Sprowston Wanderers 1 Harleston Town 4

Harleston returned to league action when they travelled to an in-form Sprowston Wanderers side and secured a comfortable victory, their first in Anglian Combination Division Two of 2012.

Town started the game well, looking to pass the ball quickly on a very narrow pitch.

With just five minutes on the clock Town were in front when a good free-kick from Lee West was flicked on by Ryan London into the path of Paul Bliss who fired an effort goal-bound which James Rogers bundled over the line from close range.

The lively James Rogers was released down the right and his excellent volley from 20 yards was somehow saved by the Sprowston keeper.

Midway through the half Rogers again broke down the right, delivering a fine cross to the near post where Fionn Goodwin Wright did well to get in front of his marker and volley home at the near post to put Town two up. It was virtually one-way traffic now as Town began to dominate proceedings. James Trudgill was denied by a good save from the Sprowston keeper and the impressive Powell was unlucky to see his effort go narrowly over.

The second half began in similar fashion to the first, with Town immediately on the front foot. The third goal came within 10 minutes of the restart when Goodwin Wright closed down the Sprowston keeper forcing him to kick the ball straight into the path of James Trudgill who drilled the ball back across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner from 18 yards.

Three soon became four in bizarre circumstances when the hosts wanted to make a sub – the referee did not hear their calls and let Town take a free-kick from their own half which found Godwin-Wright who smashed the ball into the net as the visitors stood motionless, believing play would be brought back so they could make the sub.

Town introduced the lively Novak and 16-year-old Declan Povey into the fray, allowing him a good opportunity to gain valuable first team experience. When the fifth goal arrived it was Sprowston that struck when a corner was drilled in low at the near post and their impressive number nine expertly volleyed the ball low into the bottom corner.