Gorleston 2, Ipswich IV 1Gorleston were delighted with this victory over the 2007 Division Four champions which made some amends for the double defeat at their visitors' hands last year in the run-up to promotion.

Gorleston 2, Ipswich IV 1

Gorleston were delighted with this victory over the 2007 Division Four champions which made some amends for the double defeat at their visitors' hands last year in the run-up to promotion.

This was always going to be a hard-fought game as Gorleston were without Nick Mobbs, Russ Crawford and Jason Austin.

But with imposing guest appearances by Gorleston old boy Adrian Pennington and newcomer Ross Kozyrko in the team their absences were hardly noticed.

The game was played at a brisk pace throughout in slowly deteriorating conditions and it was Ipswich who drew first blood when, after barely five minutes, they were awarded a short corner which Gary Scarff converted from a rebound off Barney King's pads.

But Gorleston continued to make some good forward runs and were rewarded in the 25th minute. Jamie Higginbotham broke down the right wing and his firmly-struck cross was deflected by Monty Raymond in to the far corner of the Ipswich net.

All square at the interval was a fair reflection of play but then the floodlights were needed as the rain intensified and players found it difficult to keep their feet.

The extra light at least appeared to pierce the gloom for Gorleston whose game suddenly notched up a gear.

With Andrew Lilly, Mark Vaudin and the players MoM Adrian Pennington holding firm in defence it was now the home side who were edging the game up front and when they were awarded a short corner on 13 minutes, Jamie Higginbotham was able to power in one of his drag-flick specials past the visitors' helpless keeper.

That, as it turned out, was the winner and enough to see Gorleston consolidate their position in the top six of Division 3NE of the NE14 East Men's Hockey League but there

was still plenty of excitement and anxious moments before the final whistle was blown.

Barney King redeemed his earlier error with one cracking save but the best was a point-blank stop by the Ipswich keeper from a Mark Vaudin short-corner variation which would have sealed the result nicely.

Next, Gorleston travel to the UEA Sportspark to take on the high-flying UEA first team.

It is the first time these two teams have met as league opposition and push-back is at 1pm. Transport leaves the Albion at 11.45am.