OVERVIEW

THE Blues U23s head to Needham Market Reserves on Saturday, writes Craig Cooper.

The U23s went down to a late goal last weekend to Stanway Pegasus, and sit bottom of the table early on.

Needham, meanwhile, are 16th and have taken three more points than Leiston, and having played a game less.

BLUES BOSS ON GAME

U23s boss Neil Smye had this to say ahead of the game: “The performance against Framlingham, where we lost six-nil, quite frankly we were second best in all departments and didn’t compete.

“But we had a good reaction from the players last weekend against Stanway Pegasus in terms of being competitive and looked like we would get something from the game, only to concede from another set-play in added-on time.

“It’s fine margins and concentration levels at important times in the games that are costing us right now. We will look to find ways and to improve to hopefully help develop the players' individual game and turn positive performances into positive results.”

PREVIOUS CLASHES AT BLOOMFIELDS

December 2014: -
Needham Market Reserves 1-1 Leiston Reserves
(Needham: Kyran Field; Leiston: Kieran Nicholls).

October 2015: -
Needham Market Reserves 1-3 Leiston Reserves
(Needham: Daniel Smith; Leiston: Ryan Sharman (2), Zehnn Young).

August 2016: -
Needham Market Reserves 5-1 Leiston Reserves
(Needham: Max Booth (3), James Carragher, Santo Sarro-Haire; Leiston: Ryan Sharman).

September 2017: -
Needham Market Reserves 0-3 Leiston Reserves
(Kevin Inglis (2), Ryan Sherman).

December 2018: -
Needham Market Reserves 2-3 Leiston Reserves
(Needham: Roman Carvell, Brendon Heath; Leiston: Harrison Bacon, Jourdan Kiwomya (2)).

November 2020: -
Needham Market Reserves 1-2 Leiston Reserves
(Needham: Ben Harris; Leiston: Ben Stannard, Mason Harvey).

February 2022: -
Needham Market Reserves 5-1 Leiston Reserves
(Needham: Seth Chambers (2), Ben Harris (2), Louie Fiifi McDonagh-Kudiabor; Leiston: Ollie Godbold).

December 2022: -
Needham Market Reserves 3-1 Leiston Reserves
(Needham: Archie Exworth, Ollie Fraser, Mahmoud Chukwuemeka Igwebuike; Leiston: Joe McNeil).

December 2023: -
Needham Market U23’s 2-1 Leiston U23s
(Needham: Ollie Fraser, Lucas Vance; Leiston: Dion Dozzell).

April 2025: -
Needham Market Reserves 1-0 Leiston U23s
(Alexander Oakley).

FORM GUIDE: -
(Most recent games first).
NEEDHAM MARKET RESERVES: - LWDLL
LEISTON U23s: - LLLDL

COMING UP FOR THE BLUES

Neil Smye’s side head to Long Melford on Wednesday night to play in the League Challenge Cup second round (the U23s received a bye in the first round) before ending August with a home game on Saturday against AFC Sudbury Reserves.

Their Suffolk Senior Cup first round match, at home to Long Melford, has been arranged for Tuesday 9th September, with the winners to host Sporting 87 at a later date.

MATCH INFORMATION
Needham Market Reserves v Blues U23s
Thurlow Nunn First Division North
Saturday, August 23, 3pm kick-off
Bloomfields, Quinton Road, Needham Market, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP6 8DA.

Game 7/38.