A spirited comeback wasn’t enough as Gorleston bowed out of the FA Vase on Saturday.
There were four changes from the side that had beaten Long Melford, three of those in defence with Harley Clements and Alex Kounnas injured and David Shade unavailable.
In came youngster Charlie Hitch, there was a welcome return for Aarron Taylor and Kyle Ingram slotted in to left back.
Leighton dominated the first half although it wasn’t until the 28th minute that Taurean Molloy was forced into a save, stretching to his right to get a hand to a header.
The Greens weren’t playing well and two goals in two minutes leading up to the break left them with a mountain to climb.
After 42 minutes, Silford found himself clear on the left and thumped the ball into the roof of the net from an angle, giving Molloy no chance. Two minutes later Silford seemed to have the freedom of Emerald Park to plough through the middle before knocking the ball on to Lewis McBride to tuck in.
It was almost like a different Gorleston team had come out for the second half as they finally started playing some good football, with Ingram at the hub of most of it.
They pulled a goal back in the 55th minute through Joel Watts. He appeared to be crossing from the left but the ball was too high for the keeper and curled into the net. Four minutes later Watts picked up a long ball and sent Peter Lambert through and the striker dinked the ball nicely over the keeper.
A few minutes later Gorleston were inches away from taking the lead. Owen French rose highest at corner and his header was destined for the goal until a defender managed to hook it off the line.
The visitors, though, regained the lead from a corner in the 68th minute when the ball ricocheted between Molloy and Jackson Ramm and fell nicely for Silford to tap in.
The killer blow came 10 minutes from time when Molloy raced out of his box to block but the ball found McBride out on the right, midway inside the Greens half, and he hit it back into the unguarded goal.
Gorleston: Molloy, Hitch (Cottingham 87), Ingram, Goreham, Taylor, French, Pinheiro (Fatadjo 51), Ramm, Lambert, McKay (Wooldridge 82), Watts. Attendance: 124.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here