MARCH Town United got back to winning ways on Saturday but it took a last gasp winner from Ashley Brand to delight the GER crowd and earn three valuable points against Long Melford. With the score at 0-0, and just three minutes of the game remaining, it l

MARCH Town United got back to winning ways on Saturday but it took a last gasp winner from Ashley Brand to delight the GER crowd and earn three valuable points against Long Melford.

With the score at 0-0, and just three minutes of the game remaining, it looked like another good Hares performance would go unrewarded.

However, Brand's cool finish gave the Hares their first win in eight games and lifted them off the bottom of Ridgeons Division One.

March manager Paul Swannell said: "We played well from the start and there wasn't one bad performance in the team."

Newly signed striker Martin Wells looked lively up front and it was his cross that allowed Ashley Brand to slot the ball past the keeper in the 88th minute.

Swannell said: "We caused them problems and I thought Martin Wells was excellent.

"Our central defence of Billy Tumblety and Darren Hurst were very solid and they allowed Harry Roe and Mark Welcher to go forward from midfield."

Full back Stuart Warby was the first to threaten to open the scoring when his header was well saved on 15 minutes.

Ten minutes later, Wells' cross was met by Jason Dean whose header forced another good save from the visitors' keeper.

After resisting Long Melford pressure early in the second half, March pushed forward again and substitute Ashley Brand made an immediate impact.

Brand's chip shot just passed the post on 70 minutes before he saw another shot cleared off the line 10 minutes later.

However, March were rewarded with a deserved winner when Wells found Brand and he slotted the ball past the oncoming keeper.

Swannell said: "With the side we have we can compete with any team in the league when we are playing well.

"We must now try to put a run of good games together and climb up the table."

Hares: Smith, Wheeler, Hurst, Tumblety, Warby, Spendelow, Roe, Welcher, Chilton (L Brand), Dean (A Brand), Wells. Subs not used: Bryan, Bailey.

n Tomorrow, March face a tricky away match at second-placed Tiptree United. Mark Welcher, Daniel Moyes and Shaun Coulson are all doubts for the game.