OVERVIEW

LEISTON U23s host Haverhill Borough on Saturday, as they try to get their first win of 2026, writes Craig Cooper.

After losing their first two league matches of the year, the team went out of the Suffolk Senior Cup on penalties last weekend to Haughley United, after the game had finished 3-3.

Mackenzie Travis, Owen Lavery and Charlie Atkin goals were only enough to take the quarter-final tie to penalties, where the Blues lost 5-4 on spot kicks.

Neil Smye’s team now can concentrate on their remaining 16 domestic fixtures. The team are five points behind Wivenhoe Town but have three games in hand, as Wivenhoe Town drew 3-3 with Long Melford last weekend.

This weekend's opponents at the Flannery Stadium, Haverhill Borough, meanwhile, are in seventh place and have taken 37 points from 25 league games, winning four of their last five matches.

The sides met in late November last year, with Haverhill winning 3-0. Reuben Chinnery (2) and Kade Ivatt were on target for the hosts that day.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS IN SUFFOLK

Saturday 20th September 2014: -
Leiston Reserves 0-0 Haverhill Borough

Saturday 23rd January 2016: -
Leiston Reserves 1-2 Haverhill Borough
(Lei: Jack Baker; Hav: Rory Bone, Matthew Staines)

Saturday 7th January 2017: -
Leiston Reserves 2-3 Haverhill Borough
(Lei: Adam Blades, Jac Garrad; Hav: Casey Phillips, Craig Pruden, Charlie Holmes).

Tuesday 2nd April 2019: -
Leiston Reserves 3-2 Haverhill Borough
(Lei: Will Davies (2), Louis Bloom; Hav: Lewis Lindsay, Craig Pruden)

Saturday 21st January 2023: -
Leiston Reserves 0-1 Haverhill Borough
(Callum Stone)

Saturday 17th February 2024: -
Leiston U23s 4-5 Haverhill Borough
(Lei: Charlie Atkin, Mitchell Jackson, Cameron Rayworth, Kian Wilson; Hav: Craig Hughes (3), Connall McErlain)

Saturday 3rd August 2024: -
Leiston U23s 3-2 Haverhill Borough
(Lei: Regan King (2), Mackenzie Travis; Hav: Harry Fallow, Sonny Tully)

FORM GUIDE: -
(Most recent league games first): -
BLUES U23s: - LLDLL
HAVERHILL BOROUGH: - WWWLW

U23s THROUGH FEBRUARY

Tues 10th: - Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers (H)
Sat 14th: - Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers (A)
Sat 21st: - Wivenhoe Town (H)
Tues 24th: - AFC Sudbury Reserves (A)
Sat 28th: - FC Parson Drove (H).

MATCH INFORMATION
Blues U23s v Haverhill Borough
Thurlow Nunn League First Division North
Saturday, February 7, 3pm kick off
The Flannery Plant Stadium, Victory Road, LTAA, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4DQ
Tel: - 01728 830308.

Admission Prices:- Adults £7, Concessions (over 65s) £4, Students (with ID) £3, U16s FOC.
Game 23/38