Gorleston 3, Downham Town 1AFTER three weeks of snow Gorleston finally got to play this year and kicked off the new decade with a win at a wet Emerald Park which saw them fifth in Ridgeons Division One.

Gorleston 3, Downham Town 1

AFTER three weeks of snow Gorleston finally got to play this year and kicked off the new decade with a win at a wet Emerald Park which saw them fifth in Ridgeons Division One.

Tonight Gorleston are at home to promotion rivals Halstead where they hope to gain revenge for a 4-1 defeat early in the season. Halstead currently lie seventh in the table and are undefeated in six games but on their last visit to the borough, in October, they were beaten 6-0 at the Wellesley.

Against Downham, the Greens started well. Eddie Thompson headed over from two yards after just four minutes and 10 minutes later it was the returning Neil Hurren's turn to head over from a terrific Steve Taylor cross. Another Taylor cross caused panic in the Downham defence, but Peter Lambert's header ended up in the keeper's arms.

A Jamie Stockeld free-kick and a Lambert shot whistled past the post before a Lambert header was cleared off the line, as Gorleston piled on the pressure. Finally, after 40 minutes, the break through came with yet another quality Stockeld cross diverted into his own net by Del Thorpe.

On the stroke of half-time Hunn jinked into the box and exchanged passes with Lambert, pulled the ball back from the by-line, but it fell just behind Hurren and too far in front of Lambert.

Two minutes into the second half a Taylor cross was glanced into the goal with the faintest of touches from Hurren's head. Three minutes later Hurren pulled the ball back to Lambert who side footed just wide.

Downham began to exert some pressure as the rain came down harder and conditions worsened. Elliot Pride saved a Jordan Courtney-Jenny shot and then a Ryan Pearson header.

Downham looked vulnerable to the counter attack. A Stockeld through ball put Lambert through one on one with the keeper but he slid the ball just wide.

With eight minutes remaining a shot bounced just in front of Pride and skidded off the wet surface past him to set up a nervy end to the game.

Two minutes from time Gorleston hit the underside of the bar and the ball bounced down on the line before being scrambled away.

On 90 minutes a poor defensive header put Lambert in on goal and he kept his cool to slot the ball past the keeper.

The Reserves, who were disappointingly beaten 3-2 at Foulsham in the Junior Cup, travel in the league to Whitton Reserves tomorrow. On Wednesday night the Under-18s travel to play Kirkley & Pakefield.