STOURBRIDGE and Leiston settled for a point on Saturday afternoon in the West Midlands as Adam Mills’ early second half goal helped Chris Wigger’s side to a 2-2 draw on their travels writes Craig Cooper.

The team coach didn’t arrive in Stourbridge until 2pm, due to roadworks and diversions on the motorways, and the hosts were the better side in the first half.

Although Eddie Jackson’s early goal put the Blues ahead, Stourbridge netted two quick goals through Don Lewis and Jourdain Masidi to take the lead.

But Mills’ goal three minutes after the break meant Leiston left with a point in an entertaining afternoon.

Noel Aitkens came into the side for Jude Frostick, who dropped to the bench, while Michael Ford came into the squad as reserve goalkeeper to cover for Callum Robinson.

Leiston made an excellent start after just three minutes. Harvey Sayer won a free kick on the Blues right and put in a great ball which was met by the head of Mills, who forced home custodian Charlie Price into an excellent save to his right, but Jackson followed up the loose ball to put the ball over the line and give Leiston an early lead.

But this seemed to wake Stourbridge up, and they began to dominate in midfield.

On seven minutes, left back Josh Quaynor struck against Robinson’s post.

Two minutes later, and Charlie Pavey weaved his way into the box for the home side and put in a decent cross to the back post but Liam Brazier couldn’t get on the end of it.

Then, on 11 minutes, Nathan Hayward put in Charlie Wragg, who went round Robinson but proceeded to hit the post before Robinson did really well to save Pavey’s follow up effort.

But Stourbridge restored parity on 14 minutes when Don Lewis was given time to shoot from distance and he found Robinson’s bottom left hand corner.

Five minutes later, and the ‘Glassboys’ made it two. Jourdain Masidi was put in this time and he put the ball past Robinson to put Stourbridge in front.

On 23 minutes, Sayer shot just over Price’s bar inside the box while two minutes later, Harvey Portman curled an effort just wide of Robinson’s right-hand upright.

Robinson then saved well on 27 minutes with his legs from Brazier while Mills was denied by a good block at the other end after good play by Sayer and Willie Clemons.

The half ended with Pavey shooting over while Clemons was denied by a last-ditch block as Leiston created a good chance.

It was a different game in the second period as Leiston turned the game in their favour, with Noel Aitkens and Fraser Alexander dominating midfields and attacking players Mills, Sayer and Clemons all playing well, while the defence stayed tuned in and gave Stourbridge very little.

The Blues equalised on 48 minutes after Sayer’s original shot was pushed away by Price to his left and Aitkens picked the ball up to put the ball back in the area and Mills side footed the ball deftly home into Price’s bottom right hand corner.

On 51 minutes, Robinson came to claim a ball in the Blues box while four minutes later, Mills drove at the home defence but his deflected into the arms of Price.

In the 58th minute, Masidi tried his luck but shot over from outside the box while on 62 minutes, Jackson flicked on a throw in but the ball flashed across goal, with no one to nod the ball home. Seb Dunbar did well to win a corner on 69 minutes and Fraser Alexander’s set piece was met by Aitkens but the midfielder headed wide.

Masidi again was off target with another attempt and then on 82 minutes, Clemons dribbled into the hosts box only to be denied by a great tackle.

Leiston then had some good deliveries into the box late on and in stoppage time but there were no further shots on goal as the sides settled for a point.

FT: Stourbridge 2 Blues 2

Leiston are back on home soil next weekend for their next league fixture when they host Redditch United at the Flannery Stadium.

Line-ups;

Stourbridge: Price, Fletcher, Quaynor, Portman, Carter, Masidi, Wragg (Love 74 mins), Lewis, Brazier (Verma 57 mins), Pavey, Hayward (Tolley 67 mins). Subs not used: Pearce and Lake.

Blues: Robinson, Hill, Dunbar, Callan-McFadden, Jackson, Henman, Alexander, Sayer, Mills, Aitkens, Clemons (Frostick 86 mins). Subs not used: Ford, Batho, Parlett and Jarvis.

Blues Man Of The Match: Noel Aitkens

Attendance: 569