GORLESTON travel to Ram Meadow to play Bury Town in the FA Cup First Qualifying round tomorrow.

Bury are in the Ryman League Premier Division, the same league as Lowestoft Town, and a division higher than Harlow, who the Greens beat in the last round.

This is Bury’s first venture into the FA Cup this season but already the Greens fourth game in the competition following the replay win against Woodbridge and the Harlow victory. One name in the Bury squad is former Ipswich Town striker James Scowcroft, although he has yet to make an appearance this season.

Dereham Town 2 Gorleston 0

MANAGER Richard Daniels made three changes to the side that had drawn at Haverhill for this trip to Ridgeons Premier Division leaders Dereham.

Tarren Grint replaced Kyle Howell and Richard Woodrow was given a starting place, alongside former Dereham player Scott Woodgate, with John Bell and Steve Taylor dropping to the bench.

The Magpies showed why they are doing well in the league from the kick-off. Elliot Pride was forced into a save in the third minute, pushing away a long-range effort and Gorleston broke from that with Chris Sandford working the keeper at the other end.

A difficult task for the Greens turned more difficult in the fifth minute after a dubious penalty was awarded against them, writes DAVID HARDY.

A cross by Buhlemann from the right struck Eddie Thompson, who was close to the powerful cross with his arms down by his side.

The referee appeared to wave away the handball appeals before he noticed the linesman with his flag across his chest, giving the penalty.

Starling stepped up to confidently send Pride the wrong way and give his side the lead.

Three minutes later Dereham were awarded an offside, although the Dereham player picked the ball up several seconds before the referee actually blew his whistle to give it.

The kick was sent to their right wing and, with the Greens defence in disarray, Howell stole in on the left to double the Magpie’s lead.

Gorleston began the second half with more urgency and at a better tempo.

A Howell free kick was headed wide in the opening attack and Liam Harvey-Cooper and Taz Grint were combining well on the right.

Harvey-Cooper cut in on three separate occasions sending in left foot shots, only one of which caused the keeper to save.

Woodgate and McKenna both hit efforts over the bar whilst at the other end Pride had to save from Smith and Borker.

Remy Gordon, Bradley Hough and Christy Finch were all sent on to try and force a breakthrough but the Dereham defence managed to keep them at bay.

A long-range Sandford effort went over and earned him a yellow card, presumably for daring to appeal for a corner and a short corner gave Reece Hunn a chance but he shot wide and it wasn’t to be Gorleston’s night.

Team: Elliot Pride, Tarren Grint, Reece Hunn, Andy Howell (Remy Gordon 56), Adam Thurtle, Eddie Thompson, Chris Sandford, Richard Woodrow, Ali McKenna, Scott Woodgate (Bradley Hough 70), Liam Harvey-Cooper (Christy Finch 76)

Haverhill Rovers 2 Gorleston 2

BATTLING Gorleston twice came from behind to earn a point at Haverhill.

The Greens were unchanged from the side that had beaten Harlow in the FA Cup the previous week, for their first visit to the New Croft, Haverhill’s home since August last year.

Haverhill started well with the wind at their backs and Gorleston fell behind in the sixth minute.

The Greens failed to deal with a high free kick with the ball falling to Stuart Lodge six yards out, who turned and stabbed it into the net.

Gorleston began to get a foothold in the game.

Liam Harvey-Cooper had a free kick which Rovers keeper Archer saved easily but the next free kick he faced in the 19th minute he was unable to deal with.

Ali McKenna was bundled over outside the box and Chris Sandford stepped up to bend the kick over the wall and into the net.

Seven minutes later persistence by Steve Taylor gave Sandford the chance to set up McKenna but he couldn’t connect properly with the ball.

A Kyle Howell long throw created a chance for Sandford after Taylor dummied, but the dummy caught Sandford by surprise too, and he skied his effort over.

In the 40th minute McKenna picked up a yellow card for attempting to block a clearance by a defender, where the defender actually kicked the bottom of McKenna’s boot.

Rovers ended the half on top. Marc Abbott went close with a free kick before they went back in front on the stroke of half time.

Haverhill won the ball back close to the right corner flag and drilled it low across the box where Jack Higgs timed his run to perfection to knock it in.

Gorleston began the second half well.

Andy Howell saw his free kick pushed over by the keeper and the keeper also got his fingertips to the resultant corner to keep the ball away from his goal.

Lodge created himself a chance after 55 minutes but scuffed his shot enabling Elliot Pride to save.

The Greens equalised again in the 69th minute. McKenna put the ball in to Sandford who helped it on to Taylor, who prodded it home from close range.

Richard Woodrow had replaced John Bell earlier in the half and his 22 yard thunderbolt after 72 minutes was pushed away by Archer.

Adam Thurtle came to his team’s rescue with four minutes left, just nicking the ball off Lodge’s toe when he had the goal at his mercy.

Sandford had earlier been replaced by Tarren Grint, suggesting that maybe manager Richard Daniels was settling for a point, but it was Grint who should have scored the winner in stoppage time.

A deep free kick found its way to an unmarked Grint five yards out, in the centre of the goal, with nobody near him, but somehow he shot the ball over the bar.

Team: Elliot Pride, Kyle Howell, Reece Hunn, Andy Howell, Adam Thurtle, Eddie Thompson, Chris Sandford (Tarren Grint 86), John Bell (Richard Woodrow 57), Ali McKenna, Steve Taylor, Liam Harvey-Cooper (Remy Gordon 73).