Town entertained Downham Town at the Recreation ground on Saturday, running out resounding 5-1 victors thanks to a brilliant team performance.

Town entertained Downham Town at the Recreation ground on Saturday, running out resounding 5-1 victors thanks to a brilliant team performance.

Manager Adam Gusterson stuck with the same 11 that had comprehensively beaten Debenham on Tuesday night meaning no place in the starting 11 for returning playmaker Scott Roberts who had been unavailable for the midweek tie.

Harleston started brightly and I was soon apparent that the visitors back 3 were unable to cope with Towns front threes power pace and high press and after a couple of near misses and a good double save from the Downham keeper it came as little surprise when Town eventually took the lead on the 17th min.

After good work from Baker who robbed the visitors centre half and calmly rolled in Nathan Stone who carried the ball into the penalty area and drilled the ball left footed past the advancing keeper , Harleston striker Stone who had taken a knock after a challenge with the visitors keeper was clearly struggling this however did not stop him adding number 2 for the home team on 26 min again the visitors defence failed to cope with Towns high press and the ball found its way to Stone who with still some work to do brilliantly rounded the defender and keeper to slot home his and Harleston's second goal Stone was subsequently substituted and replaced by Scott Roberts who slotted into the midfield with Baker reverting to the second striker role.

Second Half -
Town started the second half in dominant mood with Roe and Adil working tirelessly in midfield allowing Roberts to stretch the visitors defence with his range of passing, number 3 came 10 mins into the second half from the penalty spot after the irrepressible Cheese drove into the visitors box only to be tripped for a clear penalty after Tuesdays penalty miss Roberts accepted responsibility and clinically dispatched the ball home.

The home team managed the game well for the next period and on (not sure what min) stretched there lead to 4 when Roberts far post corner was met unerringly by the head of Laurence Cheese his bullet header crashed into the net via the underside of the bar to cap off a brilliant individual display by the striker.

Downham to there credit kept trying to play and were rewarded when Town keeper Pauling failed to deal with a back pass and was caught in possession allowing the visitors to pull a goal back.

Town quickly regained their 4 goal advantage with the goal of the game when Roberts long pass drifted over the visitors defence to Baker who calmly controlled a delivered a sumptuous lob over the keeper for a fitting end to a great team performance.

The only black spot of the day was the rather harsh sending off in injury time of Olly Wills for 2 bookable offences

SAINT-GOBAIN MAN OF THE MATCH - LAURENCE CHEESE

Editor - Adam Mullin