Dereham hit for six by leaders

Dereham Town were hit for six by Premier Division leaders Leiston but manager Matt Henman praised his side afterwards, saying the scoreline was not a true reflection of the game.

Dereham Town were hit for six by Premier Division leaders Leiston but manager Matt Henman praised his side afterwards, saying the scoreline was not a true reflection of the game.

He said of the 6-1 final score: “It looks like it was a real drubbing but it was an unrealistic scoreline. I was really, really pleased with the first-half performance - we made a good side look quite ordinary.

“It's probably the best we have played for a few weeks but we didn't take our chances and they scored at crucial times.

“I feel for the lads because they gave their all. We have played worse then that and won games.”

The Magpies had been hoping to kick-start a good run of league results as they had beaten their visitors in the FA Cup earlier this season but it was not to be.

It was a club record for Leiston of eight successive wins. They scored through Neil Calver with two headed goals, a superb 30-yard drive by Paul Hart, Lee McGlone latched onto a keeper's clearance, then Hart scored again from close range before Dereham scored a penalty by Danny Beaumont before McGlone completed the scoring in the 89th minute.

In fact, all top six teams had big wins on Saturday. Stanway won 7-1 at Walsham-le-Willows with Sam Newson scoring four of the goals.

His total for the season is now 22 goals from 14 league games, 13 goals more than the next highest scorer.

In third are Needham Market who beat Newmarket Town 4-2 which means they have been unbeaten in 10 league matches.

Fourth are CRC who beat Mildenhall 3-0, Debenham LC beat Wivenhoe 2-0 while Kirkley and Pakefield were 4-0 winners over Histon Reserves.

Kirkley are in a rich vein of league form and would lead the division if they won all their games in hand.

They totally dominated the game with some superb fast-flowing one-touch play. They eventually won with a brace apiece for Nathan Stone and Russell Stock with their own keeper untroubled.

Kirkley took the lead after just three minutes when Liam Harvey-Cooper won a corner taken by Lewis Blois and converted by Nathan Stone.

On 21 minutes a deep cross by Chris Henderson was punched out by keeper Luke Howard and man-of-the-match Russell Stock netted it.

The third goal came when Scott Manning set up speedy winger Chris Henderson who went past three players and passed to Stone.

The scoring was completed when Stone put in a lob and Stock out-jumped keeper Howard to put the ball in the net.

Wroxham rose up the Ridgeons Premier Division table this weekend to seventh after gaining a 2-0 win over bottom team Harwich & Parkeston.

On a bobbly pitch in blustery conditions, Wroxham were anticipating a hard game but they started well with good passing movement. A corner from Shaun Howes provided the first goal, which went in the net without another touch after the goalkeeper was distracted by the sheer numbers of players battling for the ball. Despite waves of attacks with chances for Cook, Paynter, Lemmon and Spriggs half-time arrived with no further score.

It was more even in the second half with Harwich putting in a spirited fight and keeper Howie suffering from an ankle injury so McNeil took all the goal-kicks.

Cook went close twice with chances, one just clearing the bar before Owen Paynter got free, rounded the keeper and slotted home the second goal.

Norwich United hosted Wisbech Town and the game ended in a 0-0 draw after a game of little quality with few chances. The referee controversially disallowed Jordan Blyth's 62nd-minute strike, adjudging that Tom Youngs had handled the ball after it had struck the striker after Wisbech keeper Alex Street had dropped it.

In other results in the Premier Division, Ely City beat visitors Hadleigh United 1-0, Haverhill Rovers beat Felixstowe & Walton United 3-0.

King's Lynn Reserves hosted Woodbridge Town who returned home to Suffolk with a 1-0 win.