A late equaliser cost Gorleston two points and put a dent in their Thurlow Nunn League title chances, leaving Mildenhall with one hand on the trophy.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Kyle Ingram heads goalwards for Greens on Saturday. Picture: David Hardy.Kyle Ingram heads goalwards for Greens on Saturday. Picture: David Hardy. (Image: Archant)

Stanway had Gorleston on the back foot early on and the Greens were struggling to keep hold of the ball, but with their first real attack of any menace a thumping Joel Watts shot smacked against the bar.

The visitors had gained five corners in the opening 20 minutes but it was Gorleston’s first corner in the 34th minute that produced the opening goal. Jack Garrod curled the left-sided corner into the near post when Taylor arrived first to glance the ball into the net.

Gorleston continued to press forward but couldn’t find a way through with a Kyle Ingram header the closest they came to a second goal.

Eight minutes into the second half Garrod cut in from the left and tried to find the net inside the far post but the ball didn’t bend enough before a speculative effort from Pedulu at the other end five minutes later tried to catch Parkin off his line but the attempted lob didn’t dip enough.

As the half wore on Gorleston seemed to sit deeper, protecting their lead but the visitors best chance of scoring looked like being from a set-piece.

A 77th-minute free-kick from 25 yards was struck well by Craig Hughes over the wall and was heading for the top corner but for a superb save from Parkin who tipped the ball onto the bar.

Four minutes later it was Gorleston with the next chance. Birthday boy Luke Goreham’s attempted shot turned into a scuffed cross which Baker was inches away from turning goalwards.

With four minutes remaining Stanway scored their equaliser. A long throw was cleared, but when an attacker crossed the ball back into the area, Dunne arrived unchecked to plant his header into the goal.

Three minutes into stoppage time Keegan Middleton was brought on to take a corner. It turned out to be Middleton’s final game as he announced afterwards that, after five years, 184 appearances and 44 goals, he was leaving the Greens.

Match sponsors were Tecflo and they awarded the Batemans man of the match to Aaron Taylor.

Gorleston: Parkin, Clements (Oldham), Wise, Short, Burrage, Taylor, K Ingram, Goreham (Middleton), Garrod (C Ingram), Baker, Watts.