Match Preview

Match Preview - Blues v Needham Market

Match Information
Pitching In Southern League Central Premier
Blues v Needham Market
Tuesday 2nd November
Kick Off 7.45pm
Watson & Hillhouse Victory Road Stadium, LTAA, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4DQ
Tel: - 01728 830308.

Admission Charges
Adults - £11
Concessions - £8
Students (with ID) - £6
Under 16’s - £2.

Matchday Programme - Purchased on the day of the game for £2.

Car Parking (Free of charge)
Main Car Park.

Catering Information - Large bars, internal and external catering facilities with hot and cold food available.

MATCH SPONSORS: - Alan Crane, Tim Jacobs, Ron Baldry and Michael Coombes.

MATCH BALL SPONSORS: - Coastal Building Supplies.

Game 14/40.

Leiston host Needham Market in a local derby tomorrow evening, (7.45pm KO) in league action. Leiston remain 6th in the table but can once again go into the play-offs tomorrow night with a win, however, Needham will prove stiff opposition and have been on a good run of form themselves lately that has seen them move out of the relegation zone and into 18th spot. Both sides won in the FA Trophy at the weekend, with Leiston defeating Hitchin Town and Needham Market beating St Ives Town to progress in the competition.

Leiston’s record against Needham Market has been excellent against the visitors in recent years, although Needham have won the last two games at Victory Road, albeit in the Southern League Cup and Suffolk Premier Cup respectively. The Blues have had a lot of home league success against the Marketmen though, enjoying wins of 2-1, 2-1, 2-0, 5-1 and 3-0 in the last five league matches.

After tomorrow night, the Blues welcome Stourbridge to Suffolk on Saturday before returning to Hitchin Town for a league fixture next Monday evening. Their FA Trophy fixture against Harrow Borough will be played on Saturday 13th November.

There is one other league fixture tomorrow night as Alvechurch host Stratford Town, while other sides take part in the Southern League Cup.

Blues joint boss Chris Wigger said on Monday morning: -

‘On the back of four tough away games it’s great to be back at home for the visit of Needham. Two losses and two wins is not an ideal return from those games as we definitely feel that we should have come away with more. But if we reflect on those games there are some real positive points. Firstly, a great team performance at Tamworth, which is not an easy place to get a win and then a really pleasing win Saturday at Hitchin where I feel we came away not only being in the hat for the next round but more importantly for myself and Darren a feeling of real togetherness. Some of our more quiet players are really starting to come out of their shell and also some real markers put down by individual players. Ben Hunter getting his first Leiston goal and also Brendan Ocran showing his threat going forward. This gives myself and Darren a real headache for team selection, but this is still a massive positive. We totally expect a committed, full blooded derby and also know that Needham come here feeling like they definitely deserve more than their league position suggests. It’s such early days with very few points separating quite a few teams. So a couple of wins puts anybody right in the mix.‘