Dereham beat champions

Dereham 3, Needham Market 0After an even opening 20 minutes with some good football being played, Dereham rocked the newly-installed league champions by taking the lead.

Dereham 3, Needham Market 0

After an even opening 20 minutes with some good football being played, Dereham rocked the newly-installed league champions by taking the lead.

Striker Danny Beaumont challenged keeper Floyd Croll who was trying to intercept a poor back pass and had little trouble in steering the loose ball into an unguarded net.

Minutes later the Magpies came close again as Scott Roberts headed a Sam Willis cross narrowly wide.

Needham were making little impression on the Dereham goal and it was the home side who nearly added to their tally when Scott Woodgate dragged a 20-yard shot inches wide.

Dereham continued to impress after the break and it was fittingly skipper Graham Barrett, who was making his final appearance for the club, who increased the Magpies' lead in the 60th minute.

After latching onto a fine Scott Roberts through-ball the midfielder displayed his usual balance and composure to finish in clinical style.

Substitute Kenny Reeves then made it 3-0 in the 68th minute with a well-taken goal following a defence-splitting ball from Sam Willis.