Live-wire Fowkes was on hand to firstly poke home after Adam Mills had seen his shot saved by home 'keeper Daniel Platt on 15 minutes, before he was on hand again to smash home after Joao Rangel saw his shot blocked, again by Platt.

Fin Holmes dragged the home side back into it on 73 minutes, before Halesowen then went down to 10 men. And the Blues defended stoutly, Billy Johnson in the away goal making some terrific saves as the three points returned to Suffolk.

"Halesowen is a real tough place to come," Blues boss, Chris Wigger, said after the game.

"I don't think we've ever had a win here. I spoke to Ben Fowkes before the game, we were playing 4-4-2 and I said get near Ronnie Blois for tap-ins. He's done just that, both his goals were in and around the six-yard box.

"So, it was a great start, but there were two sides to the game and as well as we attacked in the first half, defensively in the second, we were excellent. An absolutely terrific performance."

Wyatt Hill came into the starting XI in place of Harvey Sayer, who has joined Lowestoft Town on loan, after finishing his month’s loan spell with the Blues. Meanwhile, Jude Frostick (returning from injury) and Billy Walsh (back from a loan spell at Gorleston) came back into the squad.

Leiston began well and passed the ball around on a slick surface early on. Billy Johnson came to take a cross on six minutes for the Blues while two minutes later, Ronnie Blois nearly got in for Leiston in front of goal but Rob Evans made a good tackle.

The hosts nearly took the lead on 13 minutes but Ty Barnett shot just wide of Johnson’s left hand post after a ball in from the Blues left.

However, it was Leiston who went in front on 15 minutes when Johnson’s long kick was met by Adam Mills who’s shot was saved by Platt, before Fowkes reacted first to shoot home into an empty net.

Three minutes later, and Blois flashed a header across goal from Fraser Alexander’s cross before halfway through the half, Willie Clemons went down and there was a break in play.

Once the action resumed, Mills tested Platt in the home goal at an acute angle but the Blues would double their advantage on 28 minutes.

Rangel won the ball on the halfway line and ran at the visiting defence before seeing his strike loop over Platt, which the keeper did brilliantly to keep out but the ball came to Fowkes who kept his cool to keep the ball down and shoot low into the net.

Leiston continued to pass the ball with conviction and made the right choices at the right times. Milan Butterfield thwarted Fowkes from getting in on goal after 35 minutes while two minutes later, Alexander shot just wide when well placed.

McKauley Manning’s header was saved by Johnson from a home corner on 41 minutes before on the stroke of half-time, Ben Batho won a tackle on the halfway line which released Rangel but the player shot wide of goal.

The home side made a lively start to proceedings after the break, and Manning shot over from just outside the box three minutes into half. Halesowen then won a corner but the ball curled out of play.

Hill and Eddie Jackson did well to head away crosses into the box on 51 minutes, while the resultant delivery saw Johnson back pedal and push the ball over the bar.

The Blues keeper then did well to fist a corner away and then somehow, the keeper superbly saved Finn Holmes’ shot from six yards out.

Leiston started to attack again themselves and used the pitch well to get their wingers involved again.

On 65 minutes, Blois and Mills set up Fowkes in the box but his effort was deflected wide of Platt’s right hand post. Hill then headed the corner just over the bar.

In the 69th minute, Fowkes shot over in the box after a good passing move, but the home team pulled a goal back on 73 minutes. The lively Holmes did well to control and take a bobbling ball outside the box and fire a strike into Johnson’s bottom corner.

The home crowd, most behind Johnson’s goal, were singing again now, but the home team were reduced to ten men on 75 minutes when Jim Kellermann was sent off for two yellow cards in the space of about ten seconds for dissent.

Halesowen went close on 80 minutes as sub Charlie Wragg turned in the box to shot just wide of the goal from a corner.

Leiston made a double substitution, with Rayworth and Frostick replacing Hill and Fowkes.

With seven minutes of additional time going up in the technical area, Johnson made another fine save to his left to deny the impressive Holmes, while the keeper was down to a shot inside the box moments later that was straight at the keeper.

In the final minute, Batho was booked for a foul and Halesowen put in a free kick on the edge of the box but Leiston cleared their lines and after clearing the ball up to halfway, referee Matthew Jackson blew his whistle, much to the joy of the away fans.

FT: Halesowen Town 1 Blues 2

Chris Wigger’s side are now back in action next Saturday as fifth placed Needham Market visit for a local derby (3pm kick off).

Line-ups;

Halesowen Town: - Platt, Cassidy, Smile, Finn (Cowley 69 mins), Manning, Butterfield, Kellermann, Evans, Holmes, Barnett (Wragg 69 mins), Mitchell (Gudger 84 mins). Subs not used: Hickman and Wollacott.

Blues: Johnson, Hill (Rayworth 86 mins), Dunbar, Jackson, Rangel, Alexander, Blois, Mills, Batho, Clemons, Fowkes (Frostick 86 mins). Subs not used: Walsh, Jarvis and Mehew.

Blues Man Of The Match: Billy Johnson

Attendance: 1206