OVERVIEW

THE Blues U23s are again in home action on Saturday afternoon as they play FC Clacton for the first time at this level in their history.

The U23s have lost by one goal margins thus far, losing both of their opening games in stoppage time, but there is plenty of positives to take from these games.

FC Clacton have won won and lost one in their opening games. They lost 2-1 at Diss Town on the first day before beating AFC Sudbury Reserves 2-1 on Tuesday night.

The U23s went down 2-1 at home to Gorleston Reserves on Tuesday night and sit 18th in the early league table.

Previous Meetings

Although the U23s have never player FC Clacton before, the first team played Clacton Town in their first season at Step 5 (Ridgeons Premier Division) in the 2004/2005 season.

The sides first met on Saturday 22nd January, 2005 at Victory Road.

Ivan Fryer (2), Glen Driver, Danny George and Blake Saker netted the goals as the Blues ran out 5-2 winners. S.Daly scored both for Clacton that day.

Clacton Town failed to fulfill the return fixture in Essex and the Blues got the three points.

In the next season, Glen Driver’s side won 4-0 away from home in December 2005. Danny George, Luke Hammond, Lee McGlone and Stewart Roach were the Blue scorers. In the home fixture in March 2006, Blair Hammond, Lee McGlone and Stewart Roach were the scorers in a 3-0 win. Clacton Town went down with just one point and finished bottom, while Leiston finished in 9th place for a successive season.

Leiston played FC Clacton in September 2010 in Essex, winning 3-1. Angelo Harrop, Simon Head and Gareth Heath scored for Mark Morsely’s side while K.Coyle netted for FC Clacton.

The two sides then met on a Tuesday night in March 2011, with Leiston winning 3-0. Gareth Heath, Leon Ottley-Gooch and Danny Smy on target that night which helped Leiston lift the league title a month later at Wivenhoe Town.

Coming Up

The Blues U23s make the long trip to Lincolnshire next Saturday to play Holbeach United before back-to-back home games against Framlingham Town (Tuesday 12th August) and Stanway Pegasus (Saturday 16th August).

Neil Smye’s team then head to Needham Market Reserves (Saturday 23rd August) before travelling to Long Melford on Wednesday 27th August in the League Challenge Cup 2nd Round. They see out the month as they host AFC Sudbury Reserves on Saturday 30th August.

MATCH INFORMATION
Blues U23s v FC Clacton
Thurlow Nunn First Division North
3pm kick off
Watson & Hillhouse Stadium, Victory Road, LTAA, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4DQ
Tel: - 01728 830308.

Admission Prices: Adults £7, Concessions (over 65’s) £4, Students (with ID) £3, U16’s FOC.

Game 3/38.