BEN Fowkes struck his 15th goal of the season as Leiston picked up a late point against lowly Royston Town at the Flannery Stadium on Saturday, writes Craig Cooper.

Fowkes went through to slot home a deserved equaliser for the Blues in what was an otherwise frustrating match for the Suffolk side, Royston fully deserving their point, as they battle the drop.

Eddie Jackson was shown a red card late on for Leiston as the ten-men then looked for a winner, but it never came. It was Leiston's third home draw in the league on the spin and a result that saw them drop to 11th in the Southern League Premier Division Central table.

Wyatt Hill replaced Cameron Rayworth, who was ill, in the starting XI, while goalkeeper Jack Beresford came into the squad in place of Marcus Mehew, who was playing for the U23s.

Ollie Stephenson had an early shot wide of Billy Johnson’s goal before Adam Mills shot straight at Louis Chadwick on eight minutes.

Mills then showed good play but his cross flashed across goal before Seb Dunbar’s delivery was met by Ronnie Blois but he headed wide of Chadwick’s goal.

Johnson then made a good save from close range before the half ended for the home side. Archie Locke headed wide while Fowkes was thwarted by Chadwick from close range early in the second half.

Hill did well to make a good tackle in the Blues box just before the hour mark but Royston took the lead when Joe Iaciofano fired home a penalty on 70 minutes.

Leiston levelled on 84 minutes, though, when Jack Manly threaded a ball into Fowkes’ path and the Blues player shot home off Chadwick’s left-hand post to give Leiston an equaliser.

Late on, Joao Rangel had a goal disallowed before on 94 minutes, Eddie Jackson was then sent off, being last man, as Royston broke, and Johnson had to make a late save.

FT: Blues 1 Royston Town 1

Leiston now begin the first of two away games, starting at Bury Town on Tuesday night.

Line-ups:

Blues: Johnson, Hill (Batho 73 mins), Dunbar, Callan-McFadden, Jackson, Alexander, Blois (Rangel 56 mins), Mills, Frostick (Manly 63 mins), Clemons (Jarvis 73 mins), Fowkes. Sub not used: Beresford.

Royston Town: Chadwick, Stephenson, Clair-Burton (Frederick 65 mins), Murray, Locke, Iaciofano (Maguranyanga 81 mins), Beckett, Harness, Smith, Bugyei-Kyei, Avgouatidis (Nicholas-Davies 75 mins). Subs not used: Matthews and Ivanov.

Match Sponsor, Flick & Son, Man Of The Match: Adam Mills

Attendance: 154