quantrell, Loza. Sub not used: Ryan Jarvis.

Blues Man of the Match: Albie Armin

Attendance: 332