Ridgeons League round-up

RIDGEONS LEAGUE

t PREMIER DIVISION

t Kirkley & Pakefield 3, Tiptree 2

by Stuart Baker

Kirkley roared into the attack. Danny Tacon sent a long ball into the heart of the visitors' defence and Nathan STONE snapped up another goal on three minutes.

Four minutes later at the other end, Tom English's hard cross zipped off Kirkley defender Joe JEFFORD'S shin into his own net for 1-1.

Tiptree for the next 15 minutes looked very dangerous, but on 28 minutes Kirkley restored their lead when Ian Dawson stepped over the ball and Chris HENDERSON followed up to find the corner of the net.

Tiptree again drew level six minutes from the break when a left wing cross by Clarke set up an unmarked STEVE WAREHAM for a simple goal.

The save of the half came from Tiptree keeper Rutherford to deny Henderson as he looked certain to score.

Half-time: Kirkley and Pakefield 2, Tiptree United 2

There was a late sting in the tail when the Kirkley's Chris HENDERSON put away his second goal, teed up by skipper Juston Fox with three minutes left on the watch.

Kirkley & Pakefield: R Woodcock, D Tacon, L Blois, J Jefford, J Cole, I Dawson, R Horton, J Fox, N Stone, L Harvey-Cooper, C Henderson. Subs: J Blyth, S Manning, T Grint. Ref: J Kelly (Stalham).

t Norwich Utd 1, Wisbech 2

by Norman Bygrave

In the third minute Sam Cubberley's cross was headed goalwards by Lewis Thompson but United keeper Nathan Pauling held comfortably.

Scott Cubberley was released beyond the home defence with the Planters looking in vain for offside but shot beyond Pauling's far past. In the 19th minute Wisbech's Stuart King pulled his shot wide.

Page crossed from the byline but Wisbech keeper Alex Street just beat Keith Hetherington to the ball.

The Planters failed to deal with a corner but King's shot sailed over the bar.

In the 45th minute from a left wing cross Hetherington's header hit the underside of the Wisbech bar then bounced comfortably for Street.

Half-time: Norwich United 0, Wisbech Town 0

Wisbech took the lead in the 53rd minute when a long ball into the area found Darren JIMSON in space in the area and he had time to turn and chip Pauling from 10 yards.

Immediately the Planters replied with a good run from Page, who created space on the edge of the area but curled his shot inches wide. In the 67th minute, Craig Roberts headed down for Hetherington, whose shot on the turn was deflected for a corner.

The Planters equalised with 10 minutes to go, Ferguson finding substitute Neil Bugdale wide on the left, and with his first touch he beat his marker, brought the ball into the area and hit a low, hard cross, which fellow substitute Shaun BAMMANT side-footed home from close range.

Two minutes later, Bammant squared to Hetherington, whose shot was well saved by Street. In the second minute of injury time, Billy Smith hit a swerving shot which was punched away by Pauling.

Wisbech grabbed a dramatic winner in the fourth minute of time addedon.

They were awarded a penalty, when Ferguson was adjudged to have brought down King. Scott CUBBERLEY converted to give Wisbech the points in this foot-of-the-table battle.

Norwich United: N Pauling, S Shipley, A Ferguson, L Howlett, C Roberts, W Preston, N Page, M Magee, K Hetherington, N Thompson, T Jeal. Subs: S Bammant, N Bugdale, C Beeden.

Wisbech: A Street, L Cook, J Pease, P Cousins, A Reeve, Sam Cubberley, L Thompson, S King, D Jimson, Scott Cubberley, B Smith. Subs: D Eady, S Ablett, G Setchell. Ref: Mr N Hair.

t Stanway 3, Wroxham 1

by Roy Webster

WROXHAM'S hopes of establishing a lead by the break failed despite the better chances, particularly Cook who was completely through only to shoot at the keeper.

From a free-kick on the edge of the 18 yard box Lemmon's effort flew wide. Cook spotted keeper Church Cook hit the back of the net but the flag was already up for offside.

Half-time: Stanway Rovers 0, Wroxham 0

Two goals inside a minute sparked the game to life. In the 64th minute Stanway's Sam NEWSON fastened on to a long through ball to score via a slight deflection.

Wroxham at once equalised with a free-kick on the right, met by Josh CARUS who beat Church from six yards.

Wroxham's hopes of getting on level terms evaporated in the warm spring sunshine when SAM NEWSON completed his hat-trick 10 minutes from the end.

Stanway Rovers: Church, Cooke, Bailey, Brennan, Owen, R Norfolk, Curtis, Wright, S Newson, Callander, B Newson. Subs: L Norfolk, Thorne, Sharp, Read.

Wroxham: McAnally, Halliday, Howes, Challen, Carus, Self, White, Lemmon, P Cook, Pauling, Gilmore. Subs: D Cook, D Bensley. Referee: Mr M Fisher.

t FIRST DIVISION

Brantham 0, Diss 1

by Tony Collins

Steve Best hooked a ball at hip height just over the bar at a dangerous fourth minute Ed Cousins corner. Brantham replied with Oliver Mann and Patrick Brothers just off target.

The only save of the first half was made by Matty Hill in the 14th minute when he dived to his left to push away a shot from Oliver Mann.

Two minutes later, George Wilson should have done better than float a shot from 17 yards over the bar, following a fine run by Danny Partridge. A long kick from Hill in the 20th minute caught out the home defence and Peter Hooks chippedover the goalkeeper and just wide.

Half-time: Brantham 0, Diss 0

The second half was full of controversial incidents. In the 57th minute David Grimwood went down in the penalty area and upon getting to his feet was knocked to the floor by Steve Best, who was cautioned. George Wilson made a fine goal-line clearance to keep the game at 0-0 in the 64th minute.

A minute after coming on as a substitute Ben Soanes was brought down in the penalty area by goalkeeper Ryan Bedingfield in the 67th minute, George Wilson's penalty kick was saved by Bedingfield as he dived low to his right.

Soanes played the ball back into the danger area for GEORGE WILSON to slide the ball in from a yard out under challenge from James Horsfall. Wilson was immediately sent off for swearing at Horsfall.

Brantham were awarded a penalty in the 86th minute probably for a push and Matty Hill dived low to his left to save the kick from Oliver Mann.

Result: Brantham 0, Diss 1

Brantham: Bedingfield, S Dale, Horsfall, Long, Crouch, S Mann, Brothers, D Dale, O Mann, Grimwood, Gunn. Subs: Spencer, Lawler, Wilcocks, Smith-Edwards.

Diss: Hill, Shadrack, Cussons, J Wilson, Best, G Wilson, Hooks, Berry, Partridge, Hunt, Jenkinson. Subs: Jones, Soanes, Adams. Ref: A Langsdon.