Leiston striker Darren Mills netted an early winner in a game of many more substitutions than genuine scoring opportunities. Mills, 26, pounced in the fourth minute to secure victory as Mark Kennedy’s Town U21 side opened their pre-season campaign with a defeat at Victory Road.
Kennedy used all 23 players available to him, including senior squad member Cameron Stewart (pictured), who was excluded from manager Mick McCarthy’s Ireland-bound party and has been made available for transfer by the Blues boss.
By far the most experienced player on the pitch, Stewart produced only occasional glimpses of his undoubted ability and failed to stand out from the rest.
Town also included left-back Steph Bombelenga, a London-based trialist, who is spending a couple of weeks at Playford Road and the fact he was withdrawn at the break was no reflection on his performance.
Ipswich-born Mills, whose six-year Army stint is due to end in three weeks, connected with a long clearance from defender Leon Ottley-Gooch before looping the ball over Town captain Joe Robinson and keeper Michael Crowe then using his chest to provide the finishing touch.
Town had plenty of possession in the first half, with central midfield players Andre Dozzell and Kundai Benyu in impressive form, but they lacked a cutting edge up front.
Approaching the half-hour mark they threatened an equaliser but left-winger Cemal Ramadan, who earlier blasted high over the top, headed over from Stewart’s cross and then blazed high and wide.
Benyu, who earned favourable mentions from McCarthy towards the end of last season, came close within three minutes of the restart. However, having shrugged off a couple of challenges, he sliced wide.
The industrious Mills caused the Town defence several anxious moments with his pace and linked up effectively with co-striker Christy Finch, making his first appearance for the Ryman Premier side after his recent move from Wroxham.
But when his chance came to add a second goal he fluffed it, failing to make clean contact from substitute Josh Merritt’s low cross, and when he did well to get in a looping header Crowe was at full stretch to keep the ball out at the expense of a corner.
Stewart was withdrawn after 65 minutes and within seconds Town substitute Ross Meldrum, a Scottish first-year scholar, let rip with a shot from outside the box that flew just inches over the bar.
When keeper Michael Crowe was taken off in the 68th minute it meant the entire Town starting line-up had been replaced and one of the many academy scholars who were introduced, Nick Ingram, forced Leiston’s substitute goalkeeper Jack Spurling into a smart save.
Leiston: Jones, Saker, Jefford, Ottley-Gooch, Dunbar, Winter, Heath, Cunningham, Brothers, Finch, Mills.
Town U21s: Crowe, Woolfenden, Smith, Robinson, Bombelenga, Stewart, Benyu, Dozzell, Ramadan, McLoughlin, Ford. Subs: Hayes, Jones, Daly, McKendry, Blanchfield, Folami, Cole, Muamba, Cathline, Meldrum, Ingram, Morris.