LEISTON booked their place in round two of this season’s Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup as they scored a late goal, courtesy of Ben Fowkes.

The Blues played some very good football in a well contested, clean match. Both sides rested players but still showed the desire to win a game of football.

Ryan and Rossi Jarvis dropped to the bench along with Kyran Clements, George Quantrell and Fraser Alexander as Albie Armin, Jack Manly, Oliver Yun, Ismael Fatadjo and Harley Curtis came into the starting XI for Leiston. Jamar Loza missed the game due to illness while Seb Dunbar is still out with injury.

Bury had the first chance of the match when Luke Brown’s free kick deflected off the Blues wall and just over Billy Johnson’s bar. From the corner, Joe White had a corner that Johnson grabbed at the second attempt.

Leiston had their first chance in the ninth minute but Charlie Beckwith made an excellent save low to his right while the former Blues keeper made a another decent save two minutes later, saving from Armin on the edge of the area.

A period of play for ten or so minutes saw a lot of the ball played about in the midfield areas and Leiston had a lot of possession. On 25 minutes, Fowkes shot just off target while Fatadjo couldn’t get a shot off in time a minute later.

In the 28th minute, Beckwith saved to his left from Manly while Curtis headed over the corner. Armin was booked shortly later before Johnson was off his line well to deny Cemal Ramadan in the 33rd minute.

Three minutes later and Curtis won the ball off a Bury defender and ran through on goal but shot just wide of the post. Beckwith saved from Fowkes soon after while two minutes before the break Curtis shot over this time.

Within 40 seconds of the second half, Ben Batho got at Bury down the Blues left and his delivery into the area was met by Fatadjo but the Blues player volleyed over from close range.

In the 49th minute, Ollie Yun hit the bar while Beckwith punched away Fatadjo’s ball back into the box and Armin shot over on the edge of the box.

Leiston were having plenty of the ball but Bury were now defending well and making it hard for the Blues to get behind the home defence. On 63 minutes, Fowkes’ effort was deflected wide of the post as George Quantrell came on for Albie Armin.

Yun amd Manly were denied for the Blues as time started to tick away while on 70 minutes, Ramadan headed straight at Johnson in the Blues goal.

Leiston had a great chance on 72 minutes to take the lead but Curtis put Fowkes’ ball over from six yards. Bury then had an attack from the goal kick and Johnson pushed a strike from a Bury player onto the bar.

Lewis O’Malley headed wide from the corner and the hosts had another chance in the 82nd-minute but the ball was put wide. With just two minutes of normal time to go, Leiston took the lead when Fowkes put the ball home after good work by Yun and Fatadjo.

Bury had chances in stoppage time, with Johnson making two fine stops in the 94th minute as Leiston won through in the Suffolk Premier Cup.

FT: - Bury Town 0-1 Blues.

The win means that Leiston book a date at home to Lowestoft Town in Round Two (with a date yet to be decided). Chris Wigger’s men can now look forward to a home game on Saturday when Stamford visit Suffolk.

Line-ups: -
Bury Town: - Beckwith, Carter, O’Malley, Pinyoun (sub Maughn 65 mins), Curry, Horne (sub Upson 55 mins), Thulborn, White, Ramadan, Brown, Davis. Subs not used: - Jolland, Mayhew, Kellett-Green.
Blues: - Johnson, Yun, Batho (sub Alexander 68 mins), Armin (sub Quantrell 63 mins), Eddie Jackson, Fatadjo, Saunders, Fowkes, Manly (sub Clements 75 mins), Curtis, Hill. Subs not used: - Ryan Jarvis, Rossi Jarvis.

Blues Man Of The Match: - Ismael Fatadjo.
Attendance: - 338.