Moreton Hall Ferals V Stradbroke United | 13.10.2024 | Great Barton | Premier Logos Bury Sunday League Open Cup Second Round |

NEWDICK HITS HAT-TRICK AS FERALS SET UP 3RD ROUND TRIP TO GODOLPHIN

Moreton Hall Ferals progress to the 3rd Round of the Bury Sunday Open Cup after a 4-0 home win over unbeaten Division Three leaders Stradbroke United.

The visitors went into the cup tie having won all 5 league fixtures so far, but found the Division One side hard to break down, with some inspired goalkeeping from Aston Fallows preserving his side's clean sheet when required. 

Adrian Crowe's side went into the break with a 1-0 lead, after Ben Newdick's header just after the half-hour mark, before the defender notched two more after the break, followed by a goal from Ollie Ward. 

Mitchell Bryant started the action off in the second minute, thundering a 35-yard strike at goal, which cannoned agonisingly just over off the top of the crossbar. 

At the other end though, Stradbroke curled a 30-yard shot just over three minutes later, before James Green fired over from inside the box in the sixth minute. 

Nathan Clarke drew the first save of the morning from Fallows in the tenth minute, but his fierce 18-yard, low, volley was hit straight at the 'keeper for a comfortable catch. 

The away side hit the woodwork four minutes later, a left wing corner saw Ross Waddell's close range header rebound back into play off the face of the crossbar, before a Ferals' close range header was directed straight at the visiting 'keeper on 24 minutes. 

Jake Peasgood then hit a tame 35-yard free-kick straight at Will Ridd a minute later, before the keeper scurried across to collect a goal-bound near post header from a left wing free-kick after 28 minutes. 

The home side broke the deadlock three minutes later, Mitchell Bryant's left wing long throw was flicked on by a defender towards Ben Newdick unmarked at the far post, to loop an excellent backwards header into the bottom right-hand corner. 

Ferals almost doubled their lead on 39 minutes, Ollie Ward's audacious right wing corner was met by Bryant, towering highest at the far post, but looped his header just wide of the top right-hand corner. 

At the other end, an excellent double save from Fallows maintained Ferals' advantage going into the interval, first reacting quickly to deny Waddell's low shot, diving low with his legs off his line, before swiftly returning to his feet to launch across and beat Joe Kerrison's shot behind for a corner in the 40th minute. 

His opposite number Ridd however was on hand to deny the hosts from the ensuing counter attack a minute later. Ward broke through smartly onto the right-hand side of the box, but saw his shot hammered towards the bottom far corner beaten away by the 'keeper.

Ferals were once again denied by the woodwork soon after the restart, as Charlie Glover broke through the visitors' half, driving through numerous players, before rifling a shot towards goal that rocketed onto the line off the underside of the crossbar, and quickly back into play on 49 minutes. 

Bryant then saw a low 30-yard strike tipped just wide by Ridd for a corner a minute later, with Ferals doubling their advantage from the resulting corner. 

Jake Peasgood's left wing set-piece picked out Ben Newdick arriving at the far post to bundle home his second goal of the game from a yard out. 

Peasgood went close to adding Ferals' third on 54 minutes, but just got underneath his volley on the edge of the box, firing over, though Fallows was forced into a good save at the other end 3 minutes later.

Dylan Chapman looked to catch the 'keeper out at his left-hand, near, post - albeit the stopper was alert to beat the ball behind for a corner, which saw a goal-bound free header blocked away to safety. 

Bryant meanwhile broke through, down the other end, onto the left-hand side of the box, but saw his close range cross-shot go just wide of the bottom far corner, just evading the arriving Ward on 58 minutes.

Seconds later, the latter caught Ridd off his line, creeping a 35-yard shot underneath the crossbar, though the stopper recovered to take the catch. 

Ferals did have the ball in the net again on 62 minutes, but was adjudged to have been offside as Taylor Waterson's header from a right wing free-kick rebounded home off a defender into the far corner. 

An excellent save from Fallows however thwarted Stradbroke from halving the deficit two minutes later, as the keeper flew across to his top left-hand corner to tip the long range strike over. 

The 'keeper was well placed to hold onto a towering far post header down at goal, from the resulting corner on 65 minutes, before Peasgood arrowed a low 40-yard strike just wide of the bottom left-hand corner a minute later. 

A good save from Ridd on the other hand kept the scoreline at 3-0 on 73 minutes, after Ollie Ward latched onto a long ball, the winger raced through the visitors' half before seeing a fierce shot, just outside the box, smothered away by the keeper at his near post.

Ridd was again called upon to deny Bryant four minutes later, the forward showed great tenacity to rob the defender inside the box before turning to shoot at goal, albeit his shot was beaten behind by the stopper - guarding his near, right-hand, post. 

Ben Newdick almost completed his hat-trick in the 79th minute, after collecting Ward's ball across onto the left-hand edge of the box, the defender smartly nutmegged a defender before seeing his shot deflected wide of the near post for a corner. 

The Ferals' defender wouldn't have to wait much longer for his third goal though, with the resulting exquisite set-piece from Jake Peasgood finding the difference maker free at close range to head home into the bottom far corner.

Stradbroke to their credit battled until the end, looking to net a consolation goal, but shot just wide of the bottom far, right-hand, corner on 86 minutes, while Waddell's fierce strike from outside the box was well saved by Fallows, sixty seconds later. 

Ferals then wrapped up the scoring moments later, courtesy of a fine solo goal from Ollie Ward. The winger raced through into space down the right-hand side before finishing smartly into the bottom far corner. 

Stradbroke had the final opportunity however in the 89th minute, a right wing cross was met by a free header at the far post, which was well caught by Fallows.

Ferals are again in cup action for the third successive week on Sunday (20th October), as the host Ipswich Galaxy in the Suffolk Sunday Cup. 

Ferals:- 13 Aston Fallows, 28 Ben Newdick, 4 Taylor Waterson, 88 George Crowe, 8 Charlie Larter (c), 15 Charlie Glover, 7 Fred Stewart-Hogg, 11 Ollie Ward, 20 Mitchell Bryant, 9 Jake Peasgood, 2 Oli Norman, 10. Sam Waterson. 

Stradbroke United:- 1 Will Ridd, 2 Tom Cole, 5 Ben Brown, 15 Matty Youngs, 14 Liam Bullen, 6 Henry Stephenson, 8 Nathan Clarke, 18 Oliver Roper, 7 Dylan Chapman, 9 James Green, 10 Ross Waddell. Subs: 12 Jack Ereira, 19 Joe Kerrison. 

Booked: Fred Stewart-Hogg (34'), Cole (53'), Peasgood (69').

Goals: Ben Newdick (31', 50', 80'), Ollie Ward (87').

Bury United v Hardwick | 06.10.2024 | Premier Logos Bury Sunday Division Two | Hardwick Heath Pitch 2 |

Bury United remain second behind Premier Logos Bury Sunday Division Two leaders Stowupland Falcons on goals scored with a clinical 6-0 home win over Hardwick.

United broke the deadlock just 73 seconds into the game, Ehran Steele's right wing long throw found Sam Goddard free at the far post to volley home into the middle of the net, unmarked from close range. 

United almost doubled their lead in the sixth minute, Callum Goddard picked up possession outside the box, feeding Sam Goddard arriving to see a low first time strike well kept out. 

A minute later, the hosts doubled their advantage, George Corrie threaded Harry Brown through one on one with the goalkeeper, on the left-hand side of the box, dummying a shot across goal to then scoop a well hit strike high into the near corner of the net. 

Jim Clayton's side went close again in the eleventh minute, captain Sam Goddard threaded goalscorer Brown free into space on the right-hand side of the box only to see his low cutback fall just behind Corrie running in. 

Good goalkeeping from the Hardwick shot-stopper thwarted a great chance for the hosts three minutes later, a free-kick found Sam Goddard free at the back post, who in turn picked out Joe Phillips unmarked two yards out, at the left-hand post, whose shot on the slide was smothered behind well by the keeper.

At the other end, good defending from United blocked Elliott Chaplin's shot behind for a corner, which saw Dyer's leaping header at close range comfortably held by Steve Fenner on 18 minutes. 

Fenner's resulting long ball forward almost resulted in United extending their lead a minute later, with Liam Suttle just beating Harry Brown to the ball to punch clear. 

At the other end, great defending from Josh Allen forced Elliott Chapman to fire his 30-yard shot wide of the top corner in the 24th minute, while Harry Brown drove forward 60-yards to cut inside into the box, but smashed his shot agonisingly just wide of the bottom far, left-hand, corner on 27 minutes. 

United went close again two minutes later, Sa. Goddard threaded Jack Yallop racing through the visitors' half, beating the onrushing 'keeper to the ball onto the byline, but saw his near post shot cleared off the line by a retreating defender. 

Brown picked up the loose ball, from the resulting corner a minute later, but saw his fierce strike blocked. 

At the other end, Jack Whiting-Noakes arrived to smash a first time half-volley comfortably over on 33 minutes, before goalkeeper Suttle denied United seconds later. 

George Corrie threaded Brown one on one inside the box, whose clever skill outwitted the defender before seeing a ferocious shot at the top near, left-hand, corner, beaten behind well by the diving 'keeper. 

United went close again from the resulting corner, as Joe Phillips arrived at the far post only to poke just wide at point blank range a minute later. 

At the other end, Whiting-Noakes' set-piece saw a close range header at goal denied by Joe Phillips with Steedman poking the rebound behind at the expense of another corner, which had gone behind as it curled back into play. 

Chaplin however saw his 12-yard low shot parried away superbly by Fenner, diving to his left-hand side on 42 minutes, before Whiting-Noakes' free-kick, just outside the box, was blocked by the wall before thundering a volley narrowly wide on the rebound, two minutes later. 

United quickly broke up the other end, but Yallop's shot, inside the box, was turned wide for a corner. 

The second half saw United take their chances, more so towards the end of the half, notching 4 goals - three of which inside the final ten minutes. 

Two minutes after the break, Brown broke free onto the right-hand side of the box before squaring the ball across to substitute Downey, but the latter was beaten to it by a defender at point blank range, while Yallop was unable to connect with a squared ball from a similar distance. 

Corrie meanwhile fired a 25-yard shot over on 49 minutes, before the post thwarted Brown four minutes later. After being slipped through, onto the left-hand side of the box, the forward's thunderous shot cannoned back into play off the outside base of the near post.

United went close again in the 54th minute, Brown teed up Sam Goddard whose cross was blocked back to him. The midfielder then found Joe Phillips, whose close range poked shot was turned further goal wards by Yallop but lacked power as Suttle gathered at close range.

United tripled their lead however on 56 minutes, Yallop races through down the right wing before squaring the ball across for Joe Phillips to tap home from a yard out, at the back post. 

Jarrad Lebbon though saw a low shot inside the box comfortably held by Fenner, at his left-hand post on 58 minutes, before the former shot wide of the same post four minutes later. 

Shortly after, Callum Goddard went agonisingly close to latching onto a ball squared across goal at point blank range, followed by Whiting-Noakes' 30-yard shot rattling the face of the crossbar on 67 minutes. 

 The visitors then headed a right wing cross over on 73 minutes, although Kaine Dyer's well hit 30-yard shot was hit well wide of the bottom corner three minutes later.

A superb save from the 'keeper tipped a curling shot back into play, off the inside of his left-hand post, with the visiting defence able to clear the rebound that trickled across the goal-line on 77 minutes, though United added a fourth goal on 83 minutes.

Brown's low ball saw Joe Phillips' effort denied at point blank range before the defender capitalised on the loose ball to slide the ball home. 

Harry Hughes skewed a right wing low cross just wide of the bottom near corner, two minutes later, before Brown joined Phillips in netting a brace on 89 minutes. 

The forward was threaded through onto the right-hand side of the box before rounding the keeper and firing home into the vacant bottom far corner. 

Brown rounded off the scoring in the third minute of stoppage time, completing his hat-trick, tapping home after Corrie's shot at point blank range was saved. 

Bury United:- 1 Steve Fenner, 15 Declan Walsh, 27 Josh Allen, 19 Ehran Steele, 3 George Lines, 7 Sam Goddard (c), 18 Joe Phillips, 8 Callum Goddard, 11 Jack Yallop, 9 Harry Brown, 12 George Corrie. Subs: 6 Jack Phillips, 16 Andrea Downey, 2 Charlie Steedman. 

Hardwick:- 1 Liam Suttle, 2 Jamie Daniel, 14 Liam French, 5 Richard Murfit, 7 Brad Sandry, 12 Ben Lyddiatt, 8 Jarrad Lebbon, 10 Jack Whiting, 16 Elliott Chaplin (c), 9 Kaine Dyer, 18 Ewan Smith. Subs: 4 Harry Hughes, 17 Ollie Ford, Callum Paxton, 3 Kyle Orr, 11 Curtis Karolak. 

Goals: Sam Goddard (2'), Harry Brown (7', 89, 90'+3'), Joe Phillips (56', 83').

Moreton Hall Ferals V Acle Rangers | 06.10.2024 | FA Sunday Cup R1 | The Morrish Stadium, Summer Road, Walsham Le Willows (FC), IP31 3AH |

FERALS TO HOST PRIORY SPORTS IN FA SUNDAY CUP R2 ON 10 NOVEMBER 2024

Moreton Hall Ferals' FA Sunday Cup debut resulted in a comfortable 4-1 win over Norfolk side Acle Rangers at Walsham Le Willows' Morrish Stadium.

Adrian Crowe's side, who will host Priory Sports in the second round in November, started brightly, but it was the away side who had the first chance of the afternoon, as Matt Cullumbine volleyed a shot comfortably over after 4 minutes. 

Ferals broke the deadlock 3 minutes later as Charlie Larter and George Crowe combined to keep a left wing corner alive, with the latter poking home from point blank range. 

Good goalkeeping from Acle's Thomas Ashman though intercepted a clever through-ball from Fred Stewart-Hogg, towards Mitch Bryant, with the shot-stopper out quickly to clear the ball away in the tenth minute.

Ashman however was forced into a good save seven minutes later, Charlie Glover was threaded through smartly into the box, whose low shot was beaten away well by the 'keeper at his near, right-hand, post. Bryant looked to release Ward into space, around the six yard box, moments later but Ashman read the situation and gathered possession. 

After Ashman punched the ball away following Bryant blocking his clearance, the goalkeeper picked out Brandon Hunt with a long ball forward, but the striker shot just wide of the bottom far, left-hand, corner on 19 minutes. 

Ferals meanwhile doubled their lead in clinical fashion a minute later, a great long ball from Sam Waterson released Mitchell Bryant racing into space just outside the box to smash home into the bottom far, left-hand, corner.

In quickfire fashion, Ferals added a third goal in the 26th minute, Charlie Glover exploited space out on the left wing to fire a dangerous cross shot low across the face of goal, finding Ollie Ward sliding in to convert from a yard out.

Another important save from Ashman then denied Crowe's side from extending their lead further on 38 minutes, Ollie Ward's right wing cross was partially cleared as far as Harry Whiting-Noakes, 35-yards.out from goal, where the midfielder's expertly low curled sidefooted shot was shovelled away by Ashman at his near post. 

Ferals then picked out Ollie Ward unmarked moments later, but his header went narrowly over from close range. 

Ferals again went close to adding a fourth goal on 43 minutes, Bryant pounced on a defensive mix-up, to latch onto a header back by a defender onto the right-hand side of the box, the forward then squared the ball across to Ward arriving at the far post but the ball just evaded the winger. 

Nonetheless, Crowe's side went into the break with a comfortable lead, with the Bury Sunday Champions having the first chance of the second half on 49 minutes. 

Bryant's dangerous left wing long throw was flicked on by Larter at the near post, although his header towards the top corner was well held by Ashman. 

Acle though began to grow into the game, but found the home defence hard to break down until late on. George Crowe was well placed to deflect a 54th minute shot over onto the roof of his own net for a corner for the visitors, before Harvey Sims was denied by an excellent save by Aston Fallows two minutes later. 

The forward broke through into space before seeing his 30-yard low shot beaten behind well by the shot-stopper, down to his left-hand, near, post. 

Ferals on the other hand tested Ashman again a minute later, albeit a routine save for the stopper, who held onto Bryant's fierce low shot at his left-hand, near, post. 

Ryan Flint then drove a long range shot comfortably wide of Fallows' near post on 58 minutes, before James Buckmaster saw his first time right wing cross-shot dip agonisingly just wide of the bottom far corner, eight minutes later.

Bryant however went agonisingly close to adding to Ferals' lead on 66 minutes, the forward latched onto a smart defence splitting pass, only to fire his shot just wide of the bottom far, left-hand, corner from 25-yards out. 

At the other end, Acle saw a shot narrowly over from the edge of the box on 68 minutes, before Fallows was alert to hold onto Crowe's back header on his line two minutes later. 

James Buckmaster's left wing corner was swung dangerously to the far post on 72 minutes, but goalkeeper Ashman was there to beat it away for a throw-in, on his line. A minute later, Solomon Blazer denied Ferals from adding a fourth goal, Bryant's long throw, into the box on the right wing, was headed towards goal by George Crowe at the near post but found the visiting captain well placed to head it off the goal-line. 

The hosts though added a fourth goal on 77 minutes, Charlie Glover threaded debutant Sam Reynolds through on goal, down the right-hand side of the box, before rounding Ashman to convert from 2 yards out. 

87' Goal 4-1. A fk left 25yd tipped onto bar by Fallows, Ellis arrives and heads home from 2 yards.  

Reynolds almost registered his second Ferals goal in quick succession on 83 minutes, again latching onto a great ball forward - this time a ball over the top - but saw Ashman hold onto his lobbed effort just underneath his crossbar. 

Acle however netted a consolation goal four minutes later, a left wing free-kick was topped onto the underside of the bar by Fallows, though Ellis steamed in to head home the rebound from 2-yards out. 

Ferals though ended the game with ten men as James Buckmaster was sent off for a second bookable offence in stoppage time. 

Ferals continue their run of cup fixtures at home - at Great Barton - to Stradbroke in the Open Cup. 

Ferals:- 1 Aston Fallows, 88 George Crowe, 4 Taylor Waterson, 10 Sam Waterson (HT' Reynolds), 14 James Buckmaster, 7 Fred Stewart-Hogg, 8 Charlie Larter (c), 33 Harry Whiting-Noakes, 15 Charlie Glover, 11 Ollie Ward (63' Newdick), 20 Mitchell Bryant (75' Peasgood). Subs: 9 Jake Peasgood, 28 Ben Newdick, 27 Kieran Waller, 2 Oliver Norman, 6 Sam Reynolds. 

Acle:- 1 Thomas Ashman, 2 Harrison Gooch (82' Pearce), 3 Henry Earl (85' Littlewood), 4 Bradley Ellis, 5 Solomon Blazer (C), 6 Callum North, 7 Matt Cullumbine, 8 Kyle Gallant, 9 Brandon Hunt,10 Harvey Sims, 11 Ryan Flint. 

Subs: 12 Connor Smyth (53' on), 14 Zames Pearce,

15 Taiven Hannah, 16 Max Littlewood, 17 Scott Foreman.

Booked: Brandon Hunt (30'), Matt Cullumbine (52'), Kyle Gallant (81'), A assistant (81'), Buckmaster (89', 90’+1').

Sent Off: Buckmaster (90'+1').

Goals: George Crowe (7'), Mitch Bryant (20'), Ollie Ward (26'); Bradley Ellis (87').

Bury United v Stowupland Falcons Yellows | 29.09.2024 | Premier Logos Bury Sunday League Division Two | Hardwick Heath |

Bury United go level on points with Premier Logos Bury Sunday Division Two league leaders Stowupland Falcons Yellows with a 3rd straight victory to start life in their new league, with a 2-1 home win over Falcons.

While United maintained their 100 per cent league record this campaign, Jim Clayton's side also inflicted a first defeat on their visitors still with a game in hand. 

The two sides exchanged empathic victories over each other in Division Three last season, with the resulting fixture last season resulting in a 5-2 win for second placed United. 

This time around both sides were separated by an 84th minute curler after Falcons had broken the deadlock just after the hour mark. 

Falcons though had the first chance, forcing a great save out of United debutant Steve Fenner after just 5 minutes, with the goalkeeper down smartly to his bottom right-hand, near, post to beat the shot behind. 

While the resulting corner saw a shot from point blank range blocked at the near post, United were denied by the woodwork in the sixth minute. 

George Corrie was threaded one-on-one on goal with the advancing goalkeeper, but saw his shot cannon just wide off the bottom right-hand post. 

Corrie was again fed into space two minutes later, but this time saw his shot on the turn deflected through for a comfortable save for the goalkeeper. 

A great through-ball from Charlie Steedman released Harry Brown through on goal, one on one with the keeper, racing into the penalty area but hit his first time low shot straight at the goalkeeper on 13 minutes. 

Two minutes later, Falcons arguably could've broken the deadlock. A clearance from Clayton fell straight to the forward on the edge of the box whose low strike went just wide of the bottom right-hand corner. 

Ehran Steele-Smart was well placed to block a shot on the edge of the box on 16 minutes, before George Corrie's right wing corner found captain Sam Goddard in the centre, whose header looped just over the bar eleven minutes later. 

Steele-Smart's right wing corner then fell Goddard free inside the box, whose half-volley was deflected just wide of the bottom far corner by a defender on 29 minutes. 

Good defending from Adam Seymour blocked two shots in quick succession on the edge of his own box five minutes later, before Sam Goddard crucially blocked a shot in the centre, with George Lines well placed to also block a shot, this time from distance. 

After the restart, Steve Fenner was forced into an instinctive save on 47 minutes, denying a close range shot with his outstretched left leg at the expense of a corner, with the keeper then well placed to hold onto a low shot at his near, left-hand, post 8 minutes later. 

United did have the ball in the net just shy of the hour mark, but for an offside flag. A free-kick from distance was flicked onto Declan Walsh at the far post whose header from point blank range found the top corner. 

At the other end a minute later, Jim Clayton was on hand to deflect a shot behind the near post for a corner, though the visitors did break the deadlock on 61 minutes. 

Alex Simpson broke through onto the right-hand side before beating Fenner and scooping the ball over him and into the roof of the net. 

At the other end, United went close to an almost instant equaliser four minutes later, Brett Codd's ferocious 30-yard shot was beaten behind by a superb save by the keeper at his top near corner. 

United however were awarded a penalty moments later after Codd was fouled. Following a 3 minute delay, Harry Brown stepped up from the spot, empathically smashing home into the bottom left-hand corner to restore parity. 

While injured Tom Halliday discussed his dogs barking, brilliant defending from Steele-Smart deflected a shot behind for a corner on 71 minutes.

Steve Fenner meanwhile was forced into another quick reaction save seven minutes later, as the stopper advanced off his line to instinctively dive to his right-hand side at waist height and beat the shot away. 

That save proved crucial, as United took the lead - scoring what proved to be the winner in the 84th minute. Sam Goddard's free-kick just inside Falcons' half found George Corrie, the latter's blocked shot fell to Jack Yallop to curl audacious strike into the bottom left-hand corner. 

Fenner was again required to dive across and tip a far post close range header, from a left wing cross, back into play off his crossbar two minutes later, while the away side curled a free-kick straight into the stopper's chest on 88 minutes. 

Falcons also had the final chance in the 94th minute, but headed a left wing corner wide into the side-netting at the far post. 

Bury United host Hardwick, while Falcons travel to AFC Dragonfly, both in Division Two on Sunday (6th October, 10:30am).

Bury United:- 1 Steve Fenner, 15 Charlie Steedman (49' Codd), 5 Jim Clayton (68' Borle, 16 Ehran Steele-Smart, 6 George Lines, 3 Declan Walsh, 8 Adam Seymour, 7 Sam Goddard (c), 12 George Corrie, 9 Harry Brown, 11 Jack Yallop. Subs Used: 14 Brerr Codd, 19 Liam Borley. Subs Unused: Josh Allen, Jordan Price. Booked: Codd (80'), Goddard (85'), Walsh (87'), Corrie (90'+3').

Stowupland Falcons: 1 Hayden Langmead, 4 Jordan Dye (c), Louis Hart, Alex Simpson, Fraser Swann, Joshua Swann, Liam Swann, Ryan Titlow (c), James Turner, Ryan Whebby, Tyler Whebby. Sub Used: Joseph Ward. Subs Unused: Paul Burton, Ewan Burton. Booked: Langmead (67').

Goals: Harry Brown (68'pen), Jack Yallop (84'); Alex Simpson (61').

Sporting 87 V Leiston St Margarets | 28.09.2024 | Victory Ground | Macron Suffolk Ipswich League Senior Division |

Sporting 87's first home Macron Suffolk + Ipswich League Senior Division game of the new season ended in an evenly matched 1-1 draw with Leiston St Margarets at the Victory Ground. 

While the visitors had the better of the opening 45 minutes, Jonathan Warnock's side did likewise in the second half as an 83rd minute penalty recorded an important point. 

Warnock later felt that both teams deserved a draw - with the full interview with the Sporting manager added below - as Leiston curled a left wing free-kick comfortably over Noah Moss' crossbar in the 4th minute. 

James Buckmaster then blocked a shot on the right-hand edge of his box four minutes later, before the away side broke the deadlock after 9 minutes, Nathan Baker latched onto a low left wing cross squared across for the latter to tap home from 4-yards out. 

Although Leiston still had the better of the first half, Sporting grew into the game increasingly more as time passed with Calvin Park curling a great strike narrowly over from the left-hand edge of the box on 16 minutes. 

At the other end, Leiston went close to doubling their lead four minutes later, curling a shot, from the left-hand edge of the box, just wide of the bottom near corner, but took a deflection behind for a corner.  

Sporting meanwhile saw a dangerous left wing corner just evades a Blue shirt arriving 3-yards out at the far post in the 24th minute. 

Park then forced a great save from the Leiston 'keeper on the hour mark, the striker found space to shoot from 3-yards out but saw his shot blocked behind for a corner superbly by the stopper. 

The home side though got closer and closer to finding an equaliser as a great low right wing ball picked out Mantis Konstantinos with brilliant precision, straight to his feet, though the latter's first time shot went just wide of the bottom near corner on 34 minutes. 

Konstantinos meanwhile was denied by a crucial defensive block a minute later, a brilliant right wing long throw found the midfielder free at the near post whose shot on target was blocked. 

Leiston on the other hand had a couple of good chances to double their lead in the space of a minute, the first saw a low right wing cross saw a shot in the centre deflected narrowly wide, while the second opportunity saw a low curling shot from distance bounce comfortably into Moss' chest on 40 minutes. 

James Smith meanwhile saw a 30-yard shot blocked two minutes later, while the Leiston forward broke through onto the left-hand side of the box before seeing his shot-cross, with a man queuing up for a tap in at the far post, smothered behind well by the onrushing Moss on the stroke of half-time. 

After the break, substitute Rob Pettitt had a big impact for the home side, quickly creating a good chance on 47 minutes. The winger drove through onto the right-hand byline whose cutback was cleared by a well placed defender. 

Ten minutes later, Pettitt then saw a low right wing cross pit behind for a corner, though the visiting goalkeeper firmly punched away the resulting set-piece, on his line at the far post. 

At the other end, defender Kyle Trautner brilliantly put his body on the line to block a Leiston shot from the left-hand edge of the Sporting box on 59 minutes, while Sporting went close a minute later.

Captain Smith fed Park driving into space, albeit his fierce low 30-yard strike palmed behind by the 'keeper at his bottom right-hand corner a minute later.

At the other end, Leiston went close to doubling their advantage on 63 minutes, the away side broke through down the right-hand side to square a ball across on a plate which just evaded a teammate with the goal gaping from 6-yards out. 

Sporting went close again in the 71st minute, Ehran Smart's first long through found Park free from 12-yards, but the striker volleyed fiercely over the bar.

Ten minutes later though Sporting were awarded a penalty after substitute Harry Bennett's exquisite right wing corner saw a push off the ball. 

Debutant Park stepped up, to ruthlessly and ferociously dispatch into the net, off the inside of the bottom left-hand post, to level proceedings. 

Bennett then saw a right wing free-kick into a dangerous area well claimed by the goalkeeper on 86 minutes, before good goalkeeping from Moss saw the stopper hold onto a low 25-yard free-kick, hit smartly underneath the wall two minutes later.

Albeit a fair result with a point apiece, Sporting could've registered their first win of the campaign in the 90th minute. Jack Edwards' left wing free-kick picked out Dan Steed at point blank range whose header went wide of the top near corner. 

Sporting (currently 14th after playing 6 games) are in home action on Saturday (5th October) when 7th placed East Bergholt United visit the Bury St. Edmunds based side, while 12th Leiston St. Margarets travel to 11th placed Wickham Market. 

Sporting 87:- 1 Noah Moss, 2 Kyle Trautner, 3 Henry Bale, 4 Ehran Smart, 5 James Smith (c), 6 James Buckmaster, 7 Dexy Driscoll, 8 Mantis Konstantinos, 9 Calvin Park, 10 Will Firrell, 11 Jack Edwards. Subs: 12 Harry Bennett, 14 Dan Steed, 15 Jack Harris, 16 Danny Hill, 17 Rob Pettitt. 

Leiston St Margarets:- Jake Addison, Zenon Backhouse, Nathan Baker (Goal), James Clouting, Patrick Doyle, Daniel Goold-Hannatt, Daniel Mace, Joseph Miller, Aaron Newton, Toby Rinder, Joshua Roberts. Subs: Sam Green, Witness Mhango, Harrison Rodwell.

Goals: Calvin Park (83'pen); L11 Nathan Baker (9').

REACTION | Jonathan Warnock Post Match Interview | Sporting 87 V Leiston St Margarets | 28.09.2024 |

DK: Fair fair result in the end? 

JW: Yeah, I think so. I don't think either team did quite enough to win it. Last 10 minutes, it could have gone either way, but I thought we had the momentum in the second half. Yeah, I was pleased. 

DK: Leiston could have maybe been a couple of goals up, but you held on in there and got the equaliser.

JW: Yeah, I thought second half, we created some good opportunities and I was hoping that once we got the first goal, we were going to go on and win it. Before we scored from the penalty, we had the one that went over the bar from the set play and second phase, there was another one. Yeah, I was a bit aggrieved by the first goal. We'll have to watch it back on the veo for their goal. I mean, it was a clear push on the defender. I could see it from the dugout, just as he went to kick it, he got pushed and he fell.

At the moment, you don't get those little things. 

DK: On the other hand, like I say, you've made changes this season and it takes time for players to settle, but they're very promising signs. 

JW: Yeah, I mean, we've got about eight new signings. This week, I started two under-18s. The right-back, Henry Bale, started at right-back and then a wide left, Kostas, both of them. One is an under-17, both of them play for our under-18 Thurlow Nunn team and both have done well there. So, that's the philosophy of the club to promote those youngsters and there's other youngsters in that team that will get their opportunity. Andy Atkins and Matty Curtis have done a really good job getting some real good youngsters in and also now they've got them playing really well. They won on Thursday night against Lakenheath. Both of those boys were involved and they've both done well. So, I thought Henry Bale was exceptional with the stuff that's happening.

DK: Yeah, you've had some tough games this season, but you've came out of it with some really good results. 

JW: We're obviously not in a good position, but equally, you know, that's our first league home game. We share it with the cricket club. We have to play five games away at the beginning of the season and, you know, we've gone to Henley, Trimley and Halesworth away. Well, they're three tough fixtures away from home. Henley first game, we were really, really unfortunate not to win. They scored in the seventh minute of extra time and we were 2-1 up. Halesworth away, we didn't really compete. If I'm really honest, we competed in stages, but they were worthy winners on the day away at Halesworth, but it's a tough, tough place to go. And Trimley Red Devils, well, you know, it was 0-0 at half-time and we got somebody sent off after one minute to the second half. It just kills you. And again, Trimley are a really good side. So, you know, going away to those places is tough, but we're doing alright. 

DK: Yeah, it's still early days in the season where you're not quite sure how it'll play out. 

JW: Yeah, I think our league, there's not a lot of difference. I think Stowupland (Falcons) and Old Newton are very strong, it looks like. And as I said, the other teams, but I think every game is a tough game. And, you know, we're towards the bottom, but equally placed. I thought it was a good, you know, both teams placed and I thought we played some really good football all the time. Yeah, it was a tough game. 

DK: From over the years I've been watched a game here now and then, I'd say year on year you're making strides to progress on both on and off the pitch. So, where would you see progress being this season? 

JW: Well, we want to do better than what we did last year and we've probably got a newer (team), we've had a team that had been together for a while. We then lost Rhys to Stowmarket, Alex Clark has gone to Stowmarket, Joe Carroll has gone to Bury Town and one or two other players have retired. So, we're building again, but we'll be all right.