Blues eased their way into the last eight of the Doodson Sports Cup with a workman-like performance on the 3G surface despite the heavy snowfall in the final 10 minutes of the game.

Leek manager Lee Casswell recalled Ben Chapman (pictured)from his loan spell at Market Drayton and also gave starts to Sam Hall, Darren Chadwick and Sean Kinsella.

The Leek goal suffered an early scare following a mix-up in the box but Kinsella, Hall and Dan Shelley all went close as Blues settled into their game.

Leek lost skipper Hall when he was accidentally caught in the face by Danny O’Callaghan’s flying boot and was replaced by Nail Maguire.

Blues swept into the lead in the 20th minute when Jordan Johnson’s free kick was headed out to Shelley who drilled the ball into the back of the net.

Leek continued to push forward but, after Liam Shotton’s shot was deflected for a corner, Sutton came close as Reece Leek burst forward and was only foiled by Chapman’s legs.

Blues came close again in the 36th minute through Tim Grice and Kinsella before Jordan Johnson was clearly brought down in the box but the referee waived play on.

Sutton went on the offensive after the break but Blues responded and were denied a second spot kick when Johnson was upended yet again as he weaved his way into the box.

The Royals almost drew level in the 67th minute following a long throw by Rob Evans but a point blank shot was scooped off the line by Chapman.

Blues then hit Sutton with two goals in two minutes when Kinsella drove home on 75mins followed by Jordan Johnson on 77 minutes.

Leek had killed the game off as a contest but there was still time for Ryan Boote to rattle Chapman’s crossbar late on.

Team: Chapman, Thompson, Jackson, Hall (Maguire 17), Espley (Donnelly 79), Chadwick, Kinsella, Shelley, Grice (Danylyk 73), Shotton, Johnson. Unused subs: Lowe, Baker.

Leek Town man of the match: Dan Shelley

Att: 54