Leiston suffered a thoroughly disappointing Ryman Premier Division defeat to previously bottom-of-the-table VCD Athletic on Tuesday night, losing 2-1.

Tom Bullard’s controversial opener gave the Blues the lead, but after Leigh Bremner equalised 15 minutes from time, the dangerous Michael Power stole the points from Leiston right at the death.

Leiston nearly got off to the perfect start after just four minutes as Patrick Brothers smartly turned away from his marker in the box after a terrific cross from Tom Winter, but VCD stopper Nick Blue quickly smothered his effort.

Following a smart catch and throw from Danny Gay, Brothers returned the favour to fellow winger Winter just another four minutes later, but after a scampering run and excellent slide through-pass from Brothers, Winter unfortunately slipped at a crucial moment with Blue gratefully mopping up.

The goal was coming though and Steve Ball’s men certainly looked in the mood early on.

Bullard has surely scored better and more memorable goals than he did here in the 12th minute, but, as they say, ‘they all count’ as Blue appeared to drop Stuart Boardley’s free-kick onto Bullard’s head following a strong but fair aerial challenge.

With a suspicion of an own-goal, Bullard gleefully ran away celebrating as Leiston threatened to run riot in the first half with Winter and Brothers threatening at every opportunity, but, to their credit, bottom-of-the-table VCD, previously winless on the road, admirably responded as Power saw a header ruled out for a foul on distance into the side-netting.

The aptly-named Power looked VCD’s biggest threat and only a super save from Gay after 33 minutes denied the visitors an equaliser.

VCD continued to ask the questions in the second period but it was the Blues who went the closest to scoring initially as, following a move started by Winter, involving Gareth Heath and Leon Ottley-Gooch, Brothers saw his deflected effort smartly kept out by Blue.

But VCD continued to look dangerous and after the influential Karl Dent went close, the same player was involved in VCD’s 75th-minute equaliser as substitute Leigh Bremner headed into an empty net after the visitors had hit the crossbar.

And in injury-time, VCD stole it as that-man Power smashed a vicious effort from the angle into the net.

Elsewhere in the Ryman Premier Division on Tuesday, Bury Town succumbed to another defeat on the road as they lost 3-0 at Dulwich Hamlet.

There was more luck for Suffolk’s Ryman North pair in AFC Sudbury and Needham Market however as they triumphed over Burnham Ramblers (2-1) and Brightlingsea Regent (4-1) respectively.

Terry Rymer and James Baker scored the goals for Sudbury, while lethal striker Sam Newson added another two strikes to his impressive tally, which now sits on 11 in his last six games for the Marketmen.