SOCCER: Stowmarket 3 Harwich 1. Three first half goals were enough to give Stowmarket another three Jewson League points as they maintained their good early form in order to stay in the top three of the league.

SOCCER

Stowmarket 3 Harwich 1

THREE first half goals were enough to give Stowmarket another three Jewson League points as they maintained their good early form in order to stay in the top three of the league.

The visitors arrived at Greens Meadow having lost all five of their previous league matches and their fortunes were not about to change as Stowmarket's leading scorer Stuart Jopling broke the deadlock in the 17th minute. Running on to a long through ball Jopling scored with a trade mark finish into the bottom corner to put his side on the way to another three points.

Jopling then doubled his side's lead when he converted at close range thanks to a pinpoint pass by strike partner Yeomans. Yeomans grabbed the third Stowmarket goal and at the interval there seemed no way back for the visitors.

Stowmarket with one eye on Saturday's Vase match introduced all three substitutes with Pannell, Whatling and Supple all entering the fray in the second period.

Despite several chances to extend the lead Stowmarket were unable to add to their advantage and the visitors earned some reward for their efforts when the experienced Kemp reduced their arrears with ten minutes remaining.

Mayes and Pannell both missed late chances but Stowmarket were happy to maintain their 100 per cent home league record.