The Blues U23’s defeated a tough Claydon side at Victory Road yesterday afternoon in a decent match for the 74 spectators who watched on a sunny October afternoon in Suffolk.

Leiston had a few players out as players were cup-tied after playing in the Suffolk Premier Cup in September against Brantham Athletic. Adam Bailey-Dennis made another appearance for the U23’s as he continues his comeback from injury. Emille and Dion Dozzell were both being watched by their dad, Jason, on the sidelines. Jason made over 400 appearances for Ipswich and managed Leiston in the 2006/2007 season, leading the Blues to a fifth place finish (best at the time in the club’s history at Step 5), with Leiston netting 98 league goals that campaign.

Leiston began well and passed the ball well on a pitch that was playing very well. The side won a free kick after just five minutes on the edge of the Claydon penalty area which Blues defender Adam Bailey-Dennis took but his curling effort landed on the roof of ex Blues Glyn Dixon’s net after the ball just went over the crossbar. Another good move by the home side two minutes later ended with Ollie Griggs cutting inside from the left and his strike was deflected just wide of Dixon’s left hand post after a good crossfield ball by Matt Mullis. Mullis was in the thick of the action on 11 minutes again as the attacking player turned and shot from 25 yards but Dixon easily gathered his attempt. From Dixon’s ball upfield, Leiston had a miscommunication in the defence and Dylan Buxton took advantage of the mistake to close in and shoot into an empty net. A period of play for around ten minutes was played in the middle of the pitch before the dangerous Charlie Hooley dribbled at the Blues defence but his strike was pushed away well by Oliver Dawson in the Blues goal. This seemed to spark Leiston into life again and on 23 minutes, parity was restored. Matt Mullis’ well flighted ball over the top of the Claydon defence allowed Emile Dozzell to get in, control the ball and strike home left footed into Dixon’s left hand corner. Dion Dozzell then had two efforts blocked, the second a free kick that away captain Ryan Dennington did well to get away for a corner. On 36 minutes, Hooley had a good chance but fired well wide of Dawson’s right hand post. A minute later, Claydon won a corner but Dawson pushed it away and the keeper received a hefty challenge and had to received treatment for a few minutes. Late in the half, Dion Dozzell dinked a delivery from the right onto Dixon’s goal netting while Mackenzie Travis headed over Ben Batho’s cross at the back post. In the last action of the first period, Adam Bailey-Dennis made a good challenge with Claydon closing in on the Blues back line.

The second half started rather slowly for both sides although Hooley went close on 51 minutes, shooting just over Dawson crossbar from 15 yards out. Claydon won the ball back quickly and Jake Rudge turned in the area but his shot was easy for Dawson. On 54 minutes, Ollie Griggs cut inside from the Blues left and forced Dixon to get down to his left before moments later, Dion Dozzell shot over at an angle inside the box. At the other end, Billy Jordan turned a delivery from the left flank over his own crossbar, with Liam Woodhouse heading over the resultant corner. A period of fifteen minutes or so saw both defences on top and neither side could create much in front of goal. Leigh Cooper shot over the Blues crossbar on 77 minutes for the visitors while in the 83rd minute, a Blues free kick on the edge of the box was blocked and Claydon broke quickly upfield, however, Dawson made a great double save to deny the Claydon forwards. The tie looked destined for penalties but in the 92nd minute, good play by sub Josh Yaxley on the right hand side allowed the player to get at the Claydon defence and his ball across goal was pinpoint for Mackenzie Travis to knock home past Dixon. Claydon created a couple of late corners but after six minutes of injury time, referee Thomas Ling brought the game to an end.

Both sides played some decent football over ninety minutes, with very little yellow cards or bad challenges in the game which both sides should be applauded for.

FT: - Blues U23’s 2-1 Claydon.

Leiston U23’s are next in action next weekend when Norwich CBS visit in the Thurlow Nunn First Division North.

Line-ups: -

Leiston U23’s side: - Oliver Dawson, Jack Dawson (sub Fowler 72 mins), Batho, King, Jordan, Bailey-Dennis, Griggs, Emile Dozzell (sub Petrea 87 mins), Dion Dozzell, Mullis (sub Yaxley 81 mins), Travis.

Claydon side: - Dixon, Dowsing, Giles, Cooper, Woodhouse (sub Odibe 90+3 mins), Dennington, Porter, Ivan Buxton, Dylan Buxton, Rudge, Hooley. Subs not used: - Costa, Parsons, Stollery, Wraggs.

Blues Man Of The Match: - Ollie Griggs.

Attendance: - 74.