Lowestoft suffered the Boxing Day blues at Suffolk rivals Leiston.

Leiston striker Jamar Loza hit a hat-trick, with George Quantrell's brace and goals from Ben Fowkes and Kyran Clements sealing victory for the home side in front of almost 500 fans.

The Trawlerboys started the game well but despite goals in each half from Joe Duffy and Sam Aldous, it proved to be an afternoon to forget as they dropped into the relegation places.

Leiston keeper Billy Johnson turned Harvey Sayer's cross away after a minute before the Blues keeper came out to collect a through ball from the same player.

Rob Eagle’s ball then split the Leiston defence but the offside flag was raised.

Trawlerboys keeper Ronnie Yeo made a good save to his left from Loza before stopping Fowkes' effort.

The home side took the lead in the 37th minute as Quantrell's shot deflected in.

It was soon 2-0 as Loza doubled the advantage just before the interval.

In added on time, and almost straight from the restart Joe Duffy pulled a goal back giving Lowestoft a lifeline.

But amazingly, in the fourth minute of added on time, there was still time for Leiston to increase their lead as Loza fired home.

Joao Rangel's shot was well saved by Johnson after the interval, but it was the home side who increased their lead as Fowkes made it 4-1 in the 52nd minute.

Clements headed home Ollie Saunders’ cross in the 64th minute to make it 5-1, before Aldous was on target with Lowestoft's second goal with 18 minutes left.

Quantrell smashed home in the 79th minute and there was still time for Loza to complete his hat-trick late on, making it 7-2 for the home side.

After the game, Lowestoft boss Andy Reynolds said: "As a manager you never want to feel you need to apologise for a result, but today was nowhere near good enough for this club.

"The players know I will not look to give or make excuses and the squad today is capable of much better than we offered so I will take responsibility for the outcome.

"We don't have time to dwell on it and have a very short turnaround to pull together and show levels more like the potential we possess.

"Sorry to those who came along today, we will look to make things right on Saturday."

TEAMS
LEISTON: Johnson, Rayworth (sub Batho 70), Saunders, Rossi Jarvis (sub Armin 60), Clements, Hill (sub Curtis 70) Fatadjo, Alexander (sub Dunbar 75), Fowkes, Quantrell, Loza. Sub not used: Ryan Jarvis.

LOWESTOFT TOWN: Yeo, Norman, Eagle (sub Overton 71), Blogg (sub Honeywood 34), Ruffles, Barbrook, Haddoch, Murphy, Duffy, (sub Atkinson 84), Sayer, Rangel (sub Aldous 61). Sub not used: Blair.