DEREHAM Town, despite ending Tuesday night's home match with Ely City with nine men, won 2-1 to go third in the Ridgeons Premier Division.On Saturday they are at third-bottom Woodbridge, and on Tuesday at newly-promoted Great Yarmouth Town, who were fifth after Tuesday night's results.

DEREHAM Town, despite ending Tuesday night's home match with Ely City with nine men, won 2-1 to go third in the Ridgeons Premier Division.

On Saturday they are at third-bottom Woodbridge, and on Tuesday at newly-promoted Great Yarmouth Town, who were fifth after Tuesday night's results.

Against Ely midweek, the Magpies grabbed an early lead, Danny Beaumont netting after just one minute.

But two minutes later the Robins were level through Adam Murray.

Town's Ian Morgan was shown a straight red card in the 34th minute but Beaumont restored Dereham's lead from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute.

A second bookable offence for Ryan Foster saw the Magpies reduced the nine men in the 75th minute.

Their three wins and a draw from their opening four games see them one place ahead of Kirkley & Pakefield, who finished with eight men in their 3-1 Tuesday defeat at Wroxham. The Magpies have a better goal difference, both sides on 10 points.

Early leaders are CRC, 12 points from four games, and Leiston with 12 from five.

FC Clacton 0, Dereham Town 3

Dereham Town boss Matt Henman paid tribute to his players after they cruised to an emphatic win over FC Clacton on Saturday.

The Magpies have made an excellent start to the season and goals from Steve Harley, Kenny Reeves and Adam Smith saw off the challenge of the Essex side.

Henman hailed a good all-round team performance. “It was very important that we bounced back from the previous week's defeat in the FA Cup with a good result to continue our decent start to the league campaign.

“Clacton is never an easy place to go and the surface made it quite difficult to play the sort of football we prefer, but the lads adapted very well, defended brilliantly, and took the chances when they came.

“In the end we could have won by five or six, but we were very pleased with three goals and, just as important, a clean sheet. It was a real team performance, but I must single out Ian Morgan who, having been asked to play at centre-half due to the unavailability of four defenders, was excellent,” said Henman.

“On the day we had 11 players, all of whom can stake a claim for a regular place in the team, either injured or unavailable. So the depth of the squad is very encouraging, and the lads with the shirts are without doubt making themselves very difficult to leave out of the team.”

Henman added: “We now enter a period of two games a week, so we'll need everyone to play a part and buy into the fact of being part of a good squad capable of challenging at the top of the division.”

Henman recalled: “We had a disastrous start last season so it was really important we didn't do the same this year and fortunately we haven't.

“Once we are able to get a settled side together then I think there could be even more to come for us.”

Dereham made the faster start and could have gone in front early on but Clacton goalkeeper Paul Rutherford was smartly off his line to thwart Danny Beaumont.

The Magpies were on top but had to wait until the 36th minute to open the scoring when Harley reacted quickest inside a crowded penalty area to drill home with his left foot.

Dereham doubled their lead within 10 minutes of the restart when Reeves latched onto Smith's cross to finish well.

Matt Waters saw Shaun Marshall tip his effort over in the 57th minute as Clacton tried to gain a foothold in the contest.

But Dereham made the game safe shortly afterwards when Smith was on hand for a tap-in.

Beaumont could have put even more gloss on the scoreline late on but Clacton goalkeeper Paul Rutherford parried his effort over the bar.