March fired to victory by four-goal Friend

March Town 5, Kirkley & Pakefield 1

Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Premier Division

Rejuvenated striker Jack Friend netted four times as an irresistible display from The Hares overpowered their Suffolk opponents today.

Usually so prolific, Friend had netted just once in his first seven games of the season, but made it eight in four as the Royals were brushed aside.

Three of his goals were set up by the impressive Jack Frohawk, who was superb all afternoon, and with captain Danny Emmington also having an excellent game at centre back and Jack Saunders superb in midfield, The Hares were simply too good for a team that came into the match ninth in the table, seven places above them.

The Hares lost keeper Simon Dalton to an injury in the warm-up, top scorer Craig Gillies was also not fit to start, midfielders Jack Rawson and Lewis Gibson were suspended and unavailable respectively and defender Drew Barker injured – but they'll all have to fight to get their places back after this display.

March took the lead in the 12th minute when a superb ball from defence by Emmington set Frohawk away on the right wing and he crossed superbly for the onrushing Friend to guide home.

However, the visitors levelled after 25 minutes when an unstoppable 25-yard volley by Kyle Haylock gave goalkeeper Max Filntoft no chance at all on his debut.

The home side were back in the lead four minutes before the break when Jack Saunders was fouled in the area and Friend drilled the spot kick into the top right corner.

Within 30 seconds of the second half re-start it was 3-1 when Emmington once again picked out a wonderful pass to find Frohawk on the right and he crossed for Friend to seal his hat-trick.

Six minutes later and it was a Jack attack as Saunders picked out Frohawk and he unselfishly squared for Friend to nab a fourth.

Friend then saw a 60th minute header superbly saved and Frohawk had an effort bravely headed off the line a minute later. But in the 74th minute, Frohawk finally got the goal his efforts deserved, cutting in from the right and firing home off the inside post to make it 5-1.

There were no more goals for the Hares, but they continued to dominate, with late substitute Stef Cavozzi tormenting an already beleaguered defence with his scintillating pace and going close with a shot that forced the best out of the visiting keeper.

MARCH TOWN (4-3-3, r-l): Flintoft; Garner (Green 82 mins), Emmington, Short, Alsop; Burrows, Saunders, Moxon; Frohawk (Mattless 87), Friend, Warren (Cavozzi 78). Subs (not used): Dalton, Gillies.

STAR MAN: Jack Friend - always easy to pick the man who scores four goals, but his work ethic, positioning and running was second to none.

ATTENDANCE: 150.