HARVEY Sayer struck twice and Adam Mills once, all in the first period, as Leiston picked up an impressive 3-1 victory over Redditch United at the Flannery Stadium on Saturday afternoon writes Craig Cooper.

Sayer was on hand to net similar goals with two fantastic left-foot finishes in the 24th and 29th minutes before Mills turned home Seb Dunbar's cross in added-on time in the first half, the 3-0 lead being more than enough to seal the points for Chris Wigger's side.

Redditch came into the match in the second half, Harrison Hazard netting for the team from Worcestershire and, for a spell, they threatened more.

However, once Leiston had repelled the visitors' threat, the Blues saw the game out and moved upto seventh in the Southern League Premier Division Central table ahead of their Bank Holiday Monday trip across Suffolk at second placed Bury Town.

The Blues squad for the game saw Ben Batho replaced Kyle Callan-McFadden, who was unavailable, in the only change from last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Stourbridge. Chris Wigger welcomed back striker Adam Marriott back into the squad, as Cameron Rayworth also came back into the 16 and Max Crane came in for defensive cover.

In rainy conditions for most of the afternoon, Leiston began well and Joe Henman test Rory Brown after just four minutes, while on 15 minutes, Callum Robinson made a good stop to his left to save Alex Cameron’s effort at his near post.

Leiston defended the corner, with Seb Dunbar heading the ball away and the Blues ventured upfield, with Sayer forcing Brown into a good save to his left.

The Blues went ahead on 24 minutes. Sayer cut inside from the right and shot home past Brown. Five minutes later, and it was two. Sayer’s strike, again from 20 yards, found Brown’s bottom right hand corner to net the winger's fourth of the campaign.

Sayer then had three more strikes, two which forced good saves from Brown and on 44 minutes the player got into the box but shot just wide of Brown’s upright.

Sayer’s free kick was well held by Brown before Szhem Whyte-Hall shot just over Robinson’s bar when well placed in what was a good chance to pull a goal back for the visitors.

Redditch rued that chance as, in added-on time, Mills turned home Dunbar’s cross to net his fourth of the season.

Redditch pulled a goal back on 52 minutes after good individual play by Harrison Hazard and the midfielder shot into Robinson’s bottom left hand corner. Mills then saw a shot blocked three minutes later and Fraser Alexander’s follow up effort was curled just over Brown’s bar.

The lively Hazard crossed from Redditch’s right on the hour mark and Eddie Jackson headed away the delivery before clearing away the follow up cross. Two minutes later, and Robinson blocked a close-range attempt as the visitors strived for a second, while at the other end on 66 minutes, Henman’s cross was a good one to the back post but no one could put the ball in from the Blues.

Henman then struck wide shortly after before Wyatt Hill nearly put through his own net but Robinson got back to brilliantly push the ball away to safety.

Omari Brown forced Robinson into a good save to his right while Noel Aitkens and Batho had chances on the Redditch goal.

Deep into stoppage time, Aram Soleman was shown a straight red card after a melee near the dug outs as Leiston saw the game out for a deserved victory.

FT: Blues 3 Redditch United 1

Line-ups;

Blues: Robinson, Hill, Dunbar, Aitkens, Jackson, Henman (Frostick 86 mins), Alexander, Sayer (Rayworth 86 mins), Mills, Batho, Clemons. Subs not used: Marriott, Max Crane and Jarvis.

Redditch United: Rory Brown, Shambrook (King 46 mins) Owen, Foreshaw, Hazard, Cameron, Soleman, Whyte-Hall, Bruck (Omari Brown 81 mins), Knowles (Bunn 46 mins), Sumnall (Fielding 90+1 mins). Sub not used: Grewal-Pollard.

Match Sponsor, Mr Ian Smith, Man Of The Match: Harvey Sayer

Attendance: 162