WILLIE Clemons struck early as Leiston fought hard for a deserved 1-0 win over Worcester City at the Flannery Stadium on Saturday, writes Craig Cooper.

Clemons acrobatically turned Jack Manly's corner into the visitors net in the third minute to score the only goal of the game and move the Blues up a place to 10th in the Southern League Premier Division Central table.

In a match played in bright sunshine and in front of a healthy crowd, Leiston went about their business in determined fashion, putting behind them their disappointing result at Stamford the week before.

It sets Chris Wigger's side up nicely for another good test this coming Saturday, when Banbury visit Leiston.

Albie Armin came in for Wyatt Hill, who dropped to the bench, in the only change from last weekend.

It was the away side who nearly took the lead in the first minute when Connor Stanley shot just over Billy Johnson’s goal from thirty yards.

But after Adam Mills won a corner a few moments later, Clemons turned home Manly’s set piece to fire past Sam Kane to give Leiston the lead on three minutes.

The home side stood up well to balls into the box from Worcester City, with Kyle Callan-McFadden and Eddie Jackson dealing with crosses into the Blues area.

Joao Rangel and Manly linked up well on Leiston’s right but the formers cross went out of play on 15 minutes.

Halfway through the half, Callan-McFadden jumped highest to head a free kick away for a corner and the delivery in from Worcester went out of play for a goal kick to the Blues.

Two minutes later, and Johnson came to collect a loose ball from a header after a throw in.

On 27 minutes. Ronnie Blois tested Kane from distance, with the Blues striker forcing the keeper to make a good save to his left. A couple of minutes later, and Mills charged down an away clearance and nearly beat Kane to the ball but the keeper just got their first and cleared the ball upfield.

After the half hour mark, Armin shot over the crossbar for Leiston while late in the half, Fraser Alexander did well to nod Liam Lockett’s header off the line.

A minute into the second period and Johnson came to take a cross while Callan-McFadden fouled on the halfway and picked up a booking.

On 55 minutes, Charlie Lutz tried to catch out Billy Johnson but the keeper saved the shot easily.

There was a break in play on 58 minutes as Kane went down under a challenge in the box while after play restarted, another break in play occurred, with a Worcester outfield player going down this time.

On 65 minutes, Manly crossed from the Blues right and the ball reached Mills at the back post but his shot was blocked.

On 82 minutes, Rangel was denied by a good Kane save after a through ball from sub Jude Frostick.

Jackson had a header saved from Kane on 88 minutes.

In the fifth and final minute of stoppage time, midfielder Armin was booked for a foul and from the free kick, Johnson came to take a long free kick as referee Ben Bowles blew for full time.

FT: Blues 1 Worcester City 0

Line-ups;

Blues: Johnson, Dunbar, Callan-McFadden, Jackson, Rangel, Alexander, Blois, Manly (Frostick 76 mins), Mills, Clemons, Armin. Subs not used: Hill, Batho, Rayworth and Jarvis.

Worcester City: Kane, Stoddart (Clayton 89 mins), Bailey, Rowe, Ezewele, Wise, Stanley (Smalley 81 mins), Burns, Lutz, Francis-Burrell (Richards 70 mins), Lockett (Sweeney 60 mins).

Blues Man Of The Match, selected by Match Sponsors Alan Crane and Tim Jacobs:Willie Clemons

Attendance: 201