March on the wrong side of seven goal thriller

March Town 3, Walsham le Willows 4

Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Premier Division

A poor defensive performance in the first half cost the Hares dearly this afternoon as they were beaten by high flying opposition from Suffolk.

March played into The Willows' hands in that opening period as they responded to the opposition's high press with careless passes and bad positioning, which invited pressure and led to them going in at half time trailing 4-2.

The good news for Hares fans is that they have a manager in Ash Taylor who is tactically aware. He identified the problem, fixed it and his side were unlucky not to get at least a point in the end.

Walsham started on the front foot and dominated the opening stages. Striker Jamie Smith tested home keeper Simon Dalton in the 14th minute and then opened the scoring seconds later.

March battled back and saw a Brody Warren effort fly just wide before the visitors made it 2-0 on 25 minutes, Dalton coming for a ball into the box and missing it before Kieran Twinn hooked home.

It only took the home team two minutes to reply, however, Jamie Alsop curling in a super cross from the left which was volleyed home superbly by Jack Frohawk. And three minutes later the Hares made it 2-2, when Jack Friend ran down the right and squared for midfielder Josh Burrows to equalise from 15 yards. The linesman flagged offside but his decision was overruled by referee Ashley Tyne.

But there was soon a fifth goal in just 18 minutes as Ryan Clark bent in an irresistible 25 yard free kick to make it 3-2. And six minutes later March failed to clear their lines once again and Charlie Norman drilled home a fourth.

March maybe should have got one back in first half stoppage time but Tarren Moxon curled his effort just wide and over when through on goal.

The home side were more careful, and more dominant, after the break. Charlie Saunders saw a great effort saved for a corner after 59 minutes and after 67 minutes Jamie Short got on the end of an Alsop free kick but volleyed just over.

The goal was coming and when it did it was that man Burrows again, hooking in a loose ball from the edge of the box after 71 minutes.

It looked like March would now go on and take at least a point but the heavens opened and made any kind of football tough, the closest the Hares went being a Friend shot dragged just wide five minutes from the end.

March Town (4-3-3): Dalton; Garner, Short, Emmington, Alsop; Moxon (Gibson 83 mins), Burrows, Saunders; Frohawk (Matthews 61), Friend, Warren. Subs (not used): Rawson, Miller, Mattless.

Walsham Le Willows: Stobart, Hubbard, Blyth, Harvey, McGavin, Collins, Nicholls, Clark, Smith, Twinn, Norman. Subs: Cooper, R Twinn, Cook, McKenzie-Vince.

Star man: Josh Burrows – creative, hard working, and capped it off with two goals.