Report by Alex Moss taken from Stowmarket Town F.C Website

In front of a crowd of 188, the Old Gold and Blacks continued their recent upturn in form to avenge the defeat to their Cambridgeshire opponents in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

Mayhew struck twice inside the opening 20 minutes to put Stow in control, before Ely hit back with a brace from Sam Goodge either side of half time to level the contest.

Stow responded with Mayhew completing his hat-trick on the hour mark to put the hosts back in front, and the striker grabbed his fourth of the afternoon 13 minutes from time to complete the win.

Stow boss Rick Andrews made two changes to the side which started in the 2-1 victory at Long Melford last weekend, as Nathan Clarke and Scott Mitchell returned to the defence and Jon Carver and Angelo Harrop dropped to the bench.

The deadlock was broken with just seven minutes on the clock, as Mayhew raced onto Luke Read’s ball over the Ely defence and lobbed visiting goalkeeper Harry Reynolds to open his account for the day.

Ely were not fazed by the early set back, though, and almost equalised two minutes later. Alex Brown’s corner found an unmarked Goodge at the far post and his header was tipped onto the bar by James Bradbrook in the Stow goal.

After shots from Amar Lewis and Ollie Brown brought saves out of Reynolds, Stow doubled their advantage on 20 minutes. Brown was tripped in the box and a penalty was awarded, which Mayhew confidently dispatched to reach the 20-goal mark for the season.

Ely continued to threaten and Ethan Clarke made a vital interception to win the ball off of Sam Reed to end a promising move, but it would be his last involvement of the afternoon as he was forced off with an injury shortly after.

The visitors hauled themselves back into the game just before half time, as the returning Nathan Clarke was penalised for a foul in the box and Goodge sent Bradbrook the wrong way from the spot to halve the deficit on 43 minutes.

Ely then got back on level terms three minutes into the second half, as substitute Nick Heap’s cross was met by Goodge at the near post and beat Bradbrook with a header into the opposite corner to cancel out the home side’s lead.

Stow rallied after being pegged back and regained their advantage on the hour mark when Mayhew completed his hat-trick from close range. Dave Cowley, making his home debut, created the chance which saw the ball fall to Mayhew in front of goal to fire past Reynolds.

With 13 minutes to go the hosts restored their two-goal cushion, and it was arguably the pick of the goals. Substitute Harrop sent Remi Garrett running down the left wing and a neat one-two between him and Cowley saw the latter cross for Mayhew to head home to make it 4-2.

There was still time for Carver to come on from the bench to make his 50th appearance for the club, and he contributed to a determined defensive effort in the final minutes to ensure Stow finished with their two-goal lead still intact.

The Robins are at home again on Tuesday evening when they entertain Haverhill Rovers. KO is 7:45pm at The Ellgia Stadium