Blues 0 Lowestoft Town 4

Leiston went down to Lowestoft on a sun drenched Victory Road on Easter Bank Holiday Monday as the Trawlerboys ran out 4-0 winners on the day.

Joe Jefford, who has decided to leave Leiston in the Summer, received a great reception by both sets of supporters as club Chairman Andy Crisp thanked everyone, including Jefford for his service to the Blues, for another year prior to kick off, in a MATCH SPONSORED BY THE LEISTON & DISTRICT LABOUR PARTY.

Tom Bullard joined Matt Blake and Dominic Docherty on the injury list before the match so Harry Knights partnered Jefford at centre back while Kyle Hammond came back into the right back berth. Noel Aitkens came in for Will Davies with Marcus Garnham preferred in goal over Charlie Beckwith as the young keeper had to settle for a place on the bench.

Christy Finch had an early effort that away keeper Elvis Putnins palmed away to safety before good play by Noel Aitkens on the right flank allowed him to deliver into the box for Byron Lawrence who shot just wide of Putnins left hand post. Louie Bloom did well on the left side and passed to Seb Dunbar who floated a great ball to the back post to Noel Aitkens but he headed the ball over the crossbar. With Lowestoft’s first sight of goal, they took the lead in the 17th minute. The ball was worked to Andrew Fisk and he threaded a ball through the home defence to Armani Schaar and he rifled the ball into the roof of the net. Jack Wilkinson’s cross was turned over his own net by Joe Jefford but the visitors added a second as Jake Reed turned in the box and set up Adam Tann to tap home. At the other ended Aitkens stinged the palms of away keeper Putnins. Shaun Bammant smashed a volley well wide for Lowestoft and then Jake Reed got in on goal but was denied by Marcus Garnham who was quick off his line to block his left footed attempt. Before the interval, Louie Bloom and Josh Hitter were off target with their strikes.

Leiston forced a couple of early corners in the second period, with Kyle Hammond hitting over a free kick on the edge of the area. Josh Hitter turned in the penalty box and saw the ball go just wide of Putnins right hand upright. Lowestoft thought they had scored a third goal but the referee assistant’s flag was raised after Marcus Garnham had initially kept the ball out. Shaun Bammant fired over from close range for Lowestoft and Dylan Williams made Garnham produce a terrific save to his right from a rising volley. A couple of minutes later however, and Seb Dunbar gave away a penalty for a handball with Connor Deeks firing home. Byron Lawrence shot narrowly wide late in the day for Leiston but it would be Lowestoft who would round off the scoring as Jacek Zielonka ran through to net into Garnham’s bottom left hand corner. The win means the Trawlerboys are now one point ahead of Leiston in the league table.

The Blues finish their league season on Saturday as they head to Redditch United for their final game.

FT - Blues 0 Lowestoft Town 4

Blues - Garnham, Hammond, Dunbar, Eagle (Rutterford 67 mins), Jefford, Knights, Lawrence, Aitkens, Bloom (Bacon 83 mins), Finch, Hitter (Davies 75 mins). Subs not used - Gaffer & Beckwith.

Lowestoft Town - Putnins, Curry, Wilkinson, Baker (Hedge 87 mins), Tann (Zielonka 58 mins), Deeks, Schaar, Fish (Pollock 78 mins), Reed, Bammant, Williams. Subs not used - Wren & Smith.

Match and Ball Sponsor Leiston & District Labour Party Man Of The Match - Harry Knights.

Attendance - 431