WILLIE Clemons notched a 95th-minute winner as Leiston picked up an excellent three points at Barwell on Saturday writes Craig Cooper.

Clemons was in the right place at the right time to thump home the winning goal past home ‘keeper Finn Osborn to send the Blues fans in the crowd delirious with delight.

It was no more than the Blues deserved for a stoic performance, coming back from a goal down after Zayn Hakeem put the home side ahead in the 11th minute.

Adam Mills equalised just before the break for Leiston and Harvey Sayer, on his return to the Blues after an earlier loan spell before Christmas, put the visitors 2-1 ahead.

However, with just seven minutes left, the home side levelled themselves through Prince Mancinelli, only for Clemons to steal the show and the points for the Blues.

The Blues arrived in Leicestershire without Seb Dunbar (unavailable), Eddie Jackson (suspended), Ben Fowkes (injured) and Jude Frostick (ill).

This meant Wyatt Hill (captain for the afternoon), Joao Rangel and Harvey Sayer came into the starting XI while Cameron Rayworth and Ewan Parlett came back into the squad.

Hill headed away an early free kick for the hosts after just 90 seconds although Leiston had the first chance on goal, with Rangel switching the ball from Leiston’s left to right to find new signing Sayer but the Blues player shot straight at Finn Osborn on seven minutes.

Two minutes later and Hill did well at the other end to block a close range attempt by Zayn Hakeen but the same player made the most of Leiston pressing up the pitch on 11 minutes when he found some space on Barwell’s right to cut inside and dispatch a strike high into Billy Johnson’s top right-hand corner.

This goal for the home side seemed to fire Leiston into life for the remaining part of the match as they played with a really fast tempo and won most of the midfield battles.

Sayer had two efforts that Osborn saved while on 26 minutes, Mills nearly got on the end of a ball bouncing around in the Barwell box but Osborn came to gather the ball.

Another good passing move on 29 minutes saw the ball come out on Leiston’s right to Sayer but the Leiston player’s shot was headed off the line by Freddie Cook.

On 34 minutes, Rangel’s effort was saved by Osborn before the keeper spilled Sayer’s shot moments later and Ronnie Blois followed up to score but the assistant’s flag was raised for offside.

On 40 minutes, Sayer again did well on Leiston’s right to hit Osborn’s left hand post but referee Kieron Rogers signalled a corner.

The corner found Mills at the back post who headed past Osborn to level the scores on 42 minutes.

Leiston, with their tails up, had another shot on goal before the interval but Clemons shot over Osborn’s bar.

Just two minutes into the second half, Blois hit the bar after a good threaded pass from Clemons through the hosts’ defence.

Johnson pushed away a corner at the other end for Leiston before at the other end, Osborn claimed Manly’s free kick which led to Barwell breaking up field but the effort went over the bar.

On 61 minutes, Mills’ cross was turned away only as far as Rangel but the player’s shot was blocked well.

But, just a minute later, Sayer was found by Clemons on the Blues right and the player cut inside to shoot low into Osborn’s right-hand corner just outside the box to give Leiston the lead.

Sayer went close on 68 minutes before Blois showed great touch and control to ease into the box but struck wide of Osborn’s right hand post.

At the other end, Johnson easily dealt with a deflected shot in the Blues box while on 75 minutes, Sayer’s shot was well saved with his legs by Osborn and Blois could only shoot the rebound wide of goal.

Mills was shown a yellow card for a late foul as Barwell made subs to try and change the flow of the game.

On 83 minutes, home captain Prince Mancinelli finished off a move inside the Leiston box to level after good play on the Barwell right by Hakeen.

Leiston didn’t give up though and kept pressing play. In stoppage time, Barwell had a penalty shout turned away on 93 minutes before Jack Manly helped win a corner which saw Sayer’s ball in retrieved by Mills and Clemons got on to the Blues players ball into the box to smash home the winner.

There was hardly time to restart the game as Kieron Rogers blew virtually from the kick off.

FT: Barwell 2 Blues 3

Leiston have a break in midweek before they host Bromsgrove Sporting next weekend.

Line-ups:

Barwell: -Osborn, Reeve, Medrano (Wilson 72 mins), Cook, Mancinelli, Mendez (Nnaji 70 mins), Hill, Hawkins, Hakeen, Singh, Seaton (Hayes 87 mins). Subs not used: Castle and Osbourne.

Blues: Johnson, Hill, Callan-McFadden, Rangel, Alexander, Blois, Manly, Mills, Batho, Sayer, Clemons. Subs not used: Parlett, Rayworth, Jarvis and Mehew.

Blues Man Of The Match: Harvey Sayer

Attendance: 174