Leiston 3-1 Hitchin Town - Match Report

The Blues recorded their first league win for 23 matches as they deservedly beat Hitchin Town at the Watson & Hillhouse Victory Road Stadium at the weekend, with BARRY SPALL sponsoring the Match Ball.

Jake Jessup started in goal at the expense of Charlie Beckwith while Siju Odelusi returned to the starting eleven also. Rhys Henry had recovered from injury and took his place on the bench as did new signing Hamilton Bunga.

Leiston started the match well and Rob Eagle got down the left hand side after just six minutes to centre for Louie Bloom but the striker could only put his effort wide of goal. The Blues were passing the ball around nicely and were also keeping it tight at the back with Hitchin struggling to get in behind the Leiston backline. The home side took the lead in the 14th minute though. Louie Bloom fed the ball through to set up WILL DAVIES and he made no mistake, finishing into away keeper Charles Horlock’s bottom left hand corner. Mason Sinclair’s clever ball into the area nearly put in Davies again but Hitchin cleared for a corner. From the set piece, Josh Hitter’s flighted delivery to the back post saw SIJU ODELUSI header in to double Leiston’s lead. Hitchin started to try and force a way into the game and pulled a goal back when from a corner, the unmarked STEPHEN CAWLEY nodded home from eight yards out to give the ‘Canaries’ a lifeline. However, with just three minutes of the half remaining, JOSH HITTER picked the ball up outside the edge of the area to rifle the ball into Horlock’s top left hand corner from 25 yards. The rest of the half saw Rob Eagle, who was struggling with a hamstring problem, replaced by Rhys Henry.

The second period saw chances hard to come by as Leiston defended well at the back. Bradley Bell got down the right hand side in the first minute for Hitchin but his cross went out of play for a goal kick. Jake Jessup had to deal with a couple of crosses while Noel Aitkens forced Horlock into a save on the edge of the area. Aitkens delivered a ball from the right flank shortly after but Will Davies’ header was easy for Horlock. Hitchin were putting balls into the box but not really forcing much pressure on Leiston in front of goal. Rhys Henry unselfishly passed to Louie Bloom but Hitchin cleared the danger. Bradley Bell shot over the crossbar for the away side and Jay Dowie worked Jessup from distance as time started to tick away. Bloom was denied by Horlock who was quickly out to thwart the Blues striker before Leiston started another attack, with Will Davies heading over. With five minutes of stoppages added on, Hitchin put pressure on Leiston but central defenders Harry Knights and George Keys stayed composed as Leiston held out for the win.

The Blues now look forward to another league game on Tuesday night when they head to Kings Langley.

FT: - Leiston 3-1 Hitchin Town.

Line-ups: -

Leiston: - Jessup, Sinclair, Woerndl, Odelusi, Knights, Keys, Aitkens (Cheetham 72 mins), Hitter, Davies, Eagle (Henry 44 mins), Bloom (Bunga 86 mins). Subs not used: - Fernandes, Beckwith.

Hitchin Town: - Horlock, Green, Walster, Dowie (Verney 80 mins), Webb, Ferrell, Barker (Rolfe 67 mins), Dhillon (Okuboyejo 73 mins), Cawley, Marsh, Bell. Subs not used: - Gauge, Ryan.

Match Ball Sponsor Barry Spall Man Of The Match: - George Keys.

Attendance: - 201.