The Blues won 1-0 at Henley Athletic on Saturday afternoon after a good defensive display. Ollie Long’s strike won the game for them in the first half. Leiston Under 23’s sit in 7th place in the early standings.

Coplestonians have beaten Stowupland Falcons 3-1 at home and AFC Kesgrave 4-0 away but lost at East Bergholt United 3-2 in last midweek’s game.

‘Cops have ex-Blues striker Drew Connick in their ranks. Connick has three goals so far this season while fellow ex-Leiston players Franco Mallardo and Will Oxbrow also are at Coplestonians.

Coplestonians won the Suffolk & Ipswich League Premier Division last season, winning 27 games out of their 30 league games, drawing the other three, and thus going unbeaten all season. They also had a goal difference of +89.

Coplestonians sit in 5th place, above Leiston on goal difference.

The Blues second string beat Coplestonians Reserves in the First Round of the Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup in September 2013 7-1 at home.

The sides have also met at various levels in the Reserves Leagues in the Suffolk & Ipswich League (Intermediate A and B) and first teams have also met in the past.

'SMYE SAYS'

BLUES manager Neil Smye said after the first three games;

“Two wins from three games has seen a decent start to the season. The three games posed different challenges with opposition styles of play, different playing surfaces, and personnel available for selection in the games.”

“Old Newton at home was a good performance in possession and with a little more composure and being a bit more clinical we could have made more of the chances created.

“A few tweaks to our in possession game for the next game helped us with the transition and our out of possession game. This was against Leiston St Margarets, a game which we dominated large parts of. Chances were created and missed in the first half, and not being entirely happy with our out of possession set up were the main focus points at half time.

“Again a couple of tweaks were made and success was achieved. Four goals in a 13-minute spell at the start of the second half killed the game off.

“Saturday, away at Henley, against a very experienced side was a good test for the team. On a difficult pitch a result was ground out, which is something we have struggled with in the past. Playing the last 10-15 minutes with ten men provided a good learning opportunity on game management decisions and what was needed for the team.

“Our next fixture will be another big test with last season’s undefeated champions Coplestonians visiting Leiston on Tuesday night. It’s another opportunity for the players to test themselves against a team expected to be in and around the top part of the table come the end of the season, so character, hard work and composure will be needed to be competitive hopefully for a third game running.”

UNDER 23’s GAMES IN AUGUST
Saturday 22nd Aug: Kirton Athletic (H, 2.30pm kick off)
Saturday 29th Aug: -AFC Kesgrave (A, 2.30pm kick off)

MATCH INFORMATION
Blues Under 23’s v Coplestonians
Gateway 14 Suffolk & Ipswich League Premier Division
Tuesday, August 18th, 7.30pm kick off
The Flannery Stadium, Victory Road, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4DQ
Tel: 01728 830308

Admission: Free entry
Game 4/32