Marc Pearce on taking over as Scole United manager in the Fosters Solicitors Anglian Combination Premier Division

Marc Pearce believes his appointment as the new Scole United boss is the perfect opportunity for him to prove what he can do in management.

Pearce has taken over the reins at Ransome Avenue on a permanent basis, following the departure of former manager Lee Sturgeon after four years in charge.

The new boss has overseen back-to-back wins in the last two weekends, beating Blofield United (1-0 at home) and Acle United (3-2 away) to climb up to seventh in the Fosters Solicitors Anglian Combination Premier Division table.

Pearce, who enjoyed a successful playing career with Harleston Town, where he won the Premier Division title in 2018, Long Stratton and Scole, was Sturgeon’s assistant after hanging up his boots at the end of last season.

“It’s totally different being a manager,” he said. “Normally as assistant you make a few decisions and I helped Lee out with a few decisions, but really it comes down to the manager.

“Now it’s on my shoulders and the transition into management has come a bit sooner than I thought it would, but I’ve always loved football.

“I’ve always played football, so when I finally retired at the end of last season I wanted to do something in football.

“This is the perfect opportunity to prove to everyone that I can do it.

"I want to thank Lee as well for what he's shown me when I've been there as a player last season and as his assistant this year.

"He's a great guy and a great manager and he will probably end up being somewhere even higher as time goes on."

A Kieran Manning brace and a goal from Brad Hunt helped Scole take a 3-0 lead in last weekend's trip to Acle, before the hosts grabbed two goals back to set up a nervy finish for Pearce in the dugout.

"It was a little bit nervy on the touchline," the Scole boss said. "It was a great strike from their player for the second one but lucky for us there wasn't long left before the final whistle, and the boys got it over the line.

"We were a bit short again with players missing and we only had a bare 12. I asked the boys to put everything in like they have done lately to help us out and they were excellent.

"We were 2-0 up at half-time and controlling the game. We went 3-0 up in the second half and it looked like everything was going well and then we went a bit sloppy and they got a couple of goals back.

"It was a terrific performance from the boys and that's what we've been asking from them."

The win at Acle propelled Scole up to seventh in the table ahead of yesterday's planned visit to 14th-placed Aylsham, which was postponed due to the weather.

"We're looking positive at the moment and we want to keep carrying on what we're doing," Pearce said.

"I said to the guys we shouldn't be near the bottom, but all the games have been very tight. We've had three 0-0s and 1-0s and 2-1s and even at the weekend it was 3-2.

"It's just about the boys taking the chances they do get and obviously keeping it tight at the back when we're under a bit of pressure.

"I said to the boys this season is really about consolidating ourselves really. We're out of both cups and we haven't got anything else to play for so we might as well go for it in the league and see how high we can finish."