"I'll say yeah!" Did Boston United's Joe Leesley mean to score from a corner in FA Trophy win at Evesham?

Loanee gives his take on that goal, moving to left back and the Pilgrims squad...
Joe Leesley. Photo: Oliver Atkin.Joe Leesley. Photo: Oliver Atkin.
Joe Leesley. Photo: Oliver Atkin.

Joe Leesley has claimed he was going for goal when he scored direct from a corner at Evesham United last night.

However, the on-loan Harrogate Town man struggled to make his argument a convincing one as he burst into laughter making the claim.

Leesley grabbed the middle goal in a 3-0 FA Trophy victory at the Jubilee Stadium, also delivering the dead ball which led to Jay Rollins' opener.

Asked whether he meant to net direct from the quadrant, Leesley chuckled to himself before replying: "I'll say yeah.

"(I was) taking it with my weak foot, my right foot, but I'm just glad I got the goal.

"I was saying to Garns (Scott Garner) all day I'll try and curl it in to test the keeper. I felt I might have curled that one too much, but I'm just buzzing to get the goal."

Leesley also set up the opener, finished by Rollins after Garner saw an effort blocked on the line and Luke Shiels' follow up struck the bar.

"With Shielsy, Garner, Greeny (Paul Green), Mitch Rose, Platty (Tom Platt), they're big lads and you just need to get it in the right areas," he told Boston United's YouTube channel.

"But I'm pleased for Jay, he's been brilliant since coming back in. I'm glad he got his goal."

Leesley made his name as a winger but dropped to left back last night as Craig Elliott made six changes for the tie at the Southern League South Robins.

And he believes that moving back into defence - where he played last season with Stockport County and League Two Stevenage Borough - could add longevity to his career.

"It's something I really enjoy and something, me going forward, could really help me kick on in my career," he added.

"Hopefully, I can play there more and the gaffer keeps picking me."

After spells in the National League and Football League last season, Leesley believes the current Pilgrims squad has the ability to go higher.

He added: "This is probably one of the best squads the Conference North has seen, beats some Conference squads.

"Some of the lads playing week in and out for Boston won't look far wrong in a Football League team.

"We've got to be patient, it's going to coem and I'm sure we'll be right up there at the end of the season."

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