Phil Banyard Ridgeons League: Swaffham Town maintained a healthy gap between themselves and the bottom three with a crucial 2-0 win at home to Ipswich Wanderers.The Pedlars fielded two debutants, Nigel Julien and Ricky Muggleton, and the new boys did the trick for the home side, netting a goal apiece to set up the victory.

Phil Banyard

Ridgeons League: Swaffham Town maintained a healthy gap between themselves and the bottom three with a crucial 2-0 win at home to Ipswich Wanderers.

The Pedlars fielded two debutants, Nigel Julien and Ricky Muggleton, and the new boys did the trick for the home side, netting a goal apiece to set up the victory.

Julien netted in the 27th minute following a goalmouth scramble, although home keeper David Potter was required to save a penalty to preserve the Pedlars' lead going into half-time.

Swaffham hit the post twice after the break, before Muggleton - in his second spell with the club - also marked his debut with a goal, on 55 minutes.

But arguably the result of the day was at Aldiss Park, where Norwich United beat hosts Dereham 2-1.

The visitors went ahead on nine minutes when Martin Goulder slotted the ball home and that lead was doubled after 28 minutes, when Nathan Page produced a clinical finish.

The Magpies responded with a goal back from Craig Terrington soon after half-time and in the closing stages, Norwich's Adam Ferguson was sent off following a scuffle.

But 10-man United hung onto their lead to take the points.

Kirkley & Pakefield registered their third successive league win with a 1-0 success at Stanway.

The only goal of the game arrived in the 29th minute, when Nathan Stone scored after a dazzling run from Chris Henderson.

A disastrous first half display put paid to Lowestoft's hopes of taking anything from their game at home to Haverhill Rovers.

Gareth Thomas put Haverhill ahead on 27 minutes and 11 minutes later, Lowestoft conceded a penalty when visiting captain Marcus Hunt was fouled in the box. Blues' Russell Stock was sent off for violent conduct and Haverhill rubbed salt in the wound as Hunt scored from the spot.

Despite that setback, the 10-man Blues improved in the second half and came back into the game when Carl Poppy netted on 57 minutes. But that proved to be the home side's last clear chance as Haverhill closed the game out.

Wisbech Town slipped to their third consecutive league defeat as they were beaten 3-1 at home by Leiston. The visitors eased into a three-goal lead before James McManus pulled one back late on for the Fenmen.

Diss remain third in the First Division after crushing Great Yarmouth 5-1.

The Tangerines' Danny Partridge stole the show in the first half, finding the net four times and also being denied another when his header hit the crossbar.

With his work done, he left the field on 65 minutes, but there was no respite for Yarmouth as his replacement, Ben Deacon, made it 5-0 within a minute of coming on. There was at least some consolation for Yarmouth as Stewart Roach netted in stoppage time.

Gorleston grabbed a late equaliser as they drew 2-2 at home to Saffron Walden.

The visitors had taken a 22nd minute lead through Richard Chadwick, but John Bell levelled matters soon after half-time. Chadwick restored Walden's lead, only for Peter Lambert to head an equaliser with five minutes remaining.

Chadwick spoilt his otherwise excellent day when he was sent off during 10 minutes of injury-time as tempers on both sides flared.

Thetford's trip to Clacton and Downham's game at Halstead were both postponed.