Leiston Prove To Be Chill Wind From The East

Church’s unbeaten home record finally falls after a tame performance against a side who had been equally enduring patchy form this season.
The game was decided by two strikes on goal in the opening 17 minutes that saw Church fall into a two goal deficit, that in all honesty they never really looked like overhauling.

Church had enjoyed plenty of joy down both flanks in the opening ten minutes or so of the game, but on each and every occasion the ball into the box was not of sufficient quality to trouble the Leiston defence.

On 13 minutes Church fail to clear a ball that is bobbling around on the edge of the box, and as it falls to Manly he drives low into the right hand corner of the goal to convert Leiston’s first attempt on the Church goal.

Four minutes later, the Church defence again falters in clearing its defensive lines, and Loza manages to get the ball out of his feet to stab an effort goalwards from twelve yards, and precisely targeted to steer wide of Foster and double Leiston’s lead.

As half time beckoned a great move from Church down the left flank almost brought the home side back into the game, with Gordon on the end of the move to stab the ball against the post with Donkin beaten, but the ricochet was across the face of the goal and not into the net, which is what the move truly deserved.

Stoppage time, and Church threaten again, with a ball inside the full back from Hallahan finds Dugmore on the overlap, and as the ball is squared to Gordon in a good position in front of goal he stabs a shot wide when he should have at least worked the Leiston keeper.

Half time : Alvechurch 0 Leiston 2

A poor second half brought little in significant action in front of goal, with Foster’s full stretch save on 68 minutes being the most notable as he denied a third goal for the visitors, who in all honesty rarely looked in trouble.