A LATE goal from St Ives Town's Amir Hadi denied Leiston all three Southern League Premier Division Central points, after the Blues put on a fine performance at the Watson & Hillhouse Stadium on Tuesday night, writes Craig Cooper.

Hadi finished well in the 88th-minute to seal a point for the Cambridgeshire side, just as it looked as though Leiston were set to grab all three, after substitute Joao Rangel scored a superb 83rd-minute goal to put Chris Wigger's side 2-1 ahead.

The visitors had earlier taken the lead on 59 minutes when Jordan Williams slid the ball home from six yards after Blues 'keeper Billy Johnson had initially blocked. However, Ben Fowkes, on his 100th appearance for the Blues, equalised 15 minutes later, before the two late goals saw honours even at the end.

Wyatt Hill started in place of Rangel, who took his place on the bench, while Max Crane came into the squad in place of Ben Batho, who was unavailable. Ronnie Blois and Kyle Callan-McFadden remained out injured.

Fraser Alexander’s free kick was punched away by Ollie Taylor after just four minutes before Cameron Rayworth made a good challenge on the Blues right and Leiston dealt with a corner shortly after.

The Blues had an excellent chance to take the lead on 12 minutes. Willie Clemons picked up a loose ball in defence and got into the St Ives box but shot narrowly wide of Taylor’s right hand post.

A minute later at the other end, Eddie Jackson blocked a St Ives attempt in the penalty area before Johnson gathered the loose ball. In the 16th minute, Ryan Jarvis and Ben Fowkes linked up well on the left, with the latter crossing into the box to Jude Frostick but the Blues midfielder shot just wide of Taylor’s upright.

Adam Mills had a great chance to put Leiston ahead on 24 minutes when Fowkes fed a ball through to him, but after getting into the area, Mills’ shot was well saved by Taylor.

Theo Alexandrou shot over for St Ives on 34 minutes while just before the break, Clemons headed wide from Mills’ delivery on the Blues right.

A little after ten seconds into the second half, Mills’ pot shot from distance was pushed away by Taylor to his right as Leiston continued where they had left off in the first half.

On 50 minutes, Jamal Adams tried his luck on the halfway line but Johnson back pedalled to gather the ball. A minute later, and Jernade Mead’s strike from outside the box was saved well by Johnson to the keeper’s right as the visitors rallied.

Fowkes’ run into the box on 54 minutes was again saved well by Taylor, while two minutes later, Mills couldn’t quite direct Rayworth’s cross into the net.

St Ives took the lead on 59 minutes when Leiston didn’t deal with a free kick and, after Johnson made a good initial save, Williams followed up to put the visitors in front.

On 69 minutes, Seb Dunbar met Rangel’s cross from the right but the shot was blocked, before Alexander’s effort was again deflected away.

But the leveller would come five minutes later. Fowkes did well to control Rangel’s cross and he fired a shot into Taylor’s bottom left-hand corner, giving the keeper no chance, to score his fifth goal of the campaign on his 100th appearance.

In the 83rd minute, Leiston took the lead. Rangel did brilliantly on the Blues right to take on the away defence and get into the box to shoot home with the outside of his right boot. It was a cracking finish as the rain, which had started to fall at the start of the half, before easing, returned again.

But, after Leiston dealt with some St Ives pressure, with Eddie Jackson doing well to block a close range shot, St Ives came forward again and Hadi shot past Johnson well, to restore parity.

FT: Blues 2 St Ives Town 2

On Saturday, Leiston host Banbury United in another important game this weekend, as the Oxfordshire side visit in the Emirates FA Cup Third Round Qualifying.

Line-ups:

Blues: Johnson, Rayworth, Dunbar, Hill, Jackson, Alexander, Clemons, Mills, Frostick, Jarvis (Rangel 62 mins), Fowkes. Subs not used: McNeil, Crane, Keller and Mehew.
St Ives Town: Taylor, Creary, Smith, Richens, Williams, Idehen, Hadi, Adams (Njie 67 mins), Cross (Shepherd 90 mins), Alexandrou (Miles 89 mins), Meade (Mckoy 82 mins).

Man Of The Match, selected by Match Sponsor Flick & Son Coast & Country: Joao Rangel

Attendance: 167