Burnham Ramblers 3 Gorleston 1

With just one change from the side that had beaten Norwich Utd, Bradley Hough starting ahead of the unavailable Jack Garrod, this FA Vase match couldn’t have begun any better for the Greens, writes DAVE HARDY.

After three minutes Gary Williams was fouled 25 yards out. Carl Poppy’s free kick struck a raised arm in the penalty area and Liam Harvey-Cooper made no mistake from the spot.

Gorleston continued to dominate and midway through the half another Poppy free kick rattled the crossbar.

Two goals in five minutes then turned the game on his head.

After half an hour a square ball across the Green’s box found Ross Wall all alone to equalise.

Five minutes later Gorleston failed to clear their lines allowing Bradley Nobbs in to slot the ball past Elliot Pride into the net.

The Greens responded with Harvey-Cooper cutting in from a short corner and firing low but the keeper saved then Harvey-Cooper sent Ally McKenna in but the keeper saved again, this time with his legs.

Two minutes before the break it was Pride’s turn to save with his legs before Nobbs was booked for diving, trying to win his side a penalty.

Two minutes into the second half Pride kept his side in the match with an excellent save from close range following a corner.

Wall shot into the side-netting before David Hinton’s shot was deflected wide by Steve Taylor.

Just after the hour Burnham broke from a Gorleston corner and Wall’s shot across Pride bounced back off the base of the post.

Three minutes later Bradley Hough nodded a Hinton cross down to McKenna who volleyed goalwards, but the ball bounced down then up, over the bar.

Halfway through the half Pride pushed Wall’s effort over the bar before Brad Hunter rounded Pride but could only fire into the side netting.

Gorleston were pressing forward looking for an equaliser and the sucker punch came with six minutes remaining.

Burnham won a 50/50 challenge in midfield and sent Wall away in acres of space on the right. He picked out Charlie Kirby unmarked at the far post who made no mistake.

Gorleston: Elliot Pride, Carl Poppy, Kyle Howell (Reece Hunn 75), Gary Williams (Chris Sandford 65), Andy Howell, Eddie Thompson, Liam Harvey-Cooper, David Hinton, Ally McKenna, Steve Taylor, Bradley Hough (Ricci Butler 75)

Booking: Poppy 90

Goal: Harvey-Cooper 3

Burnham Ramblers: Jack Parr, Matt Smith (Connor Mackay 70), Grant Khory-Dakinson, Danny Cossington, Matt Newman, Mitchell Stuart Evans, Charlie Kirby, Ricky Evans, Brad Hunter, Ross Wall (Ben Adams 87), Bradley Nobbs

Bookings: Nobbs 43; Newman 87

Goals: Wall 30; Nobbs 35; Kirby 84

Gorleston will be looking to get over their FA Vase exit when they entertain Godmanchester Rovers tomorrow in the league (kick-off 3).

Rovers currently sit in the bottom four having won two of their eight league games. They have drawn three of six games on their travels, but they did suffer a 5-1 defeat at Haverhill Rovers on Tuesday night.

On Tuesday night Gorleston will be at home again in the Red Insure League Cup first round when Diss Town visit. Last Tuesday night Gorleston’s reserve side took on Diss Reserves in the Chell Trophy and lost 1-2. Tomorrow the Reserves travel to Witham Town Reserves. Next Saturday (October 27) they face Hoveton Wherrymen in the Norfolk Junior Cup 3rd round at Emerald Park.