OVERVIEW

THE BLUES entertain Needham Market Reserves this evening (7.45pm kick off), writes Craig Cooper.

Leiston U23s remain five points off Wivenhoe Town, with their game in hand on the Essex club being against Needham.

Needham Market Reserves have had two wins in their last two games, defeating Wivenhoe Town 2-1 (at home) and winning in Norfolk at Wroxham Reserves 1-0 (away). They currently sit in 18th place, having taken 29 points from their 33 league games to date so far.

Leiston U23s won 2-0 at Needham Market Reserves on Saturday, 23rd August 2025. Stan Horne and Spencer Keller scored the goals in front of an attendance of 71.

Blues boss Neil Smye said ahead of the game: - “We were very poor against FC Clacton recently when we lost 6-1 in Essex and then played well for periods against KPR in the first half.

“On Saturday there was a much improved performance against Halesworth Town (away). We had three or four really good chances to score with efforts gone just wide and one shot hit the crossbar. The younger players from the U18s have come in and done well lately and we played on the front foot more.

“We know Needham have had some good results of late and it will be another tough match."

PREVIOUS MEETINGS AT HOME
AGAINST NEEDHAM MARKET RES

Wednesday 15th October 2014: -
Leiston Reserves 2-0 Needham Market Reserves
(Josh Merritt, Ryan Noy).

Friday 18th September 2015: -
Leiston Reserves 5-2 Needham Market Reserves
(Lei: Aaron Thurlow (2), Toby Kerslake, Tom Winter, Jack Baker; Need: Adam Mills (2).

Wednesday 3rd August 2016: -
Leiston Reserves 4-6 Needham Market Reserves
(Lei: Aaron Thurlow (3), Lewis Bell; Need: Danny Garrad (4), Max Booth, Tyler Rose).

Tuesday 24th October 2017: -
Leiston Reserves 2-1 Needham Market Reserves
(Lei: Jamie Burnett, Louie Bloom; Need: Max Booth).

Saturday 8th September 2018: -
Leiston Reserves 2-2 Needham Market Reserves
(Lei: Will Davies, Matt Rutterford; Need: Ethan Abrahams (2)).

Tuesday 6th August 2019: -
Leiston Reserves 1-2 Needham Market Reserves
(Lei: Sam Newson; Need: George Exworth, Jamahl Godward).

Tuesday 8th September 2020: -
Leiston Reserves 4-1 Needham Market Reserves 1
(Lei: George Tuck (2), Josh Hitter, Louie Bloom; Needham Market scorer not known).

Tuesday 22nd March 2022: -
Leiston Reserves 2-2 Needham Market Reserves
(Lei: Ollie Godbold, Spencer Keller; Need: Louie Kudiabor, Harry Blackburn).

Tuesday 16th August 2022: -
Leiston Reserves 1-0 Needham Market Reserves
(Jake Spooner).

Tuesday 22nd August 2023: -
Leiston U23s 2-3 Needham Market U23s
(Lei: Jake Spooner, Cameron Young; Need: Seth Chambers (3)).

Tuesday 24th September 2024: -
Leiston U23s 3-0 Needham Market Reserves
(Charlie Atkin, Oscar Manly, Cameron Rayworth).

FORM GUIDE: -
BLUES U23s: - LLLLL
NEEDHAM MARKET RESERVES: - WWLLL

Remaining games for Leiston U23s

Sat 4th April: - Long Melford (H)
Mon 6th April: - Holland (A)
Sat 11th April: - Diss Town (H)... reduced admission for this game
Tues 14th April: - Wivenhoe Town (H)
Sat 18th April: - FC Peterborough (A).

MATCH INFORMATION
Blues U23s v Needham Market Reserves
Thurlow Nunn League First Division North
Tuesday, March 31, 7.45pm kick off
The Flannery 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 33/38.