OVERVIEW

LEISTON U23s will hopefully begin their football in 2026 this weekend when they visit Stanway Pegasus in the Thurlow Nunn First Division North, writes Craig Cooper.

Only four games in the division have been played this year so far, with Stanway Pegasus beating AFC Sudbury Reserves 3-1 in one of those matches.

Stanway Pegasus are 6th in the table, having taken 34 points from their 23 league games to date, and are one place off the play-off places, although they are currently five points outside them.

It will be Neil Smye’s team first competitive game in five weeks, after they last played away at Wivenhoe Town on Saturday 13th December, drawing 1-1 in Essex.

In the reverse fixture back in on Saturday, 16th August last year, Ewan Parlett (2) and Spencer Keller were on target for Leiston as they lost 4-3. Callum Griffith’s hat-trick and Euan O’Neil solidarity goal helped Stanway to the three points. 53 people watched the game.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS IN ESSEX

THE sides met in Essex for the first time on Saturday 9th December, 2023, with Stanway winning 3-0. Dean Ager and a brace from Callum Griffith got the goals from Stanway Pegasus in front of 85 spectators.

On Saturday 31st August, 2024, Stanway won 5-0. George Barron, Max Booth, Brosnan Jarrett, Harry Pinkney and Harvey Evans were on target as a crowd of 94 watched on.

Stanway Pegasus have lost in the play-offs in the last two seasons.

FORM GUIDE: -
(Most recent league game first): -
STANWAY PEGASUS: - WDDWW
BLUES U23s: - DLLLL.

U23S GAMES IN JANUARY

Sat 24th: - Holbeach United (H)
Tues 27th: - Needham Market (H)
Sat 31st: - Haughley United (A), JLS Catering Group Suffolk Senior Cup quarter-finals).

MATCH INFORMATION
Stanway Pegasus v Blues U23s
Thurlow Nunn League First Division North
Saturday, January 17, 3pm kick off
The BES/Ascendant Energy Stadium, Coggeshall, Essex, CO6 1NT

Game 21/38.