Defensive woes for Dozzell's Leiston

By Elvin King

LEISTON will be without their regular central defensive pairing when they take on Ipswich Town in tonight's Club Colours Suffolk Premier Cup final.

Gerard Nash is serving a suspension while Donald George is cup tied having played for AFC Sudbury earlier this season.

“We know it will be tough,” said Leiston manager Jason Dozzell, who played over 400 matches for Ipswich in two spells.

“The Ipswich fitness and sharpness should tell, but we are all looking forward to a great night.

“Of course we will miss Gerard and Donald, but we are sure we can give Ipswich a good game.

“We have blown hot and cold this season, but if we have one of our good nights we can cause a surprise.”

Danny George is a slight doubt with an ankle problem for a Leiston side that has plenty of Ipswich connections.

Apart from Dozzell and ex-player and current academy coach Nash, Liam Manning is a part-time coach at the academy and a former Town youth and reserve player.

Blair Hammond was a member of the winning FA Youth Cup side in 2005, while Stuart Boardley and Lee McGlone were also associated with Town as youngsters.

“We will appreciate the big pitch and good surface,” added Dozzell. “We played at the Abbey Stadium, Cambridge in the Ridgeons League on Saturday and beat CRC 4-1.

“The pitch was in fantastic condition - and it suited us.

“My lads are young, hungry and fit and want to make up for losing last season's final 3-2 after extra time to Lowestoft Town.”

This is only Leiston's fourth entry in the competition, playing by invitation after reaching the Suffolk Senior Cup final in 1986.

After gaining promotion to the Ridgeons League Premier Division in 2004 they lost by a single goal at AFC Sudbury in 2004/5 and lost in the last season's final after twice being in the lead.