LEISTON and Stourbridge battled out a rugged goalless draw at the Flannery Stadium on Saturday afternoon in murky and misty conditions writes Craig Cooper.

The Blues, fresh from a fine 4-1 win over Kettering last time out couldn't break down at stubborn Stourbridge defence, even when the visitors from the Black Country were reduced to 10 men after Harvey Portman was sent off in the first half for a reckless tackle on Ronnie Blois.

Blois, himself, had the best chance of the second half in a game of few clear-cut efforts, when he could only shoot tamely at Charlie Price in the home goal, eight yards out.

A point apiece however for both sides saw Leiston rise two places in the Southern League Premier Division Central table, to eighth, while Stourbridge moved out of the relegation spots.

The Blues had to make an enforced changed as Joao Rangel was injured, so in came Cameron Rayworth, while Ryan Jarvis and Marcus Mehew came back into the squad.

Chris Wigger missed the game through illness so Lee Norfolk and Ryan Jarvis took charge of the game.

Stourbridge had a chance to take the lead just 20 seconds into the game as Tom Edge played a ball from the away team’s right into the box but Zidan Sutherland was foiled well by Billy Johnson in the Blues box and Leiston cleared the danger.

Don Lewis and Jenson Sumnall went close for Stourbridge in the next ten minutes before captain Seb Dunbar made a good challenge in the area to stop Lewis getting his shot away on goal. Jack Fletcher’s effort was well blocked by Jude Frostick on 19 minutes.

Adam Mills nearly got in on goal after a long kick from Johnson on 26 minutes, this just after Eddie Jackson did well to header over a dangerous cross from Sumnall. Jackson did brilliantly a few moments later to tackle Sutherland in the area just before the half hour mark.

Edge stroked wide on 40 minutes for the visitors before the big turning point happened in the 43rd minute with Harvey Portman being sent off after a bad challenge on Blois moments before half-time, with the fog becoming heavy.

Before play started in the second period, the fog eased a bit and Mills curled an effort just over Price’s bar 90 seconds into the second period after a good cross by Dunbar allowed Willie Clemons to tee Mills up.

Rayworth for forward well on 49 minutes and his cross flew over Price but out of play.

On 56 minutes, Stourbridge won a dangerous free kick on the edge of the Blues box but man-of-the-match Kyle Callan-McFadden and Rayworth dealt with the fast piece well.

Rayworth shot just over on the edge of the box on 69 minutes as the away side did well to deny Leiston any real chances in the final few minutes of the game to gain a point. Late on, Price came to take Dunbar’s cross while the keeper saved the same players header on 78 minutes.

Johnson made a low save down to his left from 20 yards out as the fog began to get worse once again, and Leiston had a good opportunity to win the game in the first minute of additional time but Blois shot straight at Price in the away goal.

FT: Leiston 0 Stourbridge 0

Although the Blues will be disappointed not to test the away defence more in the second half, a point wasn’t a bad result against a Stourbridge team now unbeaten in six league games.

The Blues now host Alvechurch on Tuesday night in the league kick off 7.45pm

Line-ups;

Blues: Johnson, Dunbar, Callan-McFadden, Jackson, Alexander, Blois, Mills, Rayworth, Frostick, Clemons (Manly 64 mins), Fowkes. Subs not used: Hill, Batho, Jarvis and Mehew.

Stourbridge: Price, Sumnall, Bood, Solanke, Portman, Reeves, Fletcher (White 85 mins) , Edge, Bishop (Sidibe 85 mins), Lewis, Sutherland (Carey 45 mins). Subs not used: Afoka and Chong.

The LFC Supporters Man Of The Match: Kyle Callan-McFadden
Attendance: 180