Tom Hewlett provided us with the opener just before half-time and Cieron Keane made it two around the hour mark.

Deep into injury time Albie Armin scored but it would only be a consolation as the visitors traveled back to East Suffolk empty handed.

In a relatively even first-half, Leiston came out the blocks quickest and forced Ross Durrant to make several saves in the opening minutes.

Quick on the counterattack, Joe Marsden was influential down the left side for the visitors and almost assisted the opener when his pass across the box found George Quantrell – Durrant dived down quickly to stop the midfielder’s shot and although the rebound fell for Jamar Loza, the forward could only hit the side netting from a tight angle.

Moments later, Leiston thought they had found a way through when Seb Dunbar lofted the ball over United’s back line and Loza finished from close-range but Quantrell was caught offside in the build-up and the goal was chalked off.

However, as the half progressed, The Blues quickly found their rhythm and began to threaten the Leiston goal. Joe Nyahwema lit up the left wing but could not hit the target after he weaved past one defender and left another on the floor.

Nyahwema continued to torment the Leiston right back, this time the winger ran to the byline and squared the ball for Liam Loughlan to strike - although Leiston number one Sam Donkin was equal to the effort.

As the half came to an end it was Hewlett who broke the deadlock, hitting the back of the net for the third time this season, after Riece Bertram forced a turnover in the final third.

The visitors started the second half in similar fashion to the first, chances came and went for Loza but the Leiston forward could not add to his tally of 17 league goals.

Then, in the 66th minute, Keane's pressing was rewarded with his first goal in a Long Eaton United shirt. The midfielder won the ball back on the edge of the oppositions 18-yard box, dribbled his way through on goal and scored with a rebound after his first effort was saved by Donkin's outstretched boot.

Ross Crane almost reduced the deficit in the final minute of regular time but Durrant made a superb save to push the forward's shot around the post from close-range.

However, in the last minute of added time, Armin scored to grab a late consolation for the visitors and prevent what would have been a well-earned clean sheet for The Blues.