Managers reflect on East Harling and Scole United's 0-0 draw in the Anglian Combination Premier Division

Stacey Lawrence admits his East Harling side were fortunate to keep hold of their unbeaten record in the Fosters Solicitors Anglian Combination Premier Division at the weekend.

The Greens hosted Scole United on Saturday boasting four wins and a draw from their opening five league fixtures, in what is the club’s first-ever campaign at Step 7.

The two sides played out a goalless draw at Church Road, with the hosts indebted to goalkeeper Jamie Woodcock for keeping Scole at bay.

“The start to the season we’ve had has exceeded all of my expectations,” Lawrence said.

“We’ve come up as a newly-promoted side and we didn’t even win our league, we finished behind another team, in Aylsham.

“We’ve had a tough start with some tough away games, but Saturday against Scole was the first time you could say we fell below how we’ve been performing.

“I thought we were more worried about what they could do, rather than worrying about ourselves and we need to play without fear.

“On Saturday it was the first time we looked a little bit apprehensive, and it showed.

“I think we got away with one, but we’ll take a point against a solid Premier Division side like Scole.

“The performance showed the lads that we can’t have off days and we were lucky to hold on to a point.”

While the 2022/23 campaign is Harling’s first ever in the Premier Division in their 102-year history, for Scole it is a fifth consecutive season in the Anglian Combination’s top tier, having won promotion from Division One in 2017/18.

United finished in sixth place in the Premier Division last term, in what was the first completed season in three years, and manager Lee Sturgeon felt his injury-hit side slightly had the better of it against their newly-promoted opponents on Saturday.

“It was a tight game but I think in chances we edged it,” the Scole boss said. “We hit the bar a couple of times and I would say if you went back through the stats we had about 52 per cent of the ball, it was even.

“I don’t think our goalkeeper had a shot to save. He had a few crosses to deal with, but I think out of the two teams we were the most disappointed not to get the win.

“We’ve got a 17-man squad this season and I don’t think there’s been a game yet this season where we’ve had nine of those 17 available.

“We’ve got seven long-term injuries, some with ACL’s, two broken bones, and two with ligament damage.

“We’ve had young players from the reserves stepping up to get us through this period.

“I’m happy with what we’re doing, but I think by Christmas we should have a full squad again and we can show exactly what we can do, which is exciting for us.”

Tomorrow, third-placed Harling host Acle United (2nd) at Church Road, while Sturgeon’s Scole (10th) entertain Mundford at the Scole Playing Field (both 2pm).

Long Stratton’s search for a first Premier Division win of the season continues after they were pegged back twice in a 3-3 draw at Acle on Saturday.

A Sam Page brace had fired Stratton into a 2-0 lead by half-time, before Acle responded with a Ben Lewis strike and an own goal.

Stephen Crowe put Stratton back in front on 81 minutes, but substitute Daniel Lawes equalised two minutes later.

Stratton (12th) host Aylsham tomorrow (2pm).