Harleston Town 0 Acle United 6

Acle United consolidated their position at the top of the Anglian Combination Premier Division table with an impressive win.

Last year’s champions made three changes in what appeared a more attacking line-up.

The visitors got off to a dream start with two goals in the opening five minutes. Bulman was fouled wide of the penalty area and from Foreman’s free-kick, Webb’s header hit the bar with Barham heading home the rebound. Two minutes later, Morgan won a challenge on the edge of the hosts’ penalty area and the loose ball fell to Bulman who fired past the home keeper.

Harleston were struggling to get out of their own half and their first attack saw their front man penalised for straying offside. It went from bad to worse for the home side when Acle increased their lead on 11 minutes. Amis received the ball out wide on the left, cut inside his marker and rifled a shot past the luckless keeper.

A mistake from Barham after 20 minutes almost let Harleston back into the game but Cruickshank saved well at his near post, before the rebound hit across the goal was cleared by Hyde.

The home side were having their best period of the game and forced a couple of corners but the Acle defence stood firm.

Acle continued to push forward and twice the home keeper was called upon to make good saves from Bulman and Sanders, but he was finally beaten again just after the half-hour mark. Sanders was brought down 25 yards from goal on the right hand side and Foreman stepped up and fired home the free-kick to put the visitors 4-0 ahead.

Four minutes before the break, the home side had their best chance of the half. Acle’s defence were slow to react to a quickly taken free-kick, but the home striker hooked the cross over the bar from close range.

The early stages of the second half was all Acle, with the visitors increasing their lead through Sanders on 52 minutes. Receiving the ball from Hyde, the wide-man cut inside and curled a shot into the top corner with the outside of his boot.

Acle forced a series of corners with 10 minutes remaining and from Foreman’s kick, Whiting headed home at the near post.

The final few minutes saw the home side press to try to get on the score-sheet and only a fine covering tackle from Forder and then a reflex save by Cruickshank denied the hosts as Acle made it four wins out of four in their defence of the Sterry Cup.

Acle: Cruickshank, Hyde, Foreman, Barham, Webb, Morgan (Curran), Sanders, Bartram, Amis (Winkworth), Bulman (Whiting), Forder.

On Saturday Acle have their first home game of when they entertain Cromer at Bridewell Lane. Kick off is 1.30pm. On Tuesday they have a friendly against Norwich City Under 18s at the FDC in Bowthorpe at 7pm.