Chris Wigger’s side, on the back of an excellent 5-2 win in Cambridgeshire against Peterborough Sports on Tuesday night, are back in action on Saturday when Alvechurch visit Suffolk and the Flannery Stadium, writes Craig Cooper.

After four away games in a row in the league, Leiston will play just their second home league fixture in nine weeks.

Goals from Noel Aitkens and Eddie Jackson put Leiston ahead twice in midweek as goals from Harry Vince and Leon Lobjoit saw the hosts level twice either side of half time.

But three goals in the last 20 minutes from Aitkens, Ollie Long and Adam Mills helped Leiston moved from up three places into 14th.

Leiston will be without club captain Seb Dunbar for the match but defender Kyle Callan-McFadden could feature after missing Tuesday night’s game at Peterborough Sports with a slight injury.

Alvechurch currently sit in 7th position, the final play-off position, with 23 points from 13 league games. They have only lost two games in the league this campaign.

They are having a fantastic run In the Emirates FA Cup all the way to the First Round. So far they have beaten AFC Wolverhampton 2-0 at home, won away at Racing Club Warwick (3-1) and Cambridge City (2-1) and after drawing 2-2 at National North Spalding United in the Fourth Qualifying round, they recorded a fantastic 4-0 home win in the replay to set up a mouth watering trip to League One Plymouth Argyle next weekend.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

THE sides have met at Leiston six times before in the league, the first coming on Saturday 24th February 2019, which saw the Blues win, 2-0.

Second half goals from George Keys and Christy Finch were enough to seal the win, in front of 236 spectators.

On Saturday 29th January 2022, the two sides met for the second time in Suffolk. 225 people watched on as Leiston and Alvechurch drew 1-1. Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton put the away side in front but Leiston levelled quickly via Finlay Barnes.

Since then, the sides have drawn three times in the league and Leiston have won one, this coming in November 2024.

CLASHES SINCE
Saturday 11th February 2023
Leiston 1 (Will Davies) Alvechurch 1 (Harry Williams)
Att: 222

Saturday 24th February 2024
Leiston 2 (Ross Crane, Jamar Loza) Alvechurch 2 (Archie Crowther, Michael Lavin own goal)
Att: 160

Tuesday 12th November 2024
Leiston 2 (Fraser Alexander, Jamar Loza) Alvechurch 1 (Richard Batchelor)
Att: 122

Tuesday 20th January 2026
Leiston 3 (Ronnie Blois (2), Ben Fowkes)
Alvechurch 3 (Tope Obadeyi (2), Joe Willis)
Att: 114

Leiston did defeat Alvechurch 4-3 in the FA Trophy Second Round on Saturday 19th November 2022 at home, with Joe Marsden scoring a 91st minute winner, his second of the game, as Alvechurch had battled back from 3-0 down thanks to a Danny Waldron hat-trick. Ben Fowkes netted the first two goals for the Blues.

ABOUT ALVECHURCH

THE club were founded in 1929 and play at Lye Meadow.

They played in the Redditch League until World War II. They reached the semi-finals of the FA Amateur Cup in the 1965-1966 season, losing to Wealdstone, 1-0, at Stamford Bridge.

They reached the Third Round of the FA Cup in the 1973/1974 campaign. They beat Exeter City, King’s Lynn before losing 4-2 against Bradford City.

Former striker Alan Smith, who played for Arsenal and England, began his career at Alvechurch.

FORM GUIDE:
(Most recent league game first)

BLUES: W L D L L
ALVECHURCH: D D D L D

NOVEMBER FIXTURES FOR THE BLUES

Saturday 7th Nov: Bromsgrove Sporting (Away)
Tuesday 10th Nov: Real Bedford (HOME)
Saturday 14th Nov: Leamington (Away)
Tuesday 17th Nov: Stratford Town (HOME)
Saturday 21st Nov: Leighton Town (HOME)
Tuesday 24th Nov: AFC Sudbury (Away - Suffolk Premier Cup Second Round)
Saturday 28th Nov: Worcester City (Away)

MATCH INFORMATION
Blues v Alvechurch
Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central
Saturday, October 31, 3pm kick off
The Flannery Stadium, Victory Road, LTAA, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4DQ
Tel: 01728 830308

Admission Prices
ON-LINE ADMISSION TICKETS HERE....

On the gate on the day:
Adults £13
Concessions (over 65s) £10
Students (with ID) £8
Under 16’s £3
Under 5’s Free of charge

Matchday programme: £2.50

Match Ball Sponsor: LISA LOU FLOWERS