Following a Ground Grading Inspection by the FA and Ryman League, Leiston have (in principle) been given a Grade E Grading. There are still a couple of minor amendments needed but these will be completed today to achieve the required deadline acceptance.Thanks goes to the many helpers who have worked tirelessly over the past few weeks to ensure the requirements have been achieved and the whole project has been superbly orchestrated by Vice Chairman Peter Mayhew who has given up days and nights over the last month to ensure the project has run smoothly. All is required now is the necessary points (mathematically seven) to clinch the title!
Leiston 4 - 0 HistonFull report to follow, now off to a party
Four star Blues move to within four points of the title Leiston 4 Histon Reserves 0 League leaders Leiston pushed basement side Histon Reserves towards Division One as they moved to within four points of their first Premier Division title. Leiston hit three first half goals from Danny Smy, Michael Brothers and Lee McGlone and after Danny Smy was harshly dismissed early in the second half, Danny Block sealed the win late on.Leiston moved to within four points of the League title after this one sided affair over bottom club Histon Reserves. After taking a fourth minute lead, the home side were always in control with Histon failing to trouble home keeper Stannard and with Leiston playing the final thirty odd minutes with ten men. Leiston kicked off without the suspended Boardley while the injured trio of P Brothers, Harrop and Hammond watched from the stand. The home side almost took the lead with barely a minute played. M Brothers ball released Smy into the left hand side of the box but he shot over Chamberlain’s bar. But the respite was merely four minutes. Heath’s cross found the unmarked D Head whose header was well saved by Chamberlain. McGlone was quick to react to the loose ball and shot across the face allowing Smy the simple task of tapping home. Six minutes later Cunningham’s corner was flicked on by Smy to Calver whose deflected shot struck the top of the bar. Two minutes later a fine pass from Smy released McGlone inside the box but he hooked wide. Then followed a period of little opportunities with play mainly in midfield. Just after the half hour the home side doubled their lead in slightly fortuitous fashion. Smy did well on the left hand side of the box before setting up M Brothers whose well hit half volley seemed to be saved high above his head by Chamberlain only to see the ball squirm clear and bounce into the net. We then saw a feisty flashpoint between Verrell and Smy with both receiving yellow cards. There was nothing fortuitous about Leiston’s third goal which was born from real quality. M Brothers picked out Cunningham from wide on the right touchline and from the left flank Cunningham delivered a teasing cross for McGlone to power a header beyond Chamberlain. Four minutes before the break only a smart stop denied McGlone another goal after the Leiston striker had raced into the box on the end of Saker’s pass. Ten minutes into the second half and the home side were down to ten men. Smy and Warren came together after the ball was gone and were simply holding off each other. Referee Stobbart, who clearly did not see the incident, consulted both linesmen before brandishing two yellows for either player meaning an early bath for Smy despite their being absolutely no malice at all. The sending off dampened the game somewhat and some fourteen minutes passed before a chance in either box with Chamberlain denying M Brothers with his feet. A spate of substitutions followed before a fourth Leiston goal on 78 minutes. M Brothers shot from the edge of the box deflected into the area and into the path of Block whose first touch since coming on was to control, his second to stroke the ball beyond the advancing Chamberlain. The remainder saw little action but it did see a first appearance for 17 year old Josh Merritt to make his Leiston debut.At this stage of the season, Leiston could not have asked for an easier match and once ahead never looked like conceding. The only black spot was a very harsh sending off for Danny Smy as the Blues moved to within four points of the title.Leiston: Stannard, Saker, Ottley-Gooch, D Head, Goldfinch, Calver, M Brothers, Heath (S Head 79 mins), Smy, McGlone (Merritt 81 mins), Cunningham (Block 77 mins). Subs not used: Payne and Young.Histon Reserves: Chamberlain, Everdell, Baxter, Warren (Hawkins 86 mins), Verrall, Libertucci, Twinn (Wright 73 mins), Asensi, Sessions, Smith, Unwin (Williams 73 mins). Subs not used: McDonald and Smith. Legal and General Insurance Man of the Match: Lee McGlone
