HARLESTON TOWN won 5-3 away at Fakenham Town Reserves. Harleston returned to league action for the first time since November and made the long trip to bottom club Fakenham Reserves knowing they had a tough task ahead, with the hosts first team without a fixture.

HARLESTON TOWN won 5-3 away at Fakenham Town Reserves.

Harleston returned to league action for the first time since November and made the long trip to bottom club Fakenham Reserves knowing they had a tough task ahead, with the hosts first team without a fixture.

The game started at a high tempo with Fakenham making use of their large pitch to knock the ball about well and have the best of the early exchanges.

However with only ten minutes played and with their first real attack, Harleston took the lead. Dan Burrett raced clear of the Fakenham defence before unselfishly squaring the ball to Fionn Goodwin Wright to fire home the opener.

Harleston doubled their advantage shortly after when the Fakenham goalkeeper's poor clearance fell straight to David Norman who smashed in Harleston's second.

It looked like Harleston would push on from here; however, Fakenham hit back and began to put Harleston under a period of sustained pressure and deservedly pulled a goal back on the half hour mark with a well taken volley from the edge of the box. Fakenham continued to put the visitors under pressure but it was Town who scored again on the stroke of half time when skipper Ryan London headed in from a corner.

Harleston began the second half brightly and soon found themselves 4-1 up when Andre Novak was allowed time and space to travel with the ball before finishing well.

Harleston now looked in control and almost added a fifth when a fantastic team move resulted in Normans header coming back off the post.

Fakenham, however were given a lifeline when they hit back with another long range effort.

Harleston were now looking nervy as Fakenham began to pile forward, with half an hour remaining the Ghosts bought themselves to within a goal of the visitors with their third goal of the game, once more coming from outside the box!

Harleston weathered a Fakenham storm for the next ten minutes but began to look very dangerous on the counter with Dan Burrett, Jake Imrie and Fionn Goodwin Wright all missing good chances to wrap the game up.

Harleston were battling hard for every ball, showing fantastic determination and frustrating Fakenham. With only a minute remaining the excellent James Trudgill looked to be heading to the corner before bursting into the box and teeing up Fionn Goodwin Wright who finished well to kill the game off and extend Harlestons winning run to nine matches.

Man Of The Match: James Trudgill for an excellent action packed performance in the middle of the park

HARLESTON TOWN RESERVES drew 3-3 at home to Sole Bay Reserves. Harleston reserves grabbed only their third point of the season with a good display against Sole Bay. Daniel Philpott bagging a brace for Town.