The Villagers are put to the sword by rampant Rovers in deadly display

Action from the Thurlow Nunn Premier clash at Stoneylands, with Long Melford's Nathan Rowe winning a header. Rowe netted a penalty later in the first half. Picture: CARL MARSTON (Image: Archant)

Long Melford were put to the sword by lethal Stanway Rovers in a one-sided Thurlow Nunn contest at Stoneylands tonight, shipping nine goals, six of them in the second half.

Rovers made it four league wins out of four, following previous successes over Thetford, Hadleigh and Newmarket, to make a big statement.

Andrew Wood bagged a hat-trick and Jamie Shaw netted a brace, while Jordan Blackwell, Marley Andrews, Tom Holdstock and Tyler Kemp were also on target.

It didn't take long for the visitors to break the deadlock. A long throw to the edge of the six-yard box, by Kemp, was not cleared, although it still needed a terrific strike by Shaw to beat keeper Ben Devlin.

Stanway's Jamie Shaw (blue), who scored the opening goal, clips the ball forward with Long Melford's Jake Jackson in close attendance: Picture: CARL MARSTON (Image: Archant)

Shaw connected with a first-time rasping low drive, the ball flying into the far corner of the net from a tight angle.

Wood doubled Rovers' lead in the 32nd minute, latching onto an astute through ball by winger Andrews to slot the ball past the onrushing Devlin.

There was a glimmer of hope for Jamie Bradbury's side, when they halved the deficit in the 42nd minute. Will Wingfield was upended in the penalty area and Nathan Rowe dispatched the ensuing spot kick.

But Rovers took just 60 seconds to restore their two-goal advantage. Target man Wood steamed in to head Blackwell's teasing cross into the roof of the net, from point blank range, to secure a 3-1 lead at the interval.

Long Melford's right-back, Dan Smith, prepares to take a throw-in, against Stanway Rovers. Picture: CARL MARSTON (Image: Archant)

Melford were blown away by four goals in an 10-minute spell early in the second half.

Blackwell curled home the fourth from distance in the 54th minute, and Shaw struck two minutes with a clinical finish.

It was 6-1 in the 61st minute, Andrews volleying home from substitute Holdstock's excellent delivery, and Holdstock then scored himself just three minutes later at the far post.

After a period of calm, Rovers returned to scoring ways with Wood completing his hat-trick with a free header on 81 minutes, before Kemp netted the ninth with a long-range screamer on 82.

Woodbridge Town hammered Walsham le Willows 5-1 tonight. Mark Ray (2), Aaron Churchyard, Ryan Keeble and Nathan Reed were on target for the Woodpeckers.