Line-up: Jordi Wilson, Kian Wilson, Ethan Oldman, Billy Jordan, Cameron Rayworth, Jake Spooner, Josh Yaxley, Ollie Griggs, Joe McNeil, Charlie Atkin, Mitchell Jackson

Subs: Ashdon Fowler, Marcus Mehew, Warren Buckman, Mackenzie Travis, Jonathon Shannon

The U23s came into this game with the chance of completing their first double of the season and off the back of two successive wins, the first away at Haverhill Borough and the second at home on Easter Monday against title chasing Framlingham Town. Jordi Wilson continued in goal with Marcus Mehew on the bench. Captain, Mitchell Jackson returned for his first appearance since the home defeat by Diss Town at the beginning of March.

Straight from the kick off it was evident that this was going to be a difficult first half for the blues, playing up the slope and against a strong headwind. Having kicked off and played the ball back to the defence, possession was immediately given away and it took some time before there was any play in the FC Peterborough half of the pitch. It therefore came as no surprise, given all the possession they had in the U23’s half when the visitors took the lead after barely 10 minutes. A simple cross from the right was tapped in at the far post. This pattern of FC Peterborough possession continued for the rest of the half with the U23s only managing brief excursions into the opposition half. Hence it was to their credit that the U23s went into half time trailing by that one early strike.

Half Time: - Leiston U23’s 0 – 1 FC Peterborough

Playing the second half with the slope and wind the U23s could have expected to have had more of the ball. Instead within 15 minutes of the restart the visitors had added a further two goals to effectively put the game out of reach. The first was another tap in after a scramble in which no defender was able to clear the ball and the second followed a poor defensive clearance which went straight to an attacker who set up a colleague for an easy finish. Too late, the goals seem to galvanise the home side and they thought they had away back into the game when the hard working Charlie Atkin bustled his way through the visiting defence before being brought down in the penalty area. Or was it? Having initially pointed to the penalty spot the referee consulted with her assistant who deemed the offence to have occurred just outside the penalty area. Nothing resulted from the free kick but some encouragement was forthcoming 5 minutes later when CHARLIE ATKIN charged down the goalkeeper’s kick and watched as it looped back into the net for his 15th goal of the season. In the remaining quarter of an hour the result could have swung in the U23’s favour had they been able to turn their pressure into a second goal which certainly would have put doubts in the minds of the visitors as to whether they could hang on for the win or not. Sadly it was not to be, but Saturday’s trip to Norwich CBS sees the U23s with another chance of completing a double following the convincing 5-0 victory earlier in mid-March.

Full Time: - Leiston U23’s 1 – 3 FC Peterborough