LEISTON missed out on the chance to make it back-to-back home victories for the second time this season as Bishop's Stortford snatched all three points at the Flannery Stadium on Tuesday night, writes Craig Cooper.

Fabio Virciglio's deflected goal in the 24th minute was enough to give the visitors all three points on a frustrating night for Chris Wigger's side.

On a cold, crisp evening, the Blues, who lost influential defender Kyle Callan-McFadden just before the break with injury, dominated the second period, hitting the post and going close on numerous occasions. But they couldn't find the net for only the second time in the league this season and the third time in all competitions.

Leiston dropped to ninth in the Southern League Premier Division Central table, ahead of two away games at Stratford and St Ives Town in the coming week.

Jack Manly came in to replace Ryan Jarvis, who dropped out of the squad, while new loan signing Harvey Sayer came into the squad and Stan Horne also went back into the 16.

The visitors started well and pinged Leiston back in their own half, but the Blues defended well and neither team had no effort in front of goal until the seventh minute. That came when Obi Onyeagwara cut inside from Leiston’s right but shot over the bar.

Eddie Jackson did well to make a good challenge as Bishop’s Stortford player Nahum Melvin-Lambert came forward, with visitors starting much brighter than the home side.

In the 20th minute, Fraser Alexander and Ben Fowkes combined well to play the ball to captain Seb Dunbar, but the cross was easy for Adam Hayton in the away goal.

Saleem Akanbi shot wide of Billy Johnson’s right hand post before on 24 minutes, Stortford took the lead when Virciglio’s strike was deflected off Johnson and into the net.

Manly shot just wide of Hayton’s right hand post on the half hour mark after good play by Wyatt Hill while on 35 minutes, Joao Rangel’s delivery was headed away. Jackson flicked on a header from a corner in the 42nd-minute that went just wide in what was the last action of the half.

Callan-McFadden had to be replaced by new loan signing Sayer, with the defender going off injured.

The Blues won two early corners in the second period and Rangel curled over a shot on 50 minutes. In the 56th minute, Manly’s free kick was easy for Hayton to save and in the 62nd minute, Manly put Fowkes’ cross over the bar.

Three minutes later, and Melvin-Lambert hit the foot of Johnson’s post before Akanbi shot the rebound wide.

Melvin-Lambert headed wide from close range moments as Stortford looked to kill the game off, before Sayer’s effort was pushed into the post by Hayton, as the Blues responded.

Late on, Rangel saw a shot blocked, sub Ronnie Blois went close and Leiston nearly scored at the end from a corner as they put lots of pressure on the away defence but the Hertfordshire side saw the game out.

FT: Blues 0 Bishop’s Stortford 1

Leiston now head to Stratford Town on Saturday afternoon, as they begin two away games on the bounce.

Line-ups;

Blues: Johnson, Hill (Frostick 77 mins), Dunbar, Callan-McFadden (Sayer 45+1 mins), Jackson, Rangel, Alexander, Manly (Horne 90+2 mins), Mills, Clemons, Fowkes (Blois 69 mins). Sub not used: Mehew.

Bishop’s Stortford: Hayton, Davies, Dasilva, Thompson, Melvin-Lambert, Onyeagwara (Forde 90+3 mins), Virciglio, Smith, Akinbulumo, Akanbi (Russell 86 mins), Johnson. Subs not used: Lethbridge, Field and St Louis.

Match sponsors, Midlands Accommodation, Man Of The Match: Eddie Jackson

Attendance: 152