Stowmarket Tn 5 Long Melford 0

Stowmarket Town opened up a three-point lead at the top of the Premier Division after easing past Long Melford 5-0 at Greens Meadow.

Josh Mayhew’s early opener, followed by an own goal, gave Stow a 2-0 lead at the break, before an Ollie Canfer brace and a Luke Read header in the final 20 minutes helped secure Rick Andrews’ men their biggest win of the season so far.

It was the perfect response to last week’s 3-2 defeat at Godmanchester Rovers for the Old Gold and Blacks and the victory also saw Stowmarket extend their lead at the top of the table to three points.

Stowmarket boss Andrews made three changes to the side which started at the David Wilson Homes Ground last time out, as Max Melanson, Remi Garrett and Robbie Sweeney all returned to the starting line-up, and Read and Baker dropped to the bench, with Phill Weavers away.

Mayhew opened the scoring after just seven minutes to take his tally for the season to eight, and the Stow striker was involved in the next goal on 14 minutes, as his header in the box was turned in by a Melford player.

The hosts remained on the front foot with Matt Paine having two efforts go wide of the target, before Mayhew was denied a second by Melford goalkeeper Glen Morrison.

Stowmarket struck the woodwork, and Sweeney spurned a good opportunity when played through on goal by Mayhew, but the home side’s wait for a third goal would end midway through the second half.

Sweeney swung in a cross from the left-wing which found Canfer in the box and, after his header came back off the bar, the in-form front man tucked away the rebound to continue his hot streak.

There was still time for Canfer to grab another goal, his seventh of the season, when Sweeney’s shot was cleared short of the line by the Melford defence and he powered the loose ball home to make it 4-0. The scoring was complete with five minutes to go, as Mayhew picked out substitute Read at the back post and he headed home.

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