Leiston U23’s gained an important point as they look to remain a Step 6 side for next season.

It leaves them a point behind Wivenhoe Town still with two games in hand.

Jack Manly came into the side and played very well in the first half, dictating play in midfield.

The first real chance of the contest came on 14 minutes when Jack Manly shot just over the bar from a free kick. Manly was again in the action on 21 minutes but shot over of Gabriel Ruth-Pateman’s goal after a one-two with Mackenzie Travis.

On 27 minutes, Jack Manly striked the ball this time just wide of Ruth-Pateman’s right hand post after a short corner.

At the other end, Marcus Mehew saved well from George Horlocks, while a minute later, Warren Buckman stroked the ball just over Ruth-Pateman’s bar.

Before the break, Billy Jordan hit the crossbar from a flick on after a corner and Oscar Manly curled a free kick narrowly over the crossbar.

Leiston broke the deadlock on 47 minutes when Archie Hubert crossed well from the Blues left and Travis put the ball into Jack Manly’s path for the midfielder to shoot left footed past Ruth-Pateman just inside the area.

Gabriel Kerr nearly levelled two minutes later but couldn’t work Mehew when well placed.

Chances in the match were then hard to come by, although the U23’s kept the ball well for a lot of this time.

On 67 minutes, goalkeeper Mehew and Jordan did well to clear a dangerous cross into the box, however, five minutes later, sub Orland Tene restored parity after bursting into the box to fire past Mehew at his near post.

The game was held up as Charlie Ellis-Hall was taken off for the away side with a bad injury and Leiston went close a couple of times in the eleven minutes of stoppage time but couldn’t find a winner.

FT: - Blues U23’s 1-1 Wivenhoe Town.

Leiston U23’s now head to 12th placed Holland for another big game on Saturday afternoon. (3pm kick off).

Line-ups: -
Blues U23’s: - Mehew, Bales (Connor Crane 90+2 mins), Hubert, Oldman (sub Max Crane 46 mins), Jordan, Buckman, Oscar Manly, Travis (sub Shannon 84 mins), Jack Manly(sub Kiwomya 61 mins), Parlett, Horne. Sub not used: - Shaw.
Wivenhoe Town: - Ruth-Pateman, Dallinger, Long, Conway (sub Ayton 61 mins), Hughes, Richards, Brennan, Shepherd (sub Gallifant 71 mins), Elise-Hall, Kerr (sub Dennis 71 mins), Horrocks (sub Tene 46 mins).

Blues Man Of The Match: - Stan Horne.

Attendance: - 37.