Starting Line-up: Marcus Mehew, Kian Wilson, Billy Jordan, Elliott Young, Ben Batho, Cameron Young, Munashe Chirimuuta, Charlie Atkin, Ashdon Fowler, Joe McNeil, Ollie Griggs
Bench: Emille Dozzell, Matt Mullis, Cameron Rayworth, Darius Petrea, Lucas Wells

Saturday saw the return to action, albeit starting on the bench, of Cam Rayworth after a protracted injury lay off. It also saw the last game for a while for the team for Cam Young as he returns to continue his studies at University in Chichester.

Following two narrow defeats on the road, at Wivenhoe Town and Needham Market U23s, Neil’s team were looking to bounce back to the sort of performance that earned them all three points against Holbeach United.

As is often the way the opening exchanges were fairly even with the visitors probably shading the possession and creating the better chances. The break through finally came mid-way through the half when Jones De Sousa ran onto to a ball between two defenders and shot low into the goal to put Whittlesey ahead. The home side’s response was almost immediate with a sweeping move down the left flank out of defence and ending with Joe McNeil’s powerful shot being well saved by the goalkeeper.

Half Time: Leiston U23 0 – 1 Whittlesey Athletic

The second half saw the U23s having the better of the possession but too often they were halted by the physicality of the visitors. Not every challenge was worthy of a free kick being awarded but a lot were that the referee saw fit not to give. The home side’s pressure was rewarded about fifteen minutes into the half when CHARLIE ATKIN was brought down in the penalty area. He got up to take the kick himself which he converted to register his 9th goal of the campaign and draw the sides level. For the second home game in a row the Blues were reduced to 10 men with the sin binning of Cam Young after he “protested” the dubious award of a free kick against him. The reduction to ten men didn’t blunt the home side’s attacking ambition with Charlie Atkin going close to scoring a possible winner with a shot from the edge of the box that went agonisingly wide. Unfortunately Neil’s men couldn’t find a winner but had to settle for a hard fought point.

Full Time: Leiston U23 1 – 1 Whittlesey Athletic