AFC Sudbury reached the final of the Robert Dyas Ryman League Cup last season, and they took another step towards repeating that feat with a home win over Suffolk rivals Leiston in a second round tie last night.

The hosts did it the hard way, rallying from a goal down to ease past their Ryman Premier opponents.

Danny Block fired Leiston into the lead in the 23rd minute, scampering clear of the home defence before beating the onrushing Louis Johnson with a calm finish from just inside the box.

But Sudbury were level just two minutes later, thanks to Terry Rymer slotting home from Kris Newby’s corner.

It was Newby who propelled Sudbury into a 2-1 lead, thanks to a sensational strike in the 57th minute, and Lawrence Yiga ensured victory by sweeping home from a corner.

After a very low key opening, injury-hit Leiston registered the first goal attempt on 14 minutes. Leon Ottley-Gooch raced beyond Sudbury’s back-line, only to see his final shot well saved by keeper Johnson.

In the side due to Marcus Garnham being cup-tied (he played for Bury Town earlier in the competition), Johnson blocked Ottley-Gooch’s shot with his legs.

A weakened Leiston line-up were further hit by an early injury to Adam Tann, who hobbled off inside the first 20 minutes, to be replaced by Ryan Noy.

The game then burst into life, with two goals in a three-minute spell midway through the first period.

Block’s opening goal for the visitors was swiftly cancelled out by home striker Rymer’s slick finish.

Striker Block had a good chance to regain the lead for Leiston on the half-hour mark, but he ballooned his free header wide of target.

At the other end, right-back Ben Robinson tried his luck with a 25-yarder which flew straight into the arms of Alex Rossis.

Both keepers made superb saves just before the break, to keep it at 1-1.

Johnson hurled himself to his left to palm away a firecracker by Tom Winter, while Leiston custodian Rossis arched back to tip Newby’s goalbound shot over the bar, following Correy Davidson’s swift break.

It was a low key start to the second half, until Newby produced the best moment of the match when smashing home a glorious long-range shot to put Sudbury 2-1 up, on 57 minutes.

That sparked Leiston into life, and they twice came close to poaching an equaliser around the hour mark.

Substitute Ryan Noy hit the side-netting from close-in, following Winter’s fine delivery to the far post, while Block curled a 25-yarder just a foot over the top.

Left-back Lee Flynn nearly netted a wonder third goal for Sudbury on 73 minutes, but his thunderous 30-yarder was pushed to safety by Rossis.

Again Rossis came to Leiston’s rescue with a fine save from Ollie Berquez’s long-range effort, but he was powerless to prevent Yiga from sweeping home the ensuing corner.

There was no way back for Leiston.