Martham went goal crazy on Saturday to record an incredible 27-0 win - but there was no big celebration afterwards.

Darren Patterson helped himself to eight goals and Oliver Woodhouse six as Martham hammered struggling Horsford at the Coronation Ground to smash their scoring record.

The win kept them on the fringes of the Anglian Combination Division Two promotion race and also provided their goal difference with a massive boost, something that could be worth an extra point come the end of the season.

But manager Troy Lacey said the victory over a nine-man visiting side wouldn’t live long in the memory.

“It’s always a shame when a side can’t put out a full side at this level,” he said. “We drew 3-3 at Horsford earlier in the season and it was a good game but obviously they had big problems raising a team for this one. They deserve credit for fulfilling the fixture but to be honest the side they brought along wasn’t the strongest and some of them didn’t look as though they wanted to be there.

“Some times when you play against teams with nine men it can be quite difficult if they get men behind the ball but they started with three at the back and three up front and it made it easy for us.

“Beforehand I told the boys to just go out there and do a good professional job and that’s exactly what they did. We didn’t want to rub the opposition’s noses in it or anything like that.”

It was 15-0 at half-time and Martham continued to play their football in the second period to add another 12 to their tally. Patterson and Woodhouse were the stars of the show, while Jack Amey weighed in with four and there were braces for Archie Smith and assistant manager Bryan Patterson from the bench. Joe Blake, James Deller, Joel Miller, Jack Green and Sam Patterson were also on target.

Martham will be expecting a rather tougher challenge when they make the short trip to play Caister Reserves on Saturday.