Leighton Town 2 Blues 5

The Blues booked their passage into the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy after a fully deserved if slightly unexpected final scoreline. Leiston will now host Bristol based Paulton Rovers next Saturday at Victory Road. On the eve of Bonfire Night the Blues served up some fireworks of their own with a five goal burst with one or two crackers and a sparkling display from Joe Francis! The visitors did not have the best of preparations though with Rhys Henry unable to travel while Patrick Brothers, Tom Bullard, Josh Mayhew and Craig Parker all injured plus the team coach did not arrive until 30 minutes before kick off. Things got even worse with the game not even into double figures time wise as for the second game, Leighton opened the scoring. A long clearance over the visitors defence saw the hosts leading scorer Danny Watson through on goal and with Danny Gay slightly unbalanced, Leighton’s number ten skipped around him to open the scoring. But unlike Saturday the lead did not last very long and within seconds Leiston were level. Good work down the left from Joe Francis saw him get beyond Alvin Rajaram and cross for Leon Ottley-Gooch to net the equaliser. Four minutes later the visitors got their noses in front as home keeper Dan Green made a terrible mistake from a back pass allowing Conor Hubble an easy opportunity in front of goal that he gleefully accepted. Ahead, the visitors began to take a strong hold of the game, dealing well with the visitors threats on a difficult playing surface. Three minutes before the interval Leiston added a third from the penalty spot and it was another assist from Joe Francis. The lively Leiston winger was clattered inside the area by home keeper Dan Green in his attempts to stop the Blues wide man. Green guessed the right way but he was powerless to keep out Gareth Heath’s driven spot kick low to his left.

After a solid first half the Blues continued after the break as they had ended the first and within a minute home keeper Dan Green made a fine save to deny Leon Ottley-Gooch grabbing his second of the game. Three minutes into the second half the visitors were awarded their second penalty of the evening following a handball against Mark Bunker. Gareth Heath sending Dan Green the wrong way for his thirteenth goal of the season to all but seal the tie. Leighton then began to apply some pressure as the game became a little niggly with Scott Mitchell and Blake Saker joining Stuart Boardley in the Referee’s notebook. Blues stopper Danny Gay made a fine save on the hour to deny Danny Watson when he was clean through and then he tipped over Phil Draycott’s free kick as the hosts tried to find a way back into the contest. But with seven minutes remaining the visitors sealed the tie with a well executed goal from Tom Winter after further good work from Man of the Match Joe Francis. As the clock ticked down the hosts were awarded a penalty of their own as Blake Saker was adjudged to have tripped Alvin Rajaram inside the box and the Referee deemed Saker’s foul worthy of a yellow card and his second of the night so he was dismissed. Leading scorer Danny Watson fired home the resulting spot kick but this was a mere late consolation as the hard working visitors booked their place in the Second Qualifying Round.

FT - Leighton Town 2 Leiston 5

Blues line up – Gay, Saker, Boardley (Merritt 78 mins), Mitchell, Jefford, Tann, Winter (Velzian 90 mins), Heath, Ottley-Gooch, Hubble, Francis. Subs not used – Bell and Rossis.

Goals – Ottley-Gooch 10 mins, Hubble 14 mins, Heath 42 & 48 mins, Winter 83 mins (Leiston). Watson 9 & 90 mins (Leighton Town)

Yellow cards – Boardley, Mitchell & Saker (Leiston) Rajaram (Leighton Town)

Red card – Saker (Leiston)

Man of the Match – Joe Francis

Attendance - 90