The Blues youngsters won 3-1 at Haverhill Borough last week, and Neil Smye’s men are now seven points above the relegation places with three games in hand over Haverhill Borough and Needham Market Reserves, who are both in the relegation positions.

Diss Town beat Leiston 3-0 in the u23s' first game of the campaign in Norfolk at the start of this season, in front of exactly 100 spectators. Charlie Webb, James Wilson and Kurtis Hodges were all on target for the hosts that evening.

Leiston will be hoping for better fortunes this weekend, as their season begins to come to a close, and to beat their points tally of 38 points last season (with them playing 38 league games this season compared to 40 last season).

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

THE u23s first met Diss Town in April 2016, with Glen Driver’s side (then Reserves) won 3-1. Adam Blades netted a hat-trick while a certain Ben Fowkes scored for Diss Town that afternoon. A week later, they met in Norfolk and Leiston’s second string drew 1-1. Aaron Thurlow scored for Leiston, while Adam Burroughs scored for Diss.

A season later, and in December 2016, Diss Town beat Leiston Reserves 7-1. Leon Ottley-Gooch scored for the Blues. In March 2017, Diss Town beat Leiston 3-1 in Suffolk. Ryan Sharman scored for Leiston while Shaun Hunsdon, Joseph Manning and Jack Tipple scored for the away side.

The sides played at the back end of the season the following campaign in 2017/2018. Diss Town won the game in Norfolk 3-0 in April 2018 before the Blues won 1-0 in Suffolk a week later, with Kyle Cassell netting the goal.

Diss Town beat Leiston 3-2 on the opening day of the 2018/2019 season. Will Oxbrow and Matthew Rutherford scored for Leiston while Steve Holder (2) and Charlie Lambe found the net for Diss. Diss won 5-2 in the return fixture in January 2019. Goals from Ryan Beeston (2), Stephen Vincent (2) and Virgilio Leitao sealed the points, while Louie Bloom got Leiston’s goals.

Leiston beat Diss Town 4-2 in January 2020 with Will Davies getting a hat-trick and Jac Garrard getting the other goal. Owen Betts and Ryan Swift got the goals for Diss. The home game with Diss scheduled for late in the season was postponed due to COVID.

Leiston beat Diss Town 2-1 on the opening day of the 2020/2021 season. Harrison Bacon and Josh Hitter scored for Leiston, while Kieran Hagan scored the Norfolk club’s goal. Football was curtailed shortly after, however, due to another outbreak of COVID.

Diss beat Leiston 3-0 in Norfolk and the Blues beat Diss 3-0 the following season in Suffolk. Sam Allen, James Gaffer and Ash Wilding scored Leiston’s goals that day in February 2022.

Leiston won 4-2 at home the next season but lost 2-1 away, while last campaign in September 2023, Leiston won 1-0 in Norfolk thanks to a Charlie Atkin goal in front of 103 people, while Diss Town won 2-1 in Suffolk at the back end of the season.

Meanwhile, the first teams of Leiston and Diss Town have met many times.

Jud Chenery and Ivan Fryer scored as Leiston won 2-1 at Diss Town in September 2004. D.White scored Diss Town’s goal.

Diss Town won 2-1 in Suffolk in the return fixture, with Craig Taylor scoring Leiston’s goal and M.Clements and A.Key scoring for Diss.

The following season in November 2005, Leiston beat Diss Town 4-2 at Victory Road. Chris Dennett, Liam Stanley, Lee McGlone and Luke Hammond scored for Leiston while J.Berry and C.Hardy netted for Diss.

Later in the campaign, Leiston won 2-1 at Diss in March 2006. D.White scored for Diss while Lee McGlone and Stewart Roach hit the back of the net for the Blues.

In January 2007, the Blues went down 3-0 to Diss with M.Angel, D.Lawrence and J.McManus scoring for Diss. Just three weeks later, and Leiston won 3-2 in Norfolk. M.Angel and D.Lawrence scored for Diss while Chris Dennett, Danny George and a Diss own goal helped Leiston to the points.

FORM GUIDE: -
(Most recent results first, league games only): -
BLUES u23s: - WLLLL
DISS TOWN: - WWLDW

COMING UP FOR THE BLUES

Harwich & Parkeston are the visitors to Leiston on Tuesday night, while the Blues have a blank weekend next Saturday. Holbeach United visit on Saturday 22nd March. On the final Saturday of the month, the u23s’s head to Whitton United in league action.

MATCH INFORMATION
Blues u23s v Diss Town
Thurlow Nunn First Division North
Saturday, March 8, 3pm kick off
Watson & Hillhouse Stadium, Victory Road, LTAA, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4DQ
Tel: - 01728 830308.

Admission Prices:- Adults £5, Concessions £3, Students (with ID) £2, U16’s FOC.

Game 29/38.