LEISTON bounced back from Tuesday night’s exit from the Suffolk Premier Cup with a strong performance and Southern League Premier Division Central victory at AFC Sudbury on Saturday writes Craig Cooper.

The Blues ran out comfortable 3-0 victors against their west Suffolk rivals and kept their play-off hopes alive into the bargain.

Goals from Fraser Alexander (25) and a quick-fire double from Joao Rangel (65) and Ronnie Blois (68) saw the visitors home, the Blues remaining eighth in the table, five points off those play-off spots.

Alexander was on hand to fire home from 12 yards in the first half, before Rangel thumped home a stunning 25-yarder into the top corner in the second period. Blois’ centre-forward poacher finish was the icing on the cake, with only a wrist injury to Harvey Sayer a blot on the afternoon for Chris Wigger’s side.

Jack Manly came in for Kyle Callan-McFadden in defence for Leiston in the only change from Tuesday night’s Suffolk Premier Cup game while Ryan Jarvis and Ewan Parlett came back into the squad.

With Callan-McFadden out, Seb Dunbar and Eddie Jackson started in central defence, with Adam Mills playing left back and Wyatt Hill right back.

On a mild afternoon, the Blues, playing in all pink for the day, had a Harvey Sayer blocked shot on three minutes before Jack Munson got down well to take a Manly cross.

Jackson then headed away a Sudbury ball into the box before Willie Clemons was booked but the free kick from Sudbury went behind and out for a goal kick to Billy Johnson.

Sudbury nearly took the lead on 17 minutes when Johnson made a good save to tip Liam Pearce’s shot onto his left-hand post and got up to get the rebound. Marcel Lewis then tried his luck from just outside the box but it was easy for Johnson on this occasion.

On 20 minutes, Mills did well on Leiston’s left to cross for Blois and Munson did well to save the Blues player’s shot before Alexander was then denied from the follow-up after another good save from Munson, this time to the keeper’s right.

The home side thought they had taken the lead on 23 minutes but the headed attempt from Jack Stone was ruled for offside.

But, two minutes later, Leiston took the lead when Mills’ ball was pushed out by Munson only as far as Alexander who shot past the Sudbury 'keeper.

Blois was then booked for the Blues while on 32 minutes, Lewis shot narrowly wide of Johnson’s right hand upright after a good shot from just outside the box. In the 39th minute, Sayer fell awkwardly near the by-line and after being helped to his feet by the Leiston physio team, had to be substituted on 42 minutes by Ben Batho.

Late in the half, Johnson came to take a cross into the box before Dunbar won a free kick after winning a header in the penalty area. Dunbar slipped Mills in behind the Sudbury defence after the break on 48 minutes but the offside flag was raised while two minutes later, Mills was thwarted by Munson after a good through ball by Manly.

Leiston were playing some good stuff and on 52 minutes, Mills turned provider as he ran at the Sudbury defence and put in Manly but again Munson stood up well to save. Batho was shown a yellow card after a challenge while Finlay Corrigan’s effort was taken well by Johnson down to his left in the 54th minute.

After a period of ten minutes without many chances, Leiston got the all important second goal on 65 minutes. After a corner was cleared, Mills laid the ball off to Joao Rangel who curled brilliantly with his left foot to score into Munson’s top corner.

Lewis shot just over a minute later but Leiston got their third goal on 68 minutes when Mills and Dunbar did well on Leiston’s left and the cross from the latter was met by Blois who shot home right-footed from six yards to signal the end of the contest.

Blois shot over in the area on 71 minutes as Mills was then booked, before Leiston changed personnel as the game entered its final stages.

Harvey Peters headed a Sudbury corner wide while Jack Stone hit the post with a header on 86 minutes once again while a minute later, Johnson saved well with his legs from Pearce’s shot.

In stoppage time, Leiston won a couple of corners that Munson dealt with before referee Dario Matthewson blew for full time after three minutes of stoppage time.

FT: AFC Sudbury 0 Leiston 3

Chris Wigger’s side are on the road again next weekend when they head to Real Bedford.

Line-ups;

Blues: Johnson, Hill, Dunbar, Rangel, Alexander, Blois, Manly (Jarvis 83 mins), Mills, Sayer (Batho 42 mins, Rayworth 79 mins), Clemons (Parlett 76 mins). Sub not used: Mehew.

AFC Sudbury: Munson, Charlie Lewis, Turner (Dettmar 73 mins), Stone, Mulqueen, Pearce, Corrigan (Smith-Kouassi 65 mins), Peters (Jolland 80 mins), Marcel Lewis (sub Lawson 80 mins), Goredema, Tower-King (Oligbo 73 mins).

Blues Man Of The Match: Adam Mills

Attendance: 232