LEEK Town manager Wayne Johnson praised the club's fans for creating an atmosphere that felt “just like being at home” in their 2-1 win at Sheffield FC on Saturday.
At the self-titled ‘Oldest Club in the World’, the Blues promotion push got back on track with an excellent win thanks to two goals from Ashley Miller.
The home side, who were second in the table and had won their last five games, were left shell-shocked as Leek took a two-goal lead early on.
Miller scored the first of his brace on 10 minutes when his ambitious 20- yarder took a nasty bounce in front of the home keeper and bobbled over his despairing dive into the net.
There was nothing speculative about the second however, as Miller rifled a 25-yarder into the top corner after 23 minutes.
Predictably, the home side put the Blues under heavy pressure but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping from Steve Hodgson kept the Leek goal intact until Brian Cusworth headed home from close range on 72 minutes.
Sheffield’s onslaught continued but Leek hung on to claim a magnificent three points from a team who had previously taken 37 out a possible 42 points available from their home games.
After the game a delighted Johnson said: “That was a well-deserved victory after the disappointing game at Kidsgrove earlier in the week.
“The lads responded well and we surprised Sheffield with our flying start to take a two-goal lead.
“The work-rate and commitment was superb, especially in the first half and then we defended well in the second half.
“I expected Sheffield to get forward more after the break and I told the lads in the dressing room that I didn’t want them to sit back.
“Today we played some good football and I was a lot more comfortable than I have been in the last few matches.
“We played it from the back, the midfield got forward and our two up front caused them loads of problems at the back.
“Finally, the fans were absolutely tremendous, they cheered us on from start to finish it was just like being at home”, he added.
Meanwhile, Leek have had to admit defeat in the attempt to sign Ukrainian goalkeeper Iurii Lobastov and register him with the UniBond league.
After securing his international release from the FA, the Blues found themselves tied up in red tape trying to determine the player’s status in the UK before he could be registered as a UniBond player.
Lobastov is currently in the UK on a visitor’s visa as a sports person, but it was unclear what constituted a sports person.
Blues’ secretary Brian Wain contacted the FA, who determined that since the club now holds Lobastov’s international clearance certificate he could be registered as a player.
However, when the secretary contacted UK Borders Agency, they appeared unsure and pointed him in the direction of the Immigration Service, who in turn said it was a Borders Agency matter.
Further discussions then took place with both the Borders Agency and the Immigration Service and eventually it was determined that Lobastov was not eligible to sign for any club in the UK on his current visa.
They determined that if Lobastov played in any team, even as an amateur he would be ineligible because he would be denying a British subject a place in the team.
In better news, long term injury victim Carl Allen has made a welcome return to the squad after recovering from a knee problem.
Allen was given the go ahead to resume training recently, after the results of a scan on his injured knee suggested he did not need surgery before playing again.
Allen was named as a substitute for the game at Sheffield on Saturday but was unused.
Blues skipper Andy Taylor faces a fitness test after damaging a rib that has seen him miss the last two games.
Meanwhile, midfielder Richard Bailey, who has struggled with injuries this season, will miss the remainder of the season after suffering knee ligament damage in the recent defeat at Kidsgrove.
Johnson is now scouring the transfer market in an attempt to bolster his squad for the end of season run-in and hopefully a place in the play-off places.
Leek have had a good response from former players to celebrate 20 years since gracing the Wembley turf in the 1990 FA Trophy Final.
Crewe Alexandra assistant manager Neil Baker and his own former assistant Gary Blore will manage the Wembley squad, whilst veteran manager Paul Ogden will run the other side.
However, please note that the date of the event had been brought forward to Sunday, May 2.