First defeat for Greens

Halstead Town 4 Gorleston 1

GORLESTON'S unbeaten start to the season was ended in resounding fashion by a resurgent Halstead side on Saturday.

Town began on top with Lee Townrow firing over and Tom Webb shooting straight at Steve Cannon in the early stages.

The Gorleston attack was one-dimensional with long high balls easily dealt with by the Halstead defenders.

The home side took the lead somewhat controversially in the 18th minute.

The linesman signaled a Gorleston throw, but was overruled by the referee. The ball was cleared, but pumped back into the box for the unmarked Webb to score at the far post.

The Greens leveled in the 33rd minute when Adam Ferguson soared into the air, nodding the ball down to Steve Taylor who slotted into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.

A superb Webb shot was correctly disallowed for offside as Halstead piled on the pressure before half time.

Cannon tipped a Webb shot round the post, who then had a shot deflected over as the Gorleston defence stood firm.

The visitors looked more solid in the second half before disaster struck on the hour when a Webb corner curled directly into the net.

Manager Richard Daniels made a triple substitution in an effort to change things, with Mills, Howes and Goreham making way for Harman, Scrivens and Heller.

Cannon palmed an Adam Gillespie shot over the bar to keep his team in the game, but could do nothing about the third goal.

Ray Turner was given far too much time and space to turn 20 yards out and hit a shot, which took a wicked deflection, looping up, and over, the keeper and into the net.

Gorleston tried to rally with Green's man of the match DJ Kareche making two storming runs down the right wing and whipping in excellent crosses.

Cannon made two good saves before Halstead's best move of the game down the left wing saw Webb tuck the ball inside to Powell who passed it into the far corner of the goal.