Leiston FC Pre-Season (Home)

Result: Felixstowe & Walton 2 - 1 Leiston FC
Date: 28th July 2018
Time: 15:00
Match Type: Pre-Season
Venue: Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe
Attendance: 194

Felixstowe & Walton 2 - 1 Leiston FC

Photos available here

This wasn’t the best of starts for the fainthearted. A goal down in the first couple of minutes didn’t bode well for a test against opposition from a higher league. But for those among the 194 fans at The Goldstar Ground who didn’t panic, this soon turned into a competitive fixture where The Seasiders edged the first half and visitors Leiston probably deserved the credits in the second.

 There were home debuts for keeper Jack Spurling, Jack Ainsley (facing his old club) and Rhys Henry. Joe Bloomfield and Ben Clarke also made home debuts, both coming on as second half subs.

 It was a Joe Francis spot kick that settled any lingering nerves for Felixstowe with a confidently converted penalty on 16 minutes. Just 5 minutes later pressure from the home side led to an unfortunate own goal by Leiston’s Harry Knights.

 Speaking to people after the match one fan told us  “Love being back at the Goldstar….thanks to the opposition for a quality game” and elsewhere we heard, “Superb to be back at the Goldstar. Felt like we were never away….a 2-1 win where all areas of the team were tested.”

 Alongside Joe Bloomfield and Ben Clarke as second half subs, we also saw Sam Forde and Rory Porter enter the field of play. It was very encouraging to see young Rory making his way into the first team squad and also pleasing to hear that Ben Clarke, most recently at Romford FC, signed a one-year contract after the game.

 It’s Woodbridge at home on Tuesday night, before a trip away to Kempston Rovers next weekend. And then the real business starts with a Bostik North home fixture against Suffolk rivals Bury Town. Bring it on!