THIS WEEKEND’S MATCH PREVIEW – LEISTON (AWAY) KO 3.00 PM

Saturday promises a corker at Victory Road as Dulwich Hamlet face free scoring Leiston

Since exploding out of the blocks at the start of the season, laying down a marker to the other title contenders with a six-match winning streak and remaining unbeaten in the Ryman League Premier Division until early November, Glenn Driver’s Blues have proved themselves the powerhouse in the championship challenge. From stunning a relegated Havant & Waterlooville side built for an instant rebound into National League South on the opening day through a superlative display of the art of the blitzkrieg counterattack at Champion Hill, Leiston’s football has proved both entertaining and effective.

Point in case that 4-2 victory at Dulwich Hamlet back on a balmy late August Saturday when the Pink and Blues reaped a whirlwind provided by the double act of mesmeric wingman Joe Francis and his midfield cohort Gareth Heath. After an early goal for Matt Blake had been disallowed for offside, the travelling Blues made the breakthrough on 23 minutes as Francis cut inside from the right before letting fly with a left foot rocket that flew across Hamlet ‘keeper Preston Edwards and curled inside his far post. However, the game turned Dulwich’s way as they burst into life at the start of the second half, Gavin Tomlin curling in a delightful free kick from the edge of the area past ‘keeper Nick Eyre before Michael Chambers put Hamlet ahead three minutes later as he nodded home from Tomlin’s cross. Unfazed Leiston were swiftly level as Francis led Nathan Green a merry dance on the right before pulling the ball back for Heath to hammer home from 15 yards. From there on the game belonged to the Blues, Francis adding a second from close-range and Heath left unmarked as Leiston bagged a fourth goal.

Dulwich would not be the last to feel the force of the Blues. Four of Leiston’s next five games saw them smack a quartet of goals past hapless opposition, poor old Grays felt the force twice in two weeks, first in the League beaten 4-1 at Victory Road, then in the Emirates FA Cup. Same place, same score. The 100% record finally fell in a remarkable game as Kingstonian travelled up to Suffolk. Fans had to keep all eyes on the game as the lead switched four times, the travellers from Surrey ahead 4-3 just before the hour mark, Michael Onovwigun scoring twice on his debut after his departure from Champion Hill. However, it was same player who would throw the hosts a lifeline, his foul on Francis gifting the hosts a spot kick, one Byron Lawrence calmly dispatched despite the distractions of petulant protests from the visitors. Indeed, Leiston might have clung on to that 100% but for a superlative save from Rob Tolfrey to deny Blake.

A first defeat followed as the goals flowed at Brightlingsea Regent in the Alan Turvey Trophy, the Essex side triumphant 6-3 against a squad selection but the Blues were soon back to winning ways, Christy Finch and Joe Francis sharing the goals in a 4-1 FA Cup at South Park. A trip to Tonbridge Angels proved tricky, Leiston 2 down at the break but the fighting spirit shone through as Heath and Blake levelled to keep Driver’s men motoring ahead at the front of the pack

Two home wins over the Met Police and AFC Sudbury presaged a month on the road as the Blues’ next SIX games were all away from Victory Road. October began with a 4-1 massacre of Hungerford Town in the FA Cup that moved them to within touching distance of the competition proper. Before that they would face a trip to Fetcham Grove and Jimmy Bullard’s Leatherhead, the Tanners ensconced in the relegation places but improving of late. However, it seemed as if things would go the way of the formbook, the Blues in command at 3-1 with seconds left on the clock until a clash of legs in the box allowed Giuseppe Sole to pull one back from the penalty spot. Even then it seemed little more than a consolation until Kieran Hughes-Mason found space to find the net in the 5th minute of stoppage time to make it 3-3 at the final whistle. Yet the boot was on the other foot at Staines Town the following Saturday. This time it was the Blues in arrears 2-1 until Francis continued to add to his burgeoning tally with 2 goals in two minutes to ensure the three points.

The draw for the Fourth (and final) qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup had providing mixed fortunes for the Blues. Paired with one of the lowest ranking clubs, albeit a team with a winning record to dwarf even the Blues, Herefordshire-based Westfields FC of the Midland League Premier Division, Leiston must have feel more than a little confident if not unwary. Then, of course, victory might have cast them as the villains of the piece had they dismissed the supposed minnows! The game proved as tight an affair as any Leiston have played this season. Not until the hour mark would come the breakthrough as Phil Glover head home a free kick for the hosts but when substitute Tom Winter crashed home a Patrick Brothers delivery from the flanks it looked like it would be all back to Victory Road for a midweek replay. Then came the heartbreaker, for the Blues at least. Seconds left and with Leiston’s defence failing to clear a cross, the ball was there on a plate for Richard Greaves to earn himself a place in FA folklore and Westfield’s a first ever appearance in the First Round Proper.

Rather than a replay at Victory Road, Leiston found themselves travelling Brantham Athletic where they secured a comfortable 5-1 to progress in the Suffolk FA Premier Cup. However, the FA Cup hangover seemed to stubborn to shift, the Blues firing blanks for the first time this season as they shared a goalless draw away to Havant & Waterlooville despite losing Lawrence to a red card midway through the second half. Grays proved just as stubborn, Heath’s early opener cancelled out by Harry Watkins’ leveller close to halftime. Someone was going to pay and that proved to be Hendon in the FA Trophy, Leiston going nuclear on a Greens’ side playing with ten men for an hour after Casey McLaren’s red card. Final score 5-0 with Blake and Finch both bagging braces.

On Tuesday 8th of November faced a 300-mile round journey to Folkestone where Invicta finally ended Leiston’s long unbeaten record, the Fullicks Stadium living up to its fortress reputation as the hosts claimed a 2-0 win. Goals from Sam Hasler and Jordan Wright did the damage in three calamitous minutes before the break. Come Saturday the Blues faced an even longer trip down to Chippenham Town, 8 hours there and back. in the FA Trophy but for a happier outcome as Jack Ainsley’s 77th goal proved the divider at Hardenhuish Park. Mixed fortunes followed. In the Ryman League the Blues were finally knocked off their perch as Niko Muir stunned Victory Road, clinching a 3-2 for Hendon in the dying moments. One Roman Michael-Percil inflicted more late pain as his 80th minute winner gave the Met Police a surprise 2-1 win at Imber Court. However, in the FA Trophy, Leiston were in disruptive mood. Vanarama National League South were taken to a replay after Ainsley had kept his cool to dispatch a last gasp penalty just three minutes after Nat Pinney had done the same for the Sports. The replay down in Sussex, provided even more drama. Played under a blanket of fog reminiscent of the penny dreadful peasoupers of Olde London Town, the sides were inseparable in normal time but when Ian Simpemba put Borough ahead with 8 minutes left of extra it seemed as if the death knell had sounded for Blues’ dreams. Then up popped Heath to level with mere seconds remaining to ensure kicks from the penalty mark would settle the affair. Seven taken, seven scored but then Jacob Marsden beat out Tom Murphy’s tame effort leaving Ollie Brown to complete the task. Victory may have been celebrated heartily on the long coach ride home but a trip to National League side Bromley due for the following Saturday there no time for overindulgence. Once again the Blues proved more than a match for their supposed betters. Trailing to George Porter’s goal on the stroke of halftime, they once more dug into the reserves of spirit levelling through Blake to bring the Ravens back to Suffolk for a replay. It was back to the harum-scarum football for Leiston after too a long a hiatus. 23 minutes Adam Cunnington gave the Kent travellers the advantage. Five minutes Patrick Brothers squared things up. Half an hour gone and Blake dispatches a penalty to put the Blues ahead. Oluwatobi Sho-Silva brings Bromley back on level terms 5 minutes in the second half only for Blake to larrup a steamer of a shot into the top corner to make it 3-2. However that lead lasted just two minutes as Cunnington found the net again but completing his hat trick as it became 3-4 on 66 minutes. High octane football followed but Blues could not make another breakthrough, the tie finally settling with 4 minutes left as Blair Turgott added number five.

And it was back to a Championship challenge where others had taken advantage to steal a march on the Blues as they threatened to slip out of the playoff places, albeit with games in hands of all their rivals including a resurgent Dulwich side. Two new faces appeared in the squad for the visit of Harlow, striker Niko Muir making the move from Hendon and Adeyinka Cole, who worn the Dulwich motley in the past, coming in from Grays Athletic. Muir marked his debut with one of the five Leiston goals as Driver’s side recovered from an early deficit to triumph 5-2 through the game was a trifle tarnished by a fractious final five minutes that six yellow cards brandished and Seb Dunbar walking the walk of shame after his second caution.

In the Boxing Day derby at Lowestoft Town’s Crown Meadow the bragging rights went to the Trawler Boys after their 3-2 win, Shaun Bammant’s 80th minute settling a game of two halves. The New Year double header gave Leiston home advantage but against Enfield Town on the Saturday it took a late equaliser from Blake to rescue a share of the points. Come Monday it was a different story as Suffolk neighbours and erstwhile leaders Needham Market were annihilated 5-1, Leiston scoring five times inside 37 minutes between Heath’s 20th minute opener and Muir’s somewhat fortunate fifth before an hour had been played. Victory served to reignite the blue touch paper, somewhat smouldering of late. Remarkably, given Leiston’s propensity to find the net with unerring regularity, no Blues player had yet to register a hat trick but that all changed at Burgess Hill Town as Blake four goal tally in 23 minutes saw the Hillians humbled 6-0 at home. Big home wins followed, Blake grabbing a pair as Leiston recovered from the early shock of Christian Assombalonga’s 5th minute opener to beat Billericay Town 5-1. Three days later Canvey Island were the next victims in the firing line with Muir amongst the scorers, finding the net for the sixth game out of seven since making his move from Hendon. The winning run kept on going last Saturday as Lawrence and Tom Bullard had the Blues in the driving seat early on down at Worthing. Even though the Rebels’ Sam Rents made for intriguing final phrase, pulling the hosts back to within a goal, Ryman League Golden Boot frontrunner put the tin hat on a fifth straight victory with number three in stoppage time. A midweek trip to Wingate and Finchley might have fallen foul of the freezing weather and so Leiston might have wished as all their efforts fell on stony ground against a dogged defence. Victory might have seen the Suffolk side move to within three points of leaders Bognor Regis Town with 2 games in hand and a vastly superior goal difference but in the end it was a deflected Steve Wales free kick that separated the sides.

This Saturday's game kicks off at 3.00 pm at the LTAA, Victory Road, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4DQ

Match Day Admission Prices

• Adults £10
• Concessions £7
• Under 16s FREE