Saffron Walden 1, Gorleston 2

Two goals in three minutes earnt the Greens a valuable three points as they came from behind at Catons Lane.

Gorleston perhaps should have taken the lead in the third minute when Bradley Hough had more time than he realised and put the ball wide with the keeper well out of his goal.

But it was Walden who had the better of the first half. A free-kick was scrambled away from the Greens’ six-yard box before Mitchell Das was just unable to get on the end of another free-kick.

Midway through the half a Gorleston free-kick found Gary Williams on the left. His cross fizzed across the face of goal just a yard in front of Hough.

After 34 minutes the Bloods felt they should have had a penalty from a Tom Daniels challenge on Graham Turner, but nothing was given.

Jack Herbert did well to head a corner away before Saffron Walden took the lead in the 39th minute.

A goal-kick sent Das away on the left and his cross found Joe Murphy, who knocked the ball into the net.

Soon after Das found himself through on the right but he crossed high over the bar and then, with half time imminent, Chris Sandford was in on goal but his attempted

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flick past the keeper lacked power, enabling the keeper to save.

The Greens began the second half more on the front foot and should have equalised in the 52nd minute. Peter Lambert drove forward, releasing Mitch Forbes on the right. Forbes slid the ball in to Hough who, with the goal at his mercy, completely missed his kick.

Two minutes later Hough crossed to Forbes whose header from a tight angle found the keeper.

Two goals in three minutes then turned the game on its head.

After 71 minutes a deep free-kick eluded the keeper and Hough headed back across the box where Herbert rose to nod in.

Two minutes later Lambert burst into the box, exchanging passes with Hough, to give himself a simple tap-in.

The Greens then had to dig in as Walden searched for an equaliser. A terrific run by Das was thwarted by Pride, good tracking back by Sandford stopped Tommy Butchart and then a goalmouth scramble was cleared.

Gorleston held their nerve, Pride showed safe handling and terrific defending from Eddie Thompson and, in particular, Jack Herbert made sure a very good three points returned to Emerald Park.

Team: Elliot Pride, Sean Blowers, Tom Daniels (DJ Kareche 63), Gary Williams, Jack Herbert, Eddie Thompson, Chris Sandford, Bradley Hough, Mitch Forbes (Danny Mitchell 70), Steve Taylor, Peter Lambert.

Tomorrow, Gorleston are in home Norfolk Senior Cup third round action, playing Anglian Combination Division One side Holt United at Emerald Park.