Gorleston 4, North Walsham 1GORLESTON consolidated fourth position in Division 3NE of the NE14 East Men's Hockey League with their fifth successive win, at the expense of seventh-placed Walsham.

Gorleston 4, North Walsham 1

GORLESTON consolidated fourth position in Division 3NE of the NE14 East Men's Hockey League with their fifth successive win, at the expense of seventh-placed Walsham.

With three games to go, Gorleston's chances of securing third place were enhanced as Pelicans II could only manage a 2-2 draw at home to Bury II.

With a game in hand over their west Norfolk rivals, Gorleston have every incentive to battle on, and more importantly score freely, as Pelicans have a slightly superior goal difference.

Saturday's game saw the return of Adam Stone and Johnny Mobbs, but with Richard Pallant still nursing a muscle injury and James Clarkson away, it was the now-fit Mark Vaudin on the right wing and MoM centre-forward Russ Crawford who caught the eye. A constant threat to the visitors' defence, it was no surprise when after 10 minutes Russ and Simon Long pounced on a loose ball in the Walsham D, Long getting the last touch to score.

Gorleston doubled their advantage shortly before the interval when, from a quickly-taken Jamie Higginbotham free hit, Neil Hudson spun cleverly in the D to fire home.

It took an early goal from the visitors, from a short corner after the break, to fire up the team.

Gorleston responded by upping their game, and the two-goal lead was soon restored. From a right-wing cross by Simon Long, Russ Crawford freakishly got a touch on the ball which flew into the net.

The Gorleston defence of Adam Stone, Jason Austin and Jamie Higginbotham stood solid. Simon Long completed the scoring from a well-worked short-corner routine.

Next up are Norwich Dragons II, with pushback at Hobart High School, Loddon at 10.30am.

Transport leaves the Albion at 9.15 am.