KEITH PEEL Acle have thrown down the gauntlet to their Lovewell Blake Anglian Football Combination Premier Division title rivals. Glen Self's team beat reigning champions Blofield 3-0 on Saturday to replace them at the top of the table.

KEITH PEEL

Acle have thrown down the gauntlet to their Lovewell Blake Anglian Football Combination Premier Division title rivals. Glen Self's team beat reigning champions Blofield 3-0 on Saturday to replace them at the top of the table. “If we can continue to perform like that, it will take a good side to beat us,” said manager Self. “We dictated to Blofield the way they usually dictate to other teams.

“People wrote us off at the beginning of the season, after I brought in several new faces and put a new side together, but the lads have pulled together and I'm proud of them.” Goals from Daniel Crane (2) and Lee Rathbone took Acle a point ahead of Blofield, who were unbeaten last season and whose only previous defeat this season was against third-placed Cromer.

The Crabs are seven points behind Acle, with three games in hand, after winning 8-1 against bottom team Watton.

Darren Terrington (3), Ben Thompson (3), Steven Bean and Stuart Nee were their scorers, with Stuart Matheson replying.

Sheringham won 3-1 at Brandon and are fourth on goal difference from Halvergate, who beat North Walsham 3-0 on Friday night. Darren Nichols (2) and Kristian Gleave netted for the Shannocks, with Lee Webber on target for sixth-placed Brandon.

Seventh-placed Norwich Union won 3-1 (Paul Bradshaw, James Crane and Simon Durrant) against second from bottom Attleborough, for whom Simon Mann scored.

Goals from Ben Morgan and Keiron Patel earned Wroxham Reserves a 2-1 win over St Andrews, who had taken the lead through Andy Cunningham, while Sprowston Athletic won 2-1 (Shaun Brown and Matthew Racher) against Gorleston Reserves, whose scorer was Matthew Bowles.

The game between Lowestoft Town Res and Beccles Town was postponed.

Dersingham stay 13 points clear in Division One after they were held to a 3-3 draw by bottom team Mulbarton while second-placed Mattishall drew 1-1 at Southold, who are third.

Steve Clarke (2) and Paul English scored for Dersingham, with Andrew Harvey, Dean Palmer and Simon Pritchard netting for Mulbarton.

Duncan Hewitt was on target for Mattishall, with Rory French replying.

Fourth-placed Sprowston Wanderers also drew, 1-1 (Matthew Atkins) with Wymondham Town, for whom Matthew Steward scored, while fifth-placed Wells Town won 1-0 (Philip Frary) at Hindringham.

Hindringham are sixth on goal difference from Aylsham Wanderers, who drew 0-0 at Hempnall.

Wymondham are eighth, on goal difference from Hempnall and then Loddon, who drew 1-1 at Holt.

Goals from Andrew Moody (2) and Wesley Baines earned Dereham Town Res a 3-2 win over Stalham, who replied via Daniel Osborne and an own goal, while Scole won 3-0 (Robert Tooke 2 and Simon Bartram) against Horsford.

Division Two leaders Mundford beat Norwich St Johns 2-1 (Dan Barnes and Nicky Quantrill) and, with three games in hand, are now 10 points clear of second-placed Corton, who lost 5-1 to Yarmouth Town Reserves.