Thurlow Nunn Premier Stowmarket Town 5 Kirkley & Pakefield 0 Stowmarket Town recorded their biggest win of 2019 so far with a 5-0 thrashing of Kirkley & Pakefield, writes Alex Moss.

The goals were shared around at Greens Meadow with five different players getting on the scoresheet for the Old Gold and Blacks, including top goalscorer Josh Mayhew, who moved onto 21 goals for the season.

Ollie Canfer netted his 20th goal of the campaign, while Scott Chaplin, George Quantrell and Robbie Sweeney also found the target as Stow extended their unbeaten run to seven games.

Kirkley came into the contest just three places and four points adrift of Stow, and were one of only two sides to complete the double over Rick Andrews’ side in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division in 2017-18.

And while Stow ran out one-sided winners on this occasion, the home side were indebted to goalkeeper Callum Robinson, who made several smart saves before the deadlock was broken.

The Stow number one had to be at his best to keep out efforts from Owen French and Kyle Haylock, while his defence also made vital interventions to deny the visitors the first breakthrough.

Andrews’ men opened the scoring on 32 minutes when captain Anton Clarke’s cross reached Mayhew in the box, his header was well kept out by Adam Rix, but Chaplin was on hand to convert the rebound.

On the stroke of half time Luke Read struck the crossbar, before Mayhew doubled Stow’s lead, slotting home after Clarke had played him through on goal.

Quantrell made it 3-0 just three minutes into the second half, before Canfer reached the 20-goal mark for the season, finishing from Mayhew’s low cross on 59 minutes.

The crossbar came to Kirkley’s rescue again when Mayhew threatened a second midway through the half, and it was not until the 90 minutes were up that the fifth goal arrived, substitute Sweeney dribbling through and slotting past Rix.

Meanwhile, Stowmarket Town Reserves have won the Thurlow Nunn Reserve League title for the first time.

Craig Brown and James Graham’s men have won 17 of their 18 games in the league so far in 2018-19, and secured the title yesterday after Halstead Town lost 1-0 away to Wivenhoe Town.