Here is all the main weekend action from FA Trophy ties and league fixtures, featuring our leading clubs across Suffolk and North Essex.
LEISTON were soundly beaten 4-1 at Coalville Town this afternoon, and so are still searching for their first points of the season in the Southern League Premier Central.
The Blues had been unfortunate to lose 1-0 at home to Rushall Olympic in their opening league clash last weekend, and were fresh from an impressive 5-1 win over Biggleswade Town in the FA Cup on Tuesday night.
But they played second fiddle to impressive Coalville at the Owen Street Sports Ground, in Leicestershire.
A goal down at the break, through Chris Robertson’s tap-in on 39 minutes, the hosts added three goals in the second half via Kian Taylor (48), Luke Shaw (53) and Tim Berridge (62).
Finlay Barnes netted a 72nd minute consolation for Darren Eadie’s men – former Norwich City winger Eadie has been joint manager since last March, alongside Chris Wigger.
Earlier, Barnes had ballooned a free-kick over the bar with the game’s first chance, while Billy Kee sidefooted wide from close-in for Coalville on 13 minutes.
The Ravens had more joy midway through the half. Connor Smith should have done better with a close-range header from a corner, while winger Rhys Hoenes drilled an angled shot across the face of goal and wide of the far upright.
For Leiston, Barnes tried his luck with a snap shot that warmed the hands of keeper Saul Deeney, who caught at the second attempt under his bar.
Their best opportunity of the first period arrived in the 29th minute, Will Davies letting fly with a rasping shot on the turn which Deeney saved low down.
However, the Ravens took the lead in the 39th minute. Luke Shaw’s deep free-kick from near the left flank was diverted by Jake Eggleton into the path of Robertson, who tapped home from point blank range.
And Leiston found themselves 2-0 down, just three minutes into the second half.
A free-kick by left-back Taylor deceived everyone, including keeper Sam Donkin, as it flew into the top far corner of the net.
Shortly afterwards and Leiston right-back Kyle Hammond clipped the top of the bar, but it was soon curtains for the visitors when an unmarked Shaw swept home a shot beyond Donkin from 10 yards out. It was a simple finish and a sucker punch for the Suffolk side.
It was 4-0 in the 62nd minute as striker Berridge, in acres of space, was able to direct his rising shot beyond Donkin for the fourth goal.
Leiston pulled a goal back 10 minutes later, thanks to a clinical finish by Barnes, who found the far corner of the net with a sweetly-struck low drive.
Sqauds
COALVILLE TOWN: Deeney, Thomas, Taylor, Eggleton, Robertson, Towers, Shaw (sub McGlinchey, 70), Smith, Berridge (sub Dean, 82), Kee, Hoenes. Unused subs: Pierpoint, Ogunmekan, Dawes.
LEISTON: Donkin, Hammond, Saunders, Richardson (sub Godbold, 68), Knights (sub Keys, 71), Wealre, Barnes, Switters, Davies, Eaton-Collins (sub Jackson, 68), Eagle. Unused subs: Garnham.
Also in the Southern League Premier Central, NEEDHAM MARKET recorded an impressive 4-2 home win over Stratford at Bloomfields.
After Marcus Garnham made a smart early, Ben Fowkes struck twice to put the Marketmen in complete control.
Fowkes beat the keeper on a one-on-one situation in the 12th minute, and then doubled the lead just three minutes later with another deadly finish after again getting beyond the visitors’ defence.
Only a fine save thwarted Callum Page on 37 minutes, but Needham soon added to their 2-0 half-time lead with two goals early in the second period.
Gareth Heath drilled home a 22-yard free-kick into the bottom corner of the net on 50 minutes, and Page added a fourth just 60 seconds later.
Stratford netted a couple of consolation goals in the 70th and 88th minutes.
Meanwhile, in the FA Trophy, BURY TOWN claimed a fine 1-0 win away at Market Drayton Town.
After a goalless first-half in Shropshire, Baris Altintop broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute.
Bury’ centre-half Altintop poked the ball past keeper Agius, and that proved enough for Ben Chenery’s men to progress into the next round.
However, AFC SUDBURY bowed out of the FA Trophy, suffering a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Barking.
Junior Dadson scored twice to give Barking a 2-0 lead at half-time. Dudson found the net on 28 and 31 minutes, in front of a crowd of 178.
Sudbury halved the deficit through Joe Grimwood on the hour mark.
FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED triumphed 2-1 at home to Great Wakering Rovers in another FA Trophy first qualifying round tie, thanks to a second-half brace by Ollie Canfer.
Striker Canfer scored in the 58th and 69th minutes for the Seasiders.
Martin Tuohy pulled a goal back for the Essex visitors in the 82nd minute.
Meanwhile, in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division, BRANTHAM ATHLETIC continued their fine start to the season with a 2-1 home win over Gorleston.
Fresh from their midweek success in the FA Cup, Brantham made it 10 points from four league games, with three wins.
Matty Hayden broke the deadlock in the second half with a quickly-taken long-range free-kick, which caught out the opposition, after Patrick Brothers had been fouled.
And Tom Lawson then celebrated his first-ever senio goal, burying the loose ball from close-in following an initial powerful shot by Hayden.
KIRKLEY & PAKEFIELD stay top of the table, despite being held to a 3-3 draw at home to Stanway Rovers, although they looked and dead buried until Cameron Russell’s late intervention.
Stanway led 2-0 at the break, via a brace by Jake Phillips in the 17th and 20th minutes, before Russell halved the deficit with a 58th minute penalty.
Dan Gilchrist restored Stanway’s two-goal advantage on the hour mark, but Russell netted his second penalty in the 82nd minute and then rescued a point for the Royals with an 88th minute goal to complete his hat-trick.
Kirkley have actually played six games already, with four wins.
WHITTON UNITED chalked up a big 4-0 win over HAVERHILL ROVERS.
Remi Garrett (11) and Reece Dobson (24) gave Whitton a 2-0 lead at half-time, and a second from Dobson (50) and a goal on the hour mark by George Day wrapped up the points for Shane Coldron’s men.
NEWMARKET TOWN won a Suffolk derby, beating HADLEIGH UNITED 2-1 at Cricket Field Road.
Hadleigh took an early lead when Kade Ivatt diverted home a 13th minute cross by Mason Ransome.
However, two goals in a 60-second spell early in the second half gave the Jockeys the points.
Ross Paterson equalised by bundling home a free-kick by Michael Shinn in the 49th minute, and Joe Maybanks then volleyed home what proved to be the winner on 50 minutes.
STOWMARKET TOWN staged a late comeback to rescue a point at home to Godmanchester Rovers at Greens Meadow.
Stow were trailing 2-0 at half-time to goals by Hyem (3) and Bowen (29).
However, Luke Read gave Stow hope with a goal on 70 minutes, and Jack Ainsley converted a 94th minute penalty to extend Stow’s unbeaten league run to 35 games.
Stow have won two and drawn two of their first four games of the season.
LONG MELFORD were beaten 1-0 at Swaffham Town. Emre Upston netted the winner for the Pedlars.
WOODBRIDGE TOWN secured their first point of the season, thanks to Luke Mallett’s first-half equaliser in a 1-1 home draw against MILDENHALL TOWN.
It was the Woodpeckers’ first point in four league matches.
But WALSHAM LE WILLOWS went down 2-1 at Wroxham, conceding a winning goal in the last minute.
The Willows actually took a nearly lead inside three minutes, but Ryan Miles equalised within two minutes.
Charlie Glover was sent off for the visitors in the second half, for two bookable offences, and Chris Skipper then headed home an injury-time winner for the Yachtsmen.
In Thurlow League One North, IPSWICH WANDERERS drew 1-1 away at Fakenham.
The two unbeaten sides therefore both retained their records.
he hosts enjoyed the better of the first half and went ahead when Howlett could only direct Matthews cross into his own net.
The second half saw Wanderers press for an equaliser and this arrived when Mrozek’s cross was headed home by Driscoll.
Both teams carved out half chances but the points were deservedly shared.
Meanwhile, the latest round in the predictions battle, between colleagues Mike Bacon and Carl Marston, ended in a resounding success for Bacon.
Marston had edged the first two weekends, but Bacon has now won the last two rounds to open up a gap.
The duo made their predictions for seven fixtures on Saturday (three points for a correct scoreline, one point for a correct result), and Bacon emerged triumphant by six points to one.
Bacon correctly predicted the 1-1 draw between Woodbridge and Mildenhall, and also predicted that Needham Market and Whitton United would win, and Leston would lose.
Neither predicted that AFC Sudbury would lose to Barking, while the seventh fixture, between Haughley and Henley in the SIL, was postponed due to tree damage at the ground - neither predicted that either!
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