QUICK-FIRE GOAL RUSH CONFIRMS COMEBACK
LEISTON have Joe Francis to thank for staying four points clear of the chasing pack after a pulsating match at Wheatsheaf Park.
With 17 minutes left, injury-hit Staines led 2-1 and looked set to end Leiston’s unbeaten league run at the 12th hurdle.
But two goals in four minutes from Francis saved the league leaders’ embarrassment.
Leiston were on the back foot almost from the start and were perhaps fortunate not to lose keeper Jacob Marsden to a red card after only three minutes when he clattered Staines’ Mo Bettamer just outside the box, a challenge which left both players needing treatment.
The Swans’ Jefferson Louis and Kane Haysman were in rich form and both created chances, before Staines opened the scoring in the 28th minute.
Worsfold provided a pinpoint left-sided cross and sub Jonathan Hippolyte, Bettamer’s replacement, shaped perfectly to head beyond Marsden.
Leiston responded, with a Patrick Brothers effort blocked at the far post before Tom Winter tested Staines keeper Jack Turner with a low drive.
Leiston levelled three minutes before half-time through Tom Bullard’s powerful downward header from Gareth Heath’s corner.
Leiston looked increasingly threatening early in the second period, especially through Winter and Francis, while the hardworking Byron Lawrence was involved in almost every move.
Turner made a finger-tip save to deny Heath, but the home side regained the lead with a stunning 64th-minute goal.
Chinua Cole won the ball and fed Worsfold, who left his marker trailing before exchanging passes with Louis and unleashing a low 35 yarder that would have beaten even a fully fit Marsden.
But Leiston have grown used to winning and they heaped pressure on a Swans central defensive partnership with only two starts at this level between them.
Leiston drew level again on 73 minutes when Lawrence’s rocket of a shot cannoned back off the underside of the bar and the rebound was forced in by Francis.
Leiston sub Ryan Pelling should have scored with his first touch, but skied his shot.
However, Francis completed an excellent Leiston comeback, powering in a 77th-minute header from Heath’s diagonal ball.
Staines boss Johnson Hippolyte described Leiston as “a class outfit”, but told The NLP: “I was disappointed not to get a point today from an excellent all-round performance.”