Thurlow Nunn Premier Stowmarket Town 2 Hadleigh United 1 Stowmarket Town climbed into the top six of the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division after a hard-fought 2-1 win against Hadleigh United last night, writes Alex Moss.

With the three teams directly above them in the table not in action, the Old Gold and Blacks knew that a victory against their Suffolk rivals at Greens Meadow would push them up to sixth.

Josh Mayhew and Dave Cowley both found the target inside the opening 25 minutes to put Rick Andrews’ side in control, before Kyron Andrews pulled one back early in the second half as the visitors put in a much-improved performance after the break.

Much like the weekend, Stow did not have to wait long to find a breakthrough. Ben Golding’s sliced clearance went behind the head of Hadleigh goalkeeper Sam Mansfield and the opportunistic Mayhew was on hand to head home from close range for his 23rd goal of the season.

Mayhew then had two more headers at goal, the first being comfortably saved and the second going over the crossbar, before the hosts doubled their advantage midway through the first half.

This time Mayhew turned provider, winning the ball off Golding and setting up Cowley for an easy finish as the former AFC Sudbury midfielder opened his account for his new club to make it 2-0.

The chances dried up for the hosts after that, while at the other end Ash Veitch tested James Bradbrook in the Stow goal, after he was set up by former Stow player of the year James Ross in the final minutes of the first half.

Hadleigh rallied after the interval and pulled a goal back eight minutes into the second half. Luke Gilvray’s strike went past Bradbrook and came back off the post and Kyron Andrews fired home the loose ball to make it 2-1.

There were glimpses of Stow getting a third as Cowley broke into the box and fired a shot at Mansfield, but in the end the damage had been done in the first half as the Old Gold and Blacks held on to climb up to sixth.