Greens hit Rovers for four

Three changes were made from the disappointing game at Thetford. Daniel Lowe made his debut at left back with Shane Risby dropping to the bench. Jack Herbert replaced the injured Adam Thurtle and Peter Lambert was carrying a back injury following his cricketing exploits with Swardeston, so was replaced by Liam Bartley.

Both sides had early chances, Rovers with a free kick and Mitch Forbes with a tame shot, but it was Godmanchester who broke the deadlock in the 20th minute. Jake Burton broke on the right of the Greens box and squared the ball in to Ben Colmer for a simple tap in.

Gorleston responded well and were level five minutes later when a corner was partially cleared to Chris Bond who fired a terrific shot straight back into the net.

On the half hour mark the Greens took the lead when Steve Taylor played a ball wide to Forbes, who cut in and laid it back to Bond. His shot took a deflection off defender Hayden Beasley which wrong footed the goalkeeper and took the ball into the goal.

Gorleston could have extended their lead with Taylor and Forbes both having efforts saved but at the other end Elliott Pride had to save well from a long range Colmer effort.

Gorleston began the second half in dominant mood with Liam Bartley having a shot blocked and Bond cutting in to try his luck with another shot, but then Godmanchester had a ten minute spell of pressing the Greens back with a series of corners and free kicks and Pride had to be alert to save a Mark Boucher drive.

At the other end Forbes and Bartley were beginning to link well and Gary Williams’ persistence on the left flank resulted in a cross to Bond at the back post who chested and volleyed back across goal, but the ball was fractionally in front of Bartley’s outstretched leg and two yards wide of the far post.

Rovers were still looking for the equaliser and again Pride had to twice save well from Colmer efforts.

It was from a Rovers attack when Gorleston gave themselves some breathing space with 15 minutes to go. Clearing a corner, Taylor broke and threaded a ball through to Forbes. He tried to slot the ball under the keeper who half-blocked it but the ball bounced nicely back to Forbes to tuck into the empty goal.

Goddy continued to go forward to try and get back into the game and again it was on the counter attack that the Greens secured the points with five minutes to go. A superb flicked header by substitute Luke Catchpole found Bartley who played a perfect pass wide to another substitute Jack Garrod.He committed the keeper and squared the ball to Chris Sandford who had all the time in the world to roll the ball into the goal.

Team: Elliott Pride, Sean Blowers, Daniel Lowe, Gary Williams (Jack Garrod 82), Jack Herbert, Eddie Thompson, Chris Sandford, Chris Bond, Mitch Forbes (Luke Catchpole 78), Steve Taylor (Robbie Oldham 78), Liam Bartley.

• Gorleston Reserves 0, Diss Reserves 1

The Reserves hosted previously unbeaten Diss on Saturday and nothing changed as Diss left with all three points, despite being outplayed for most of the game.

Gorleston made five enforced changes from the previous week with Laurence Taylor, Ryan Gowing, Jonny Watt, and new signings Luke Jackson and Dane Whiteley coming in.

All five settled in well and the Greens took the game to Diss for the whole of the first half but the closest they got to taking the lead was a header from Harley Clements that struck the bar.

Gorleston created plenty of chances but failed to hit the target on numerous occasions or were foiled by the Diss keeper, who was their man of the match.

The second half started in the same vein but the visitors made the breakthrough, after keeper Jack Whatmough could only clear a cross out to former Green Karl Ainsley who fired home the winner from 15 yards.

Gorleston tried all they could to get a goal but Diss were well-drilled and either the keeper or poor finishing again put paid to the Greens getting anything out of the game.

Manager Paul Williams said “If we keep playing the right way the wins will come, we will play a lot worse than this and will win comfortably this season.”

Squad: Jack Whatmough, Ryan Gowing, Harley Clements, Jonny Watt, Laurence Taylor, Dane Whiteley, Jacob Short, Luke Jackson, Elliot Hannant, Adam King, Callum Webb, Damon Bensley, Simeon Randell, Kyle Harvey-Harris, Paul Williams.

This week the Reserves make the short trip to Norwich United.

• Lowestoft Youth 4, Gorleston Youth 3

Gorleston’s U18s suffered heartbreak last Wednesday in the final minute of this FA Youth Cup game, after staging a terrific comeback in front of a crowd of 103 at Crown Meadow.

Whatmough produced three good saves in the first five minutes before Clements put a header over the bar at the other end.

The Greens took the lead in the 12th minute when they were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out. Hodges curled the ball around the wall into the bottom left hand corner of the goal.

Lowestoft equalised through Clark and midway through the half the hosts made it 2-1 when a left wing cross evaded everybody and was turned in at the far post.

The Trawlerboys made it three just a minute later following a free kick.

After 39 minutes Gorleston were back in the game when they were awarded a penalty, for handball in the area, which was spotted by the linesman. Welton converted to make it 3-2.

In the second half a Gorleston effort hit the crossbar and Kyle Harvey-Harris was looking lively up front.

The comeback was complete in the 70th minute when a clear trip on a Gorleston player in the area produced another penalty which Welton duly dispatched.

With time running out Clark was fouled in the Gorleston box and Borrett stepped up to convert the third penalty of the game and make it 4-3.

Team: Whatmough, Risby, Ingram, Hodges, Clements, Burnett, Roberts, Welton, Harvey-Harris, King, Woolston. Subs: Moughton, Warnes, Keyzor, Larter.