The Blues made just one change to the side that lost at Bromsgrove Sporting on Saturday, with skipper Seb Dunbar coming back into the starting XI for the injured Adam Marriott.

Willie Clemons and Joe Henman came back into the 16 as the Blues face a big task against a Real Bedford side who had arrested a recent slide with back-to-back victories.

There was a two minutes silence before the match to honour members of the armed forces who have passed away in the line of duty. The Last Post was played.

On a cold by dry and still evening, the game was very even for the first 20 minutes.

Away captain Drew Richardson shot wide of Callum Robinson’s right hand post after the defender controlled the ball from a corner while the Blues first chance came on seven minutes when Fraser Alexander’s strike on the edge of the box was well blocked.

Two minutes later, Robinson claimed a cross from a corner and set up a move for Leiston, with Alexander shooting again from outside the box but Craig King took the shot well.

On 13 minutes, Dunbar’s cross field ball found Harvey Sayer on the right flank and the defender cut inside but King saved his shot. Sayer had a better chance in the 20th minute as he pounced on a mistake at the back and took the ball past King but fired wide at an angle.

It was Real Bedford though who took the lead on 23 minutes. Robinson and Dunbar half cleared a cross and the resultant shot fell into the path of Joshua Setchell who fired past Robinson.

From then on, chances at both ends were at a minimum for the rest of the half. Leiston defended well as Real Bedford had a couple of shots wide while Dunbar’s cross was well dealt with in the area.

Robinson took an early cross four minutes after the interval before Sam Collins shot over when well placed on 51 minutes.
Moments later and the away side came forward again, this time Jordan Ponticelli stroked the ball just wide of Robinson’s right hand post.

However, the second goal came on 62 minutes as the Blues fouled inside the box and Ben Stevens struck home last Robinson to double the away team’s lead.

Both teams started to make changes and Leiston looked to have found a way back into the game when Clemons was fouled in the box and Adam Mills stepped up to convert his 15th goal of the campaign. But, after a bit of pressure, Real Bedford nullified the Blues threat when a poor clearance from Robinson saw Ponticelli capitalise and lob over the 'keeper for number three.

Mills slipped in sub Ollie Long on 79 minutes and the Blues player got in on goal but his strike was just wide. Real Bedford put the game to bed on 83 minutes when Blues sub Eddie Jackson fouled in the box and Stevens again stroked the ball into the corner.

The result saw Real Bedford remain top while Leiston dropped another place to 17th in the table.

FT: - Blues 1-4 Real Bedford

Leiston head to Leamington on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick off), before back to back home fixtures at the Flannery Stadium against Stratford Town (Tuesday 17th November) and Leighton Town (Saturday 20th November). On-line tickets are already available.

Line-ups;
Blues: Robinson, Hill (Jackson 81 mins), Dunbar, Callan-McFadden, Rangel (Long 72 mins), Alexander, Sayer, Mills, Batho (Henman 65 mins), Rayworth, Frostick (Clemons 57 mins). Substitute not used: Jarvis.

Real Bedford: King, Richardson, Morrell, Davies, Cartwright, Setchell (Kiala 77 mins), Ponticelli (Allen 80 mins), Stevens, Tee (Kane 85 mins), Collins (Simmons 65 mins), Wiltshire (Hitchcock 88 mins).

Match Sponsors, the LTAA, Man Of The Match: Kyle Callan-McFadden

Attendance: 122