Gorleston 2, Long Melford 1THE Greens gained another three valuable points at Emerald Park on Tuesday against a spirited and hard-working Long Melford, who belied their lowly Ridgeons One position.

Gorleston 2, Long Melford 1

THE Greens gained another three valuable points at Emerald Park on Tuesday against a spirited and hard-working Long Melford, who belied their lowly Ridgeons One position.

Tomorrow Gorleston face a very difficult game away to Halstead, who are also chasing promotion (3pm), writes Mick Heard.

Tuesday's match was played in ideal conditions, in contrast to the 7-0 Saturday win at Swaffham in strong winds (report on page 2).

Gorleston have 55 points with eight games remaining, four home and four away.

Gorleston's midweek line-up was unchanged from Saturday and there were five substitutes on the bench.

Gorleston went ahead after 15 minutes when Ricci Butler squared the ball across to John Bell from a free-kick. Bell sent a superb shot low into the net past keeper Paul Wood.

There were very few chances either end in the first half but Lee Hunter fired wide after he had left a defender in his wake.

Long Melford played very well in the second period and equalised on 61 minutes when a free-kick was not cleared and Dan Statham fired high into the net.

However, on 69 minutes Butler put Gorleston ahead, breaking through the middle to score.

On 90 minutes Gorleston earned a penalty, Lee Hunter broke through and when the ball then fell to Peter Lambert he was fouled by the keeper who was sent off. Butler hit a post and the ball rolled along in front of the goal. A Gorleston player swung it back into the area, but it went wide.

Team: T Marsden, K Howell, L Goreham, J Bell, L Harewood, E Thompson, S Taylor, P Lambert, L Hunter, K Howes, R Butler. Subs: P Hunter, G Ingram, A Thurtle, M Higgins, R Goodwin.