Gorleston 2 Downham Town 4

Fletcher Toll scored a hat-trick as Downham Town sprang a shock by beating holders Gorleston in the Norfolk Senior Cup final at Carrow Road.

The Thurlow Nunn Premier Division side led at the break through the prolific Toll, but the game burst into life soon after the resumption with three goals within six minutes.

Gorleston levelled through George Keys on 49 minutes, but Toll struck again three minutes later before Joe Jackson made it 3-1 on 55 minutes. A late Christy Finch goal wasn’t enough for the Greens, as Toll completed his treble in time added on.

It was Downham’s first Norfolk Senior Cup win since 1966, and Isthmian League North Gorleston could have few complaints.

The first big chance came in the ninth minute when Jacek Zielonka slid in Henry Pollock and his-right foot shot came back off Duncan McAnally’s left post.

A minute later Fletcher Toll was desperately unlucky at the other end when his chipped effort from 30 yards went over Jake Jessup’s head but landed on top of the net.

Chances were few and far between in the opening stages, but Zielonka slid one just wide on 22 minutes and soon after Toll headed wide from a George Watts-Sturrock free-kick.

The Greens were edging possession, but it was Downham who grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck on 32 minutes with some excellent football. Eoin McQuaid played in Joe Jackson on the right of the area and he in turn slid it across the 18-yard box to Toll who cracked it home first time from 12 yards.

Gorleston’s Luke Johnson flashed a shot wide but Downham held firm for a half-time lead.

Their hard work looked to have been wiped out four minutes after the break when George Keys turned Zielonka’s free-kick from the right over the line. But Downham responded almost immediately, Jake Miller’s long shot touched on by Toll and wrong-footing keeper Jessup.

Three minutes later Downham were 3-1 up, McQuaid teeing up Joe Jackson who fired it home.

Gorleston’s problems deepened on 64 minutes when defender Joe Jefford was shown a straight red for a bodycheck on Toll.

Gorleston did make it a nervy finish for Downham when Christy Finch pulled one back, but an injury time penalty by Toll after Jessup pulled down Luke Rees sealed a memorable victory.

Gorleston: Jessup, Lewis Johnson, Ingram (Hall 78), Frary, Jefford, Luke Johnson, Fatadjo, Keys, Pollock (Finch 59), Zielonka (Matthews 77), Parker. Subs not used: Tann, Ashman.Goals: Keys 49, Finch 87. 

Downham: McAnally, Miller, Bird, Watts-Sturrock, Yates, Castellan, Smalls, Franks (Reed 60), Jackson (White 77, Prudence 83), McQuaid, Toll. Subs not used: Oughton, Gould. Goals: Toll 32, 52, 94 pen, Jackson 55

Att: 715