LEISTON got their first-ever win against Banbury United on Saturday afternoon after a fine 2-1 against their opponents from Oxfordshire writes Craig Cooper.

Although Levi Steele put the away team ahead after ten minutes, Leiston quickly grabbed an equaliser when Kyle Callan-McFadden headed home a corner six minutes later and Adam Mills finished off Fraser Alexander’s cross just after the hour mark as the Blues completed the turnaround to secure the win.

The win kept the Blues 8th in the early league standings after seven games.

Chris Wigger brought back Wyatt Hill into the starting XI after Eddie Jackson missed out through illness in the only change to Tuesday night’s starting eleven in the win against Grays Athletic.

Joao Rangel returned to the squad after getting injured on international duty with Timor-Leste while Noel Aitkens came back also into the sixteen after missing the last Tuesday’s game.

In the second minute, Adam Mills’ long throw in came back to the Blues midfielder but his strike went over home keeper Jack Harding’s crossbar.

Wyatt Hill cleared away a Banbury cross from the Blues right on five minutes while a minute later, Willie Clemons’ ball found Harvey Sayer but the Blues players strike was well blocked on the edge of the box.

A Banbury player then had a good run inside the Blues penalty area that saw Wyatt Hill made a good sliding tackle.

On nine minutes, Levi Steele tried to find Callum Robinson’s top right hand corner but the Blues keeper made a great save to tip the ball around the post.

But, from the corner, Banbury worked the ball short and the ball into the box was met by Levi Steele who gave Robinson no chance to put the hosts ahead on ten minutes.

On 13 minutes, a patient move by Leiston saw Sayer cross from Leiston’s right but Jacob Scott headed the ball away to safety.

But the leveller came on 16 minutes.

Blues captain Seb Dunbar did well to win a corner and Fraser Alexander’s set piece found the head of Kyle Callan-McFadden who headed back into Harding’s top right hand corner.

Aaron McCreadie was off target with a shot two minutes later for Banbury while Robinson saved a shot easily enough on 19 minutes.

In the 22nd minute, Adam Mills and Joe Henman did well to combine and the former shot just over Harding’s crossbar.

Then came a period where Leiston had a lot of possession but didn’t get forward to really test the home keeper.

On 38 minutes, Ben Batho this time won a corner and Kyle Callan-McFadden couldn’t direct his header enough to force an effort on target.

Another good move on 44 minutes saw Sayer again have another shot blocked after good work by Batho before Mills had a shot blocked in stoppage time.

Fraser Alexander did well the thwart a Banbury attack on 50 minutes inside the Blues box and then Willie Clemons went out Banbury down the Blues left and fed Mills but Harding made a good stop.

Harding claimed the corner and this set up Tui Sanches but the attacker’s shot was excellently saved by Robinson.

Robinson’s best save of the afternoon, though, came on 53 minutes when sub Nash forced the Blues keeper into a great save low to his right.

Banbury, who had started well in the second half, then has a free kick palmed away by Robinson before the follow up effort was well over the bar.

Leiston then took the lead on 61 minutes, however, when Adam Mills finished off a move when Fraser Alexander’s cross from the Blues right was met by the midfielder who put the ball into Harding’s bottom right hand corner to net his 10th goal of the campaign.

Three minutes later, and Clemons headed wide Mills’ cross while a Banbury corner was dealt with Leiston and they won a free kick for their efforts also.

Seb Dunbar got into the box on 73 minutes and he headed Ben Batho’s cross just over the bar while Robinson made another good clave at an angle two minutes later.

On 79 minutes, Leiston sub’s Aitkens and Marriott combined with the latter being denied by Harding.

Leiston then controlled the game for the remainder of the match and restricted the home team to very few chances.

Late on, Ben Batho and Noel Aitkens were booked along with two home players.

Leiston were trying for a third as they won a free kick in the last minute of stoppage time, just outside the home box, as the referee duly brought an end to proceedings.

FT: Banbury United 1 Blues 2

Leiston are next in action next weekend when they head to Hitchin Town in the Emirates FA Cup Second Round Qualifying.

Line-ups:
Banbury United: Harding, Mole, Cavallo, McCreadie, Scott, Castle, Dobson (Anker 55 mins), Prosser, Steele, Patterson (Nash 46 mins), Sanches (Kola 62 mins). Subs not used: Howell and Lulchev.
Blues: Robinson, Hill, Dunbar, Callan-McFadden, Henman, Alexander, Sayer (Rangel 67 mins), Mills, Batho, Frostick (Aitkens 54 mins), Clemons (Marriott 67 mins). Subs not used: Jarvis and Rayworth.

Blues Man Of The Match: Callum Robinson.
Attendance: 399