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.The Greens started well - Eddie Thompson headed over from two yards out after just four minutes and ten minutes later it was the returning Neil Hurren's turn to head over from a terrific Steve Taylor cross.

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.

The Greens started well - Eddie Thompson headed over from two yards out after just four minutes and ten 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 somehow 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.

It was a mystery how the half time score was only 1-0 but that soon changed two minutes into the second half when 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.

With Downham pushing forward they looked vulnerable to a counter attack. A Stockeld through ball put Lambert through one on one with the keeper but he slid the ball just wide under pressure from a defender.

With eight minutes remaining a clever back heel by Sam Garner found Pearson who was allowed to shoot from distance. The ball bounced just in front of Elliot Pride and skidded off the wet surface past him into the goal to set up a nervy end to the game.

It could have been worse for Gorleston as Pearson tried his luck again from long range in the visitors' next attack, but this time Pride saved.

Two minutes from time Gorleston were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. The kick found Adam Thurtle but the keeper saved. Thompson followed up, but his header was pushed up onto the underside of the bar and 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 to make it three 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.

Lambert and Mitch Forbes both had chances in injury time and Gorleston were able to see out the game comfortably.

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