THE Blues left it late as they secured a draw at Top Field, the home of Hitchin Town, last night.

Jamar Loza netted the equaliser after a corner wasn’t dealt with by the hosts in the sixth minute of injury time, after Coree Wilson had put the ‘Canaries’ ahead on 76 minutes. It all followed Billy Johnson saving a penalty for the Blues.

Ollie Saunders, Rossi Jarvis and Wyatt Hill all came into the team while Albie Armin and Kyran Clements dropped to the bench. Ryan Jarvis wasn’t included in the matchday sixteen.

Hitchin started well and took the game to the Blues in the first half. Wilson was caught offside in the sixth minute before a minute later, George Quantrell had a cross that landed on the roof of the net.

Blues keeper Johnson pushed out a corner and from the resultant ball into the area, Eddie Jackson cleared off the line. Hill and Johnson were then booked for the visitors in quick succession before the first real attempt on goal from Leiston saw Loza get inside the area and pass a square ball across goal but Hitchin cleared away the danger.

On 21 minutes, Lewis Barker header over the bar from six yards when well placed while a minute later, Ollie Saunders, who was starting his first match in over a month, put a ball into the area but Joshua Strizovic took the ball at his near post.

Eddie Jackson made a good challenge on the Blues left and Loza had an attempt in the box that was block, with the ball looking likely to end up on target at least in the home goal.

Daniel Stokoe and Solomon Sambou both went close for Hitchin as the half went on before Leiston forced three corners. From the third one, Hitchin quickly broke up field but Hill made a good last-ditch tackle.

Ninety seconds into the second period, Albie Armin replaced Ismael Fatadjo and the Blues had a good chance on 49 minutes when Saunders and Quantrell linked up well to feed Ollie Yun but the defender's cross was cleared. Moments later, Ben Fowkes blazed over at an angle.

Rio Deall controlled Lewis Franklin’s cross three minutes later but shot straight at Johnson in the Leiston goal. In the 58th minute, a Hitchin player went over under a Leiston challenge in the box but Wilson’s penalty was saved to his right by Johnson.

Leiston were playing better now but couldn’t get a shot on target. On 67 minutes, Stokoe’s shot was deflected over before Johnson grabbed a header from the corner.

Fraser Alexander put two good corners into the box for the Blues but both were cleared. Toby Smye headed just wide for the hosts on 71 minutes but five minutes later, Hitchin took the lead. The Blues lost the ball in midfield and Wilson ran through on goal to round Johnson and put the ball into an empty net.

Leiston now started to rally. Quantrell and sub Harley Curtis saw efforts blocked in the box and with two minutes of normal time to go, again the home defenders blocked shots with last-ditch efforts.

In the 96th minute, the Blues won a corner and from Alexander’s delivery, keeper Johnson flicked the ball onto Loza who shot home from four yards to make sure Leiston had a share of the spoils. There was still time for a late Hitchin corner but the Blues headed clear and the full time whistle blew.

FT: - Hitchin Town 1-1 Blues.

Leiston now head to Redditch United at the weekend for their second away game in four games.

Line-ups: - Hitchin Town: - Strizovic, Franklin, Jones, Barker (sub Forbes 83 mins), Sears (sub Syme 50 mins), Roberts, Brooks (Ekongo 29 mins), Sambou (sub Titchmarsh 71 mins), Wilson (sub Chidyausiku 80 mins), Stokoe, Deall.
Blues: - Johnson, Yun, Saunders (sub Manly 79 mins), Eddie Jackson, Rossi Jarvis, Hill (sub Clements 78 mins), Alexander, Fatadjo (sub Armin 47 mins), Quantrell, Fowkes (sub Curtis 60 mins), Loza. Sub not used: - Batho.

Blues Man Of The Match: - Billy Johnson.
Attendance: - 378.