On a blazing hot afternoon Lowestoft battled for a point on a pitch which was hardly fit for football at this level. On arriving at the ground at 1.10 the Blues players spent 50 minutes picking up pieces of glass, flints, stones and even a splinter of wood with a nail protruding from the centre of the pitch. The referee too had his concerns and instructed the home team’s helpers to continue the task right up until kick off time before being satisfied that the game could go ahead. The pitch also had several bare patched all through the middle third of the pitch and in the circumstances both teams deserve praise for putting on a reasonable game.

The game didn’t start as the Blues would have wished with Leyton taking the lead in the 4th minute. Striker Senghore was given far too much time and space at the edge of the area to shoot past Andy Reynolds.

Lowestoft responded with Jamie Godbold being brought down juts outside the area but Adam Smith’s direct free kick was blocked by the defensive wall. Richard Woodrow tried his luck from 25 yards but Justham dived across goal to save.

Lowestoft equalised in the 15th minute with a Godbold corner headed back into the middle where Ross King forced the ball home from close range. Lowestoft continued to press and a long Reynolds clearance found Gary McGee who curled his shot wide of the mark. A superb cross from the left by Smith picked out McGee but he stabbed the ball inches the wrong side of the upright.

Lowestoft were close to taking the lead in the final stages of the first half as Neil Plaskett’s throw was touched on by McGee to Godbold whose snap shot was turned round the post by Justham at full stretch.

The second half was a more even affair with Leyton first to threaten with a fine move that saw the ball moved from Burns to Senghore and then Fraser who shot over the bar with just Reynolds to beat.

The best chance of the match fell to McGee in the 58th minute. He robbed defender Tandon some 35 yards out, took the ball round keeper Justham but shot into the side netting. Both sides were looking for a winning goal with Reynolds at full stretch to save from Burns and Godbold teeing up Craig Bussens whose shot was parried by Justham.

Godbold’s effort from a narrow angle was pushed away by Justham and Leyton twice sent the ball flashing across the face of Reynolds’ goal with no one able to take advantage.

Man of the Match: Greg Crane

Terry Lynes

Match Information

Score: Leyton - 1      Lowestoft Town - 1

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