Harvey Sayer, Adam Mills and Ronnie Blois were all on target in a breath taking spell from the Blues that saw Chris Wigger's side pick up a fine 3-1 victory.

After a solid first half performance, Leiston went to town early in the second period, and even a consolation goal from St Ives skipper Michael Richens couldn't dampen what was a fine night for the Blues.

Leiston had to make enforced changes to the starting eleven from Saturday. Wyatt Hill and Jack Manly (both injured) while Joao Rangel was only fit enough to take his place on the bench. Ben Batho, Ronnie Blois and Ryan Jarvis all came into the team while Ewan Parlett, Stan Horne and Archie Hubert came into the sixteen. Jude Frostick was also out after injuring himself in the warm up on Saturday against Stratford Town.

On a freezing cold night, leiston began well and with authority.

In the third minute, Fraser Alexander’s cross was headed behind for a Blues corner and after the hosts cleared, the ball was worked out to Harvey Sayer on the Blues right but the player shot straight at Ollie Taylor in the St Ives goal.

A minute later and Tyrone Baker rounded Blues keeper Billy Johnson but could only shoot wide of the target.

On six minutes, Taylor did well to beat Sayer’s strike over the crossbar before after St Ives again dealt with a corner, Ben Fowkes’ dangerous cross was controlled by Ryan Jarvis and the Blues player’s cross was met by Eddie Jackson but the ball went wide of Taylor’s right hand post.

Michael Richens’ headed Kellan Hickinson’s corner over for the home side on ten minutes and a minute later, Sayer’s pin point cross was met by Ronnie Blois but the striker headed straight at Taylor.

Baker shot well wide after St Ives countered on 15 minutes following Alexander’s corner.

Baker shot just wide on 18 minutes from just outside the box.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Leiston continued to impress and Fowkes and Sayer had chances before Kellan Hickinson went close for St Ives, shooting narrowly wide after a break away upfield.

St Ives worked a good team move on 33 minutes, and Romari Forde struck a shot well in the area but Johnson made a great save to his right.

Richens went close on 37 minutes for the hosts while in the 43rd minute, Sayer’s effort was beaten away well by Taylor in the final effort on goal in the half.

The Blues started well after the break. A couple of good passing moves were broken down by St Ives Town early on but the opener came on 51 minutes.

Sayer burst into the box at an angle and shot under the legs of Taylor to get his first goal got Leiston since being on loan from Tamworth.

The Blues doubled their lead three minutes later, when Adam Mills played in Ben Fowkes on Leiston’s left and the player got into the area and crossed to Mills who smashed the ball home into the roof of the net.

Taylor took Mills’ cross well on 57 minutes before Mills went close again on the hour mark as he shot just wide. St Ives quickly broke upfield but Johnson was out well and saved the shot.

On 63 minutes, Blois finished off a move after Sayer had his shot saved from Taylor, with the player crossing the loose ball across goal.

On 65 minutes, Sayer’s attempt was again clawed away by Taylor, this time to his right.

A period of nearly ten minutes then followed with no real chances in front of goal for either side, and after Mills did well defensively to concede a corner, the home side pulled a goal back when Richens climbed highest at the back post to pull a goal back.

St Ives had made a quadruple change just before this, while Ryan Jarvis was replaced by Ewan Parlett on 81 minutes.

St Ives tested Johnson with a couple of long range shots but they were easy for the Blues keeper before on 88 minutes, Fowkes’ cross was met by Parlett but the youngster handled the ball.

In the first minute of added on time, Johnson saved well in the area and in the fifth and final minute of stoppage time, Taylor denied Fowkes with referee Mr Stuart Lathan then signalling the end of the game.

There were some excellent performances in the team last night. The back five were steady and assured at the back, with Sayer, Mills and Fowkes lively in attack, and Clemons and Jarvis outstanding in the middle of the park. Ronnie Blois did very well up top on his own in a really good team display.

The win puts Leiston back up to 8th in the table, albeit with fixtures taken place tonight in the league.

FT: - St Ives Town 1-3 Blues

Leiston are back in home action on Saturday when they host Real Bedford, which will see the sides meet for the first time.

Line-ups;

St Ives Town: Taylor, Creary (Smith 68 mins), Medrano (Riordan 68 mins), Richens, Williams, Idehen, Baker, Hickinson (Shepherd 68 mins), Miles, Forde, Njie (Meade 68 mins). Sub not used: Alexandrou.

Blues: Johnson, Batho, Dunbar, Jackson, Alexander, Blois, Sayer (Rangel 90+2 mins), Mills, Clemons, Jarvis (Parlett 81 mins), Fowkes. Subs not used: Horne, Hubert and Mehew.

Blues Man Of The Match: Harvey Sayer

Attendance: 168