by MARK TUXFORD

STANWAY ROVERS 0

GORLESTON 1

Thurlow Nunn League premier division

GORLESTON’S Jack Garrod hit the game's only goal to lift his side four points clear of Karl Duguid’s Stanway Rovers in the Thurlow Nunn League table.

The striker pounced midway through the second half, firing his bullet header into the net after good work and a well-timed cross from winger Joel Watts.

Duguid’s men had more of the possession, with a host of missed chances in the first half.

Man-of-the-match Max Booth went closest when his trickery inside the box produced a shot that hit the post.

Shortly before, referee Stuart Franklin waved away penalty shouts from the home players when a defender looked to have handled inside the area.

Tanner Call was then played through, but his shot went over the bar.

The winger could and maybe should have done better with his effort.

In the second half, Stanway continued to enjoy lots of possession but a Gorleston goal looked on the cards, after putting considerable pressure on the Rovers defence.

Midway through the half it duly came, when troublesome winger Watts beat his man and fizzed in a cross from the right that squeezed past the Stanway defence and Garrod was waiting to nod home from close range past Nick Punter.

Stanway are next in action away to Haverhill Rovers in the League Cup on Tuesday, where they will hope to put a disappointing afternoon in the league firmly behind them.

Elsewhere, WIVENHOE TOWN ended their long winless run with a morale-boosting 2-1 victory at bottom team Swaffham Town.

They took the lead when Tim Dennis headed home Hasan Ayten's corner.

Swaffham levelled just before the break but Mo Osman's Dragons - whose previous victory came way back on October 1 - grabbed their winner thanks to an unstoppable effort from Jamie Baker.

FC CLACTON came unstuck at home to high-flying Newmarket Town, crashing to a 6-0 defeat at the Rush Green Bowl.

The damage could have been worse, had Paddi Hawkins not dived to save an early penalty.

BRANTHAM ATHLETIC had no fixture.

First division leaders COGGESHALL TOWN flexed their muscles and romped to an impressive 8-0 victory at HALSTEAD TOWN.

Nnamdi Nwachuku and Jamie Shaw both plundered hat-tricks and they were joined on the scoresheet by George Cocklin and Tyrone Scarlett.

HOLLAND FC drew 2-2 at Framlingham Town, having been two-up, while BRAINTREE TOWN RESERVES went down 4-2 at Downham Town.