Leiston began today in second in the Southern League Premier Central, three points behind leaders Tamworth but with three games in hand as they made the trip from Suffolk to face Graeme Tomlinson’s Bedford Town.
Interim manager Tomlinson has committed to Town until the end of the season, hopefully bringing an end to the unsettling Christmas period for the club.
Just like in his first spell as interim, Tomlinson; alongside assistant Callum Donnelly, have installed some stability but they faced a tough ask today as they welcomed Leiston.
Bedford Town have seen a reshuffle of their squad in recent weeks but fielded a relatively familiar first team as they began the game at hundred miles an hour and saw themselves 2-0 up inside twenty minutes.
The first strike was a goal of the month contender, as Connor Tomlinson laid it on a plate for Hugh Alban-Jones from twenty yards out to smash a barnstormer into the top corner of the Leiston net.
Moments later it was two; as a Leiston corner turned into a Bedford Town goal in a matter of seconds as a devastating counter attack was finished off by Rene Howe.
Both goals were assisted by Tomlinson, who caused big problems for the Leiston back line all game and was awarded the man-of-the-match award come ninety minutes.
Leiston stun the Eyrie
At 2-0 up, Bedford Town were in control but three goals in five minutes turned the game on it’s head before half time and stunned the crowd at The Eyrie.
Finlay Barnes got a goal back for the visitors off the underside of the bar before Ben Fowkes equalised ninety seconds later to bring an entertaining affair level.
Any hopes that Bedford Town could regroup at half-time were blown away as Eagles goalkeeper, Harry Palmer spilled a cross at the near post with the ball falling at the feet of Will Davies to poke home on the stroke of the interval.
Many may have expected Bedford Town to capitulate after throwing away a two goal lead in a short period of time, but Graeme Tomlinson’s side came out fighting in the second half.
Their persistence was rewarded as Connor Tomlinson ran on to a through ball to slot past the Leiston goalkeeper on the hour mark to restore parity at three goals apiece.
Any hopes of an Eagles comeback of their own were snuffed out ten minutes later though as Jake Hutchings scored what would end up being the winner with a free header to give Leiston a 4-3 lead.
Two red cards dampen closing stages of a stunner
Both sides had chances to add to the goal count but there is a reason Leiston are title challengers and they closed out the tie with a touch of gamesmanship to take three points back to Suffolk.
The game ended on a sour note as Leiston’s Adam Mills was given back-to-back yellow cards and then a red for kicking the ball away and then for his part in the melee that ensued.
Callum Donnelly was also shown a second yellow card despite being substituted at half-time in unsavoury scenes at the final whistle although Mills openly antagonising the Eyrie crowd did not help matters.
At the end of the day however, Leiston gain three more points towards their chase for the league title although all the teams around them also won on a good day for the teams at the top.
Bedford Town sit two points above the relegation zone in 16th although Alvechurch have a whole seven games in hand in 19th after a wonderful FA Cup run earlier in the season, while Needham Market, directly below Town, have four games to make up.
The Eagles travel to 8th placed Ilkeston Town next Saturday before key games against Stourbridge and Stratford Town close out February.
