Leiston U23’s defeated Haverhill Borough yesterday afternoon to win their opening game of the 2024/2025 campaign. The Blues second string were missing Mitchell Jackson and Ollie Griggs and also had to make do without striker Charlie Atkin but Ben Batho and Cameron Rayworth came into the starting eleven.

Leiston started well and Ewan Partlett got down the Haverhill right hand side on four minutes to pass to Oscar Manly but the strikers effort was well saved by Zac Tuvey and Mackenzie Travis follow up was cleared away for a corner. Travis then shot wide moments later before Haverhill started to come into the game more and on ten minutes, the Blues fouled in the area with referee Jak Clark giving a penalty. Striker Harry Farrow stepped up to fire into Marcus Mehew’s bottom top left hand corner.

On 15 minutes, Brandon McKay fired wide of Mehew’s right hand post. Charlie Holmes’ cross from Haverhill’s right flank was well taken by Mehew before the Ethan Oldman headed away a corner. Leiston levelled on 31 minutes though when Oldman’s ball over the top was sliced by Tuvey and Travis controlled the ball to steer into an empty net.

Three minutes later and Rayworth went into the box and looked to be hauled over but appeals were waved away but on 39 minutes, Rayworth weaved his way into the box once more and was taken out and Reagan King sent Tuvey the wrong way to put the Blues ahead. Rayworth crossed from the right a minute after the restart but Tuvey grabbed the ball ahead of Partlett.

McKay got in at the start of the second half after the Blues got caught in possession but Mehew and Max Crane did well to advert the danger. Oldman then put in Partlett over the away defence and the youngster pulled the ball back to Oscar Manly but he shot agonisingly wide of Tuvey’s left hand post. Haverhill made some subs to get back in the game and on 65 minutes, defender Sonny Tully headed past Mehew from a free kick to regain parity. Leiston then had to defend well, with Mehew pushing away a free kick and Rayworth blocking a strike on the edge of the box. Sub Kai Wilson missed to chances at the back post for Haverhill as the time ticked away.

Oldman had a header saved by Tuvey and Josh Yaxley could have given Leiston the lead but shot straight at Tuvey after good work by Rayworth. On 88 minutes, the Blues got the deciding goal when Oldman’s ball over the top set King away and the player finished well, chipping the ball over Tuvey. Neil Smye’s team saw the game out well, seeing five minutes of added time out to claim a hard fought three points.
FT: - Blues U23’s 3-2 Haverhill Borough.

The U23’s host Framlingham Town in their next league game on Tuesday night (7.45pm kick off).

Line-ups: -
Blues U23’s: - Mehew, Rayworth (sub Ellis 88 mins), Batho, King, Oldman, Crane, Travis (sub McCallum 77 mins), Buckman, Manly, Shannon (sub Yaxley 45 mins), Partlett. Sub not used: - Williams.
Haverhill Borough: - Tuvey, Holmes, Hopkins, Goddard, Allan, Tully, Newell (sub Wilson 45 mins), Scanlan, McKay, Zachariou (sub Sturesteps 75 mins), Farrow (sub Randall 55 mins).
Blues Man Of The Match: - Reagan King.
Attendance: - 42.