The Blues conceded a late penalty on Tuesday evening as they went down 3-2 at Real Bedford with the home side making it nine wins from nine league games, writes Craig Cooper.

Leiston have dropped two places to 11th but can remain positive after a really good display against a top team in this division.

Chris Wigger made three changes to the starting eleven from Saturday’s FA Trophy defeat at home to Dartford.

Cameron Rayworth, Jude Frostick and Willie Clemons came into the starting eleven while Ben Batho, Harvey Sayer and Joe Henman dropped to the substitutes bench. Eddie Jackson returned to the sixteen after missing Saturday’s game.

Real Bedford started on the front foot and forced three early corners in the opening three minutes but the Blues defence dealt with the set plays.

In the fourth minute, Jude Frostick put in Adam Mills, however, the Blues player was flagged offside.

Jordan Ponticelli had a shot wide for Real Bedford in the 7th minute before the same player had another wide of goal two minutes later.

Mills shot just over for the Blues on 12 minutes while home captain Drew Richardson headed just wide of Callum Robinson’s post from a corner at the other end.

The Blues started to have more possession as the half went on and Willie Clemons shot over Craig King’s crossbar after good play on the Blues right flanks from Cameron Rayworth and Joao Rangel.

But, Leiston would win a penalty on 25 minutes, their first of the season, with Jude Frostick clearly taken out in the box but Willie Clemons’ spot kick was saved by King as he dived to his left to push away the shot.

Clemons was involved in the action a couple of minutes later and set Blues captain Seb Dunbar free but hid shot was just over the bar.

The hosts had a good chance to take the lead in the 30th minute as Conor Tee went through on goal but Callum Robinson made a good save with his legs to keep the player out.

Six minutes later and Robinson made another good save while Dunbar cleared the ball off the line.

Late in the half, Clemons had a shot blocked in the box while Mills was denied by a great King save and Callan-McFadden shot just over the bar as the half time whistle went.

Leiston started the second half really well and Mills’ shot was saved by King just five minutes into the half.

A good move from Real Bedford then saw the home team get inside the Blues box but the cross went wide of goal.

On 57 minutes, Mills somehow was denied by King and the keeper saved again at his near post a minute later.

But the home side took the lead on the hour mark as Samuel Cartwright headed home inside the box at the back post.

Real Bedford went close with another shot wide of goal but they doubled their lead on 69 minutes.

The impressive Conor Tee showed good skill outside the Blues box and shot home into Robinson’s bottom left hand corner.

The Blues made a triple substitution with Marriott, Sayer and Batho replacing Dunbar, Frostick and Rangel on 71 minutes and the Blues went close through Batho and then King made an extraordinary save to keep out Fraser Alexander.

But Leiston got a reward when substitute Sayer crossed for Aitkens to nod into King’s bottom left hand corner on 76 minutes to reduce the arrears and then King eventually gathered a delivery at the second attempt after another good Sayer ball.

Leiston kept up the pressure and drew level on 84 minutes.

Substitute Joe Henman’s well weighted ball found Adam Mills who got into the box and placed his shot into King’s net for his 12th Blues goals of the season and it his 50th goal in a Leiston shirt.

Late on, Robinson palmed away a home shot and Leiston looked to have gained a well earned point but deep into stoppage time Eddie Jackson gave away an unfortunate foul in the Blues penalty box and up stepped Josh Allen to score the winner. There was hardly time to restart the game.

A cruel finale but Leiston should take great heart from this performance and take confidence into Saturday’s FA Cup match.

FT: Real Bedford 3 Blues 2

Leiston play their second consecutive Saturday home cup match at the weekend when they host Coventry United at the Flannery Stadium in the FA Cup Third Qualifying round.

Line-ups:

Real Bedford: King, Cartwright, Richardson, Morrell, Thanoj (Jones 79 mins), Simmons, Kiala, Tee (Ahmed 83 mins), Stevens, Allen, Ponticelli. Subs not used: Hitchcock, Snelus and O'Keeffe.

Blues: Robinson, Hill (Jackson 62 mins), Dunbar (Sayer 71 mins), Callan-McFadden, Rangel (Marriott 71 mins), Alexander, Mills, Rayworth (Batho 68 mins), Frostick (Henman 71 mins), Aitkens, Clemons.

Blues Man Of The Match: Adam Mills

Attendance: 337