Thurlow Nunn Premier Stowmarket Town 4 Brantham Athletic 0 Stowmarket Town returned to action in style with a 4-0 win against Brantham Athletic at Greens Meadow, writes Alex Moss.

East Anglian Daily Times: Stowmarket Town's star striker Josh Mayhew adds another strike to his name against Brantham. Picture: BEN POOLEYStowmarket Town's star striker Josh Mayhew adds another strike to his name against Brantham. Picture: BEN POOLEY (Image: Archant)

The Old Gold and Blacks had not played for three weeks after their last three scheduled fixtures were all postponed due to the bad weather.

But Rick Andrews’ men showed no signs of rustiness as a brace from Josh Mayhew and goals from Remi Garrett and Ace Howell sealed a comfortable win.

Stow needed a late comeback to take away all the points in the reverse fixture between the two sides back in December, and it looked like another backs-to-the-wall performance would be needed as the hosts were reduced to ten men while Phill Weavers received treatment for a cut on his eyebrow in the opening few minutes.

The Stow defender came back on with a bandage wrapped round his head and Andrews’ men soon started to stamp their authority on proceedings.

East Anglian Daily Times: Remi Garrett fires in a shot for Stowmarket Town against Brantham. Picture: BEN POOLEYRemi Garrett fires in a shot for Stowmarket Town against Brantham. Picture: BEN POOLEY (Image: Archant)

Captain Ollie Brown saw a shot deflected out for a corner, before Luke Read, Garrett and Mayhew were all denied by good saves from Callum Robinson in the Brantham goal.

The deadlock was eventually broken on 33 minutes as Weavers’ cross was headed back into play at the back post and Garrett fired home for his second goal in five games since returning from injury.

Stow remained on top after scoring and Mayhew doubled the home side’s lead on the stroke of half time to increase his tally for the season to 46.

The visitors then had a spell on top and saw Jack Smith’s free kick tipped away by Craig Brand, before Craig Hughes saw his penalty come back off the post.

Stow finished with a flourish as Howell notched his seventh of the season with two minutes to go, before Mayhew doubled his account deep into added time to move onto 47 goals - just three short now of equalling the record for most goals scored in a Thurlow Nunn League top flight season.

The victory made it 10 wins in 11 games for Andrews’ side and saw them move back up to third in the Premier Division table.