Starting Line-up: Oliver Dawson, Emille Dozzell, Adam Bailey-Dennis, Billy Jordan, Rossi Jarvis, Reagan King, Ollie Griggs, Mitchell Jackson (C), MacKenzie Travis, Ashdon Fowler, Matt Mullis
Bench: Darius Petrea, Josh Yaxley, Jack Dawson

The U23s returned to Victory Road following two away games that saw defeats at Framlingham Town and Whittlesey Athletic. Brandon Town arrived as the leaders of Anglian Combination Division One.

With up to, potentially, five players missing from the starting line-up due to being cup tied having played in the Premier Cup against Brantham Athletic the previous Tuesday night the game was always going to be a difficult one. However, the side was boosted by Adam Bailey-Dennis and Rossi Jarvis starting in central defence as both look for game time on their recovery from injury.

Playing with the slope towards the Victory Road end and with the wind at their backs the U23s had the better of the opening exchanges in what turned out to be a tetchy game with some refereeing decisions that baffled both players and benches. The deadlock was broken when the U23s were awarded a free kick to the left of the visitors’ penalty area. Captain, MITCHELL JACKSON, took responsibility for the kick which he placed around the wall low to the goalkeeper’s left and beyond his despairing dive. Brandon Town offered little in the final third with Ollie Dawson in the home goal only having to make one save of note.

Half Time: Leiston U23 1 - 0 Brandon Town

The second half followed much the same course as the first. The U23s passing the ball well and Brandon Town looking to strike on the counter attack. The visitors’ equaliser resulted from good pressing as the home goalkeeper tried to play out from the back. Having got back on level terms the visitors sought to apply more pressure in search of a winning goal. It was therefore somewhat against the run of play when the ball found its way to OLLIE GRIGGS on the left flank who cut in onto his right foot and fired a curling shot from the edge of the penalty area into the far corner of the goal.

Full Time: Leiston U23 2 - 1 Brandon Town

In a tough, physical encounter the home side showed commendable resilience and on the balance of play deserved the win which sets up a 2nd round tie, again at home, against Claydon on the 14th October. The win was the sixth time that the U23 (Reserves) have progressed beyond the 1st round since first competing in the competition in 2014/15.

@Dougal1712