Blues Reserves 3-3 Great Yarmouth Town - Match Report

Leiston Reserves ended their league campaign in an entertaining draw at home to Great Yarmouth Town on Easter Bank Holiday Monday.

This means the Reserves finish 9th in the league with 36 points from their 30 league fixtures and it’s been a good 2022 after they started the year second from bottom in 15th position.

Leiston started well and Nyan Mesuira shot wide for the Blues before Jordan Cantwell fired a free kick just wide of Harrison Podd’s left hand post. Leiston took the lead on nine minutes when Kai Fletcher latched onto a through ball and headed over Elvijs Putnins before side footing home on the edge of the area into an empty net. Liam Cork was then booked for a late challenge in the middle of the park before the Reserves doubled their lead. Good interlinking play between Spencer Keller and Fletcher lead to the latter going through on goal to dispatch the ball under Putnins. Just two minutes later, however, and Yarmouth pulled a goal back. Leiston failed to clear a free kick and the ball was put out to the right wing where it was crossed to Jordan Sandwell to cushion volley home, giving Podd no chance. Six minutes later, and the game was back on even terms as Jaden Snelling worked the ball on to his right foot to fire into Podd’s top left hand corner. Kai Fletcher was denied by Putnins soon after as both teams made sure chances were restricted. Ryan Beeson had a chance for Yarmouth but he shot wide as both defences tightened up before the interval.

Liam Cork and Spencer Keller went close early on in the second period for the Blues as both efforts were just off target. Yarmouth had a chance when Podd punched a ball away but the shot back in was cleared off the line. Yarmouth had a good spell in the middle of the second half but the young Leiston side stood up well, with youngsters Cameron Rayworth and Ashdon Fowler holding off the tricky Yarmouth wingers. But, on 70 minutes, George Couzens cut inside on the left to shoot home on the edge of the box into Podd’s bottom right hand corner to put the visitors back in front. Leiston though kept patient and worked a couple of half chances, however, they levelled on 82 minutes when sub Jacobi Tugman delivered from the right and Nyan Mesuira tucked away inside the box to restore parity. Late on, Danny Camish was denied by a splendid Podd save and in the last few seconds, Podd again saved, this time from Couzens after Yarmouth worked a short corner but a draw was a fair outcome overall.

FT: - Blues Reserves 3-3 Great Yarmouth Town.

The side now look forward to the CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup final at Colchester United FC on Friday 13th May, 7.30pm kick off, against Ipswich Wanderers.

Line-ups: -

Blues Reserves: - Podd, Fowler, Rayworth, Bak (Tugman 67 mins), French, Allen, Godbold (Wilding 45 mins), Cork, Fletcher, Keller, Mesuira. Sub not used: - Gaffer.

Great Yarmouth Town: - Putnins, Halliday, Philpott, Riches, Orme (Urry 69 mins), Barnes, Snelling (Camish 49 mins), Edwards, Beeson, Cantwell, Couzens. Subs not used: - Purton, Wing, Ady.

Blues Man Of The Match: - Liam Cork.

Attendance: - 75.