Harleston who had a strong run in last season showed their intent this season following a crushing 8-0 win over Wroxham Reserves with seven goals in the second half. The young Yachtsmen had shown some promise themselves by only allowing one goal to pass in the first period but were no match for a rampant home side in the second.
Harleston got off to a really bright start as the ball whizzed across goal in their opening attack which only needed a touch to turn it in but fortunately there was no one to apply it. The home side continued to press high with Wroxham on the back foot.
But Wroxham gained some confidence when Harry Maddison set up Cruise Nyadzayo whose dipping shot was only just over.
Ex-Dereham player Nick Howell went close for Harleston as his shot also went over.
Wroxham had a further let-off when some poor defending allowed Harleston another free shot which flashed past the upright.
Slowly Wroxham started to get in the game and a lovely diagonal pass from Shaun Taylor found Aaron Attree in space. He got forward and pulled the ball back for Danny Rogers to try first time but his effort was off target.
The away side went closer in the next attack when Attree set up Cruise Nyadzayo for a free shot about 10 yards out but his shot lacked any power to beat Howes.
Howell did likewise at the other end shooting straight at Ryan Howard.
Wroxham were now playing well only to fall behind to a sucker blow on 30 minutes. Connor Delaney turned Ashley Gray to get to the byline and cross dangerously to the near post. Wroxham should have cleared but the ball carried towards goal and squeezed under Howard in the net to give Harleston the lead.
A cracking free kick by Lewis Sturman crashed against the post and Danny Rogers’ follow up went wide as their luck was out.
A cross from Tom Rampling was also headed over.
Wroxham had an escape when referee Paul Kent initially awarded a penalty for a hand ball by Sturman but after consulting his assistant changed his mind for an earlier offside in the move. They held on until half-time just one goal behind which looked promising for the second half.
Initially it looked like they would continue to create problems when Nyadzayo had a good chance to lob over Howes but he failed to get a good connection and shot straight at the Harleston ‘keeper. After that it was all Harleston. A cross from Ollie Willis saw Delaneys’s volley brilliantly turned round by Howard. Then from the corner Jake Imrie should have converted but shot over.
It wasn’t long before Harleston doubled their lead though when on 55 minutes Scott Roberts returned a loose ball with a sweet strike that arrowed in the net.
Nathan Russell then hit the post before Kyle Downs scored to make in 3-0 on 60 minutes. With the game already up, Wroxham joint boss Damian Didwell brought on Nathan Steward who scored four times for the U18’s last week at Bungay and Ed Lawrence but all to no avail.
On 70 mins Nat Page stabbed the ball home and an unselfish pass by Downs set up Russell for a 5th. Russell completed a hat-trick before another tap in for Roberts brought up the 8th goal.
Not the start we wanted against a side who will clearly be among the front runners but there were some promising signs and with other players returning, hopefully there will be a better result against St Andrews at home on Friday night – 7.30 ko.

Hartleston: John Howes, Ollie Willis, Jake Imrie, Nat Page, Gary Starling, Ben Furlong, Nick Howell, Scott Roberts, Kyle Downs, Nathan Russell, Connor Delaney Subs: Brendan Burke, James Pipe, Adam Willis

Wroxham Res: Ryan Howard, Ashley Gray, Tom Rampling, Lewis Sturman, Harry Severn, Shaun Taylor, Aaron Attree, Danny Rogers, Harry Maddison, Cruise NyadZayo, Jack Lincoln Subs: Nathan Steward, Ed Lawrance, Damian Didwell