Suffolk Central

Leiston  2  Tamworth  2

Southern League Premier Division Central

The completest in me was torn when it was announced that the newly formed Step 3 League covering the ‘Central’ area of the Country would also include the clubs in East Anglia.

On one hand it gave me a couple of new grounds to visit, in the shape of both Leiston and Needham Market to complete the division, but at the same time, they were both just about accessible without a change of clothes.

However to do a virtually identical journey twice would involve nearly twelve hours of driving in total. That said, looking at how re-organisation was partly implemented to create an overall reduction in travel at all steps, these two clubs, plus Lowestoft Town, could argue they got a raw deal. 

Victory Road

Numerous away matches in the West Midlands involve 9.30am starts, so clearly my qualms about two trips is never going to gain any sympathy with the ladies and gents of Suffolk who are doing this on a monthly basis!

It worked well though in terms of the August Bank Holiday. Mrs H wanted a weekend away before she returns to work, and with Leiston being at home on the Saturday, and Needham Market on the Monday, it was a no brainer, I was taking the family for a couple of days in Ipswich!

Three and a half hours after departure time and we were pulling into the car park at the delightful coastal town of Aldeburgh, which is a mere ten minutes from Leiston. Aldeburgh ticked numerous boxes for the collective Hatt clan, they were happy with the first choice of venue and what it had to offer, so far so good in terms of a weekend based in Ipswich, I had a standard to maintain.

Seats

Leiston Football Club’s home ground on Victory Road was located well before kick off which allowed a meander into town. Lunch was taken in a quiet little park, but with the crowds swarming towards the stadium as kick off approached it was time to take up position.

Victory Road is a very pleasant and tidy non-league football ground. Once through the turnstiles in the North East corner of the ground, hard standing extends along past the North goal to the opposite corner where it continues down the West side until it meets a lengthy Atcost type stand, which is effectively two structures linked in the middle via a press box.

Behind the South goal is a small covered terrace while on the East side there is a club shop, tea bar, al-fresco drinking area, clubhouse, changing rooms, and indeed an older area of cover that extends from just beyond the half way line up to the corner flag.

Clubhouse

The crowning glory though is the pitch, with integral sprinkler system, it was in absolutely pristine condition, as good as you will see at any level of football, and an absolute credit to the ground staff.

But what you often don’t realise when you walk into Victory Road is just how far this remarkable club has come in a very short period of time. The club only joined Step 6 football in 2001 after previously playing in the Suffolk & Ipswich League, but they were at Step 5 within three seasons. So with the Premier Division of the Eastern Counties League reached, progress was a little slower but by 2010-11 they had been crowned as Champions.  However it was the 2008-09 season when they hit the headlines by reaching the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, drawing 0-0 at home to Fleetwood Town before losing the replay. At the time, they were the lowest ranked club to reach that stage of the competition in that particular season, something that the national TV coverage was eager to pick up on.

Their first season in Step 4, by way of the Ryman League, was a huge success with the title won at the first attempt, which then of course saw the arrival of Step 3 football.  In the six seasons they’ve spent at that level, they’ve never finished lower than the previous season, culminating in a Play-Off spot last season which ultimately faltered at the first hurdle against Hendon.

But, they enter new territory this season, and the start had been pretty positive with two wins and a defeat, but a game against one of the pre-season promotion favourites in the shape of Tamworth would provide a test, despite the visitor’s poor start.

The Best Surface Bar None

A crowd of 329 saw the hosts get off to a positive start and they took the lead in the seventh minute when Matt Blake flicked a long ball on for Jake Reed to slot the ball under Jas Singh. The lead was doubled in the 38^th minute when Blake was upended in the box, allowing Christy Finch to net a deserved second goal.

Leiston had been dominant, and with the hugely impressive Byron Lawrence pulling the strings in midfield, you could only see one outcome at the half time whistle.

But, football doesn’t work like that. A revitalised Tamworth came out in the second period and pulled a goal back through Chris Lait on the hour mark who converted with a low shot, and this was to be the catalyst for a positive spell from the Lambs. Akwasi Asante did score the equaliser after a neat dribble and finish, and as the game drew to a conclusion you felt Tamworth might have gone on to win it.

Dark Clouds

However, on balance a fair result, but as the BBC Radio Suffolk reporter said, Leiston had the game in a vice like grip at half time, but they let that grip slip in the second period and Tamworth were well worth the point.

So, a really enjoyable afternoon at Leiston Football Club to add to a very pleasant morning at the coast, it was time to head to Ipswich for our evening entertainment,  I’d set a standard and it was going to be hard to maintain it!

In all seriousness though, I was hugely impressed by Leiston on so many levels, not least the fact that they came across as a very welcoming and friendly club in terms of both the officials and the supporters.

What a great move putting them in the 'Central' Division....