Steve Race on Long Stratton's winning return to Manor Road in the Fosters Solicitors Anglian Combination Premier Division

Long Stratton joint manager Steve Race wants to make their Manor Road home a fortress as they look to continue their climb up the Fosters Solicitors Anglian Combination Premier Division table.

James Bemrose, Ryan Tebble and Stephen Crowe were among the goals as Stratton returned from the Christmas break with a pleasing 4-1 victory at home to Acle United on Saturday.

It was a first home game since the end of October for Stratton, who are now up to 10th in the Premier Division table, and with their next two league fixtures both at Manor Road, Race is keen for similar performances from his side.

“It couldn’t have gone much better on Saturday,” he said. “We picked up where we left off.

“The last game scheduled before Christmas was postponed, but before that we’d won away at Beccles in the cup and played well there.

“I think we’re five points off the top four now. The points we dropped earlier in the season in those games we largely dominated and we should and could be higher in the league than what we are.

“It’s just a case now of catching up on that. We’ve had one defeat in eight and we’re getting a good bit of momentum going.

“If we can continue this form then we’ll push up that table even further.

“We want to be dominant at home. If we can repeat the performance we had on Saturday, we know how to win at Manor Road, and that sort of blood and thunder performance will stand us in good stead really.”

Stratton host sixth-placed Waveney tomorrow (1.30pm).

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, East Harling fought back from a goal down to beat Aylsham 3-1 at home in their first game of 2023.

Goals from Ryan Perry and Asa McGeachy (two) helped preserve Harling’s unbeaten home record this season.

The Greens (3rd) visit second bottom Caister tomorrow (1.30pm).

Meanwhile, Scole United rallied from 2-0 down at half-time to draw 2-2 at home with Beccles Town.

Kieran Manning and Matthew Munnings both found the target in the second half to earn a share of the points in their first Premier Division outing of the year. Scole (8th) face a trip to second-placed Wroxham Reserves tomorrow (2.30pm).