LEISTON returned to Suffolk from their third longest away trip of the season with a well-earned point after a tough encounter with Stourbridge, writes Dave Rees.

Adam Mills' third goal of the season cancelled out Tyrone Barnett’s 27th minute opener as Chris Wigger’s side made it six games unbeaten on their travels this season as they lifted themselves a place in the table up into ninth.

The Blues form in the West Midlands has not been the best and they had the opportunity to make amends against a home side in 16th and without a home league win since the opening day of the season.

It was a relatively tentative opening after an early clash of heads between the hosts Lewis and Reeves that brought almost a double figure delay with both players substituted. After the restart Leiston were first to threaten, Jack Manly’s free kick forcing Price in the home goal into a save. The home keeper was in action again five minutes later, pushing out Ben Fowkes effort before just before the half hour mark Stourbridge took the lead.

Solanke picked up an unfortunate deflection in midfield and strode forward before sending a terrific 25-yard effort crashing against Billy Johnson’s crossbar with Barnett reacting the quickest to guide home the rebound from 12 yards. Willock probably should have doubled the home sides lead seven minutes before half time but he dragged his shot wide from Barnett’s knock down.

But in first half stoppage time Leiston drew level with a terrific effort from Mills. A great ball in from the right from Ben Fowkes found Mills on the edge of the box and his half volley raced into the roof of Price’s net. Moments later Manly tested Price as Leiston ended the half strongly.

The experienced Barnett almost fired Stourbridge into an early second half lead but from Verma’s cross he couldn’t direct his effort on target at the far post. The game now swung end to end with both sides attacking at will but efforts firing over or wide.

Blues substitute Ronnie Blois saw one of those efforts just wide of the upright and with thirteen minutes remaining Mills latched onto a short back pass and as he turned for goal he saw his strike drift narrowly wide.

Tempers frayed in the closing stages after Barnett and then Rayworth almost won it for their respective sides but after a tough encounter the points were shared.

FT: Stourbridge 1 Blues 1

How the sides lined up;
Stourbridge: Price, Rowe, Bood, Solanke, Sumnall, Reeves (Freeman 10 mins), Verma, Lewis (Concannon 10 mins, Abbey 72 mins), Willock (Archer 85 mins), Harland, Barnett. Substitute not used: Oben
Leiston: Johnson, Hill (Rayworth 80 mins), Dunbar, Frostick, Callan-McFadden, Jarvis (McNeil 85 mins), Jackson, Alexander, Fowkes, Mills, Manly (Blois 60 mins). Substitutes not used: Parlett and Mehew

Man of the Match: Ryan Jarvis
Attendance: 765