Thurlow Nunn Premier Stowmarket Town 1 Great Yarmouth Town 0 Stowmarket Town moved into the automatic promotion places after edging past Great Yarmouth Town 1-0 at Greens Meadow, writes Alex Moss.

With their promotion rivals in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division without league fixtures, the Old Gold and Blacks knew that a victory would move them above second-placed Brantham Athletic on goal difference.

Josh Mayhew struck the decisive blow late in the first half to take his tally for the season to 25 goals in 21 games, smashing home from close range after Amar Lewis’ flick on had put him through on goal.

The win for Stow extended their unbeaten league run to 11 games and continued an impressive rise up the league table, having been as low as 21st only seven weeks ago.

Stow boss Rick Andrews made just one change to the side which had started in the impressive 2-0 win away at Newmarket Town on Saturday, as new signing Leon Ottley-Gooch, from higher league Bury Town, made his debut in defence in place of the injured Nathan Clarke.

Although the visitors were unable to test keeper James Bradbrook in the early exchanges, Stow’s defence was being given a thorough examination, with Jon Carver coming to the rescue to intercept the ball from Haydon Davis after the Yarmouth attacker had charged into the box.

It took until the 28th minute for a first shot to register on target for either side, and in keeping with their positive start it was Yarmouth who created it. Mitch Forbes’ left-footed cross was flicked on by Ben Lewis in the box but went straight into the hands of Bradbrook.

With the first half nearing its conclusion, Stow delivered a sucker punch to their opponents. Dave Cowley’s cross reached Amar Lewis in the box, and he headed the ball on to Mayhew in front of goal, and the Premier Division’s leading goalscorer needed no second invitation as he slammed the ball past Josh Glover in the Yarmouth goal.

The visitors responded with Aaron Sanders seeing two quick-fire efforts blocked by a determined Stow defence, as Andrews’ men went into the break with a slender one-goal lead.

Yarmouth continued to push for an equaliser after the interval but they were unable to find a breakthrough as the Old Gold and Blacks held on to record back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season, while the three points propelled them to second in the table.