Greens play a nap hand
Gorleston 5, Saffron Walden 1This game eventually kicked off at 4pm as the Saffron Walden team had been delayed by a road accident at Snetterton and the resulting diversion.
Gorleston 5, Saffron Walden 1
This game eventually kicked off at 4pm as the Saffron Walden team had been delayed by a road accident at Snetterton and the resulting diversion.
The visitors were quickly into their stride and Gorleston were hard pressed to get into the opposing half, writes Mick Heard.
Annis Nialli continued in goal for Gorleston who were without Tom Marsden and right-back Kyle Howell, still injured, and defender Adam Thurtle was unavailable. Nathan Drake came in at right-back and Pete Lambert returned in midfield after travelling home from university.
The bench was strong for Gorleston with Gary Ingram, Ben Manning, Richie Fruin, Matt Bowles and Scott Butler who has once again been in good form for the Reserves.
Gorleston adopted a 4-4-2 formation which could easily convert to 4-2-4 with John Bell and Ricci Butler on the flanks. The Greens took an eighth-minute lead when Lee Hunter received the ball on the right, beat a defender and sent a fine, low cross into the area where Harry Maddison showed good anticipation and slipped the ball home past the Bloods' keeper Anthony Choat.
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On 14 minutes Lee Hunter scored a tremendous individual goal when he cut in from the left past Tom Ryan, the visitors' right-back, and crashed an unstoppable drive into the far corner of the net.
Within 10 minutes it was 3-0 when Lee Hunter scored from the penalty spot and he then made it 4-0 on 39 minutes with another fine individual goal. This first half was possibly the best attacking display seen from Gorleston this season.
Three minutes into the second half Ricci Butler received the ball on the left after a good passing movement and fired a spectacular shot into the top corner of the net.
The visitors came back well, and with Bradley Green their centre-forward working hard they were rewarded on 66 minutes when Kevin Vallis made the most of hesitation in the Gorleston defence and fired a very good shot past Nialli. Play was very even for the rest of the game but there was no further score.
Gorleston captain Eddie Thompson and Leon Harewood were dominant in the Gorleston defence. Gorleston made several changes towards the end of the game, Gary Ingram and Matty Bowles and Richie Fruin all coming on.
Gorleston Team: A Nialli, N Drake, L Goreham, S Taylor, L Harewood, E Thompson, J Bell, P Lambert, H Maddison, L Hunter, R Butler. Subs: R Fruin, G Ingram, L Manning, M Bowles and S Butler.
Match ball sponsored by Mick from Ridgeons.
Tomorrow, Gorleston travel to Godmanchester Rovers (3pm).
Gorleston Reserves will entertain Leiston Reserves at Emerald Park (3pm).
