Viv Thomas Two Anglian Combination Premier Division sides will battle it out this afternoon to decide who will progress to the semi-finals of the Norfolk Senior Cup.

Viv Thomas

Two Anglian Combination Premier Division sides will battle it out this afternoon to decide who will progress to the semi-finals of the Norfolk Senior Cup.

Spixworth are hosting Cromer with a 1.30pm kick-off - brought forward as the tie must be decided today, with extra time and penalties if necessary.

The winners will be at home to Norwich United, who beat Wroxham 1-0 on Tuesday, on February 13 while the other semi-final features near neighbours Dereham and Mattishall.

League form would indicate second-placed Crabs are favourites to go through as Spixworth are third from bottom - but some notable scalps have gone in previous rounds.

Spixworth knocked out cup holders King's Lynn Reserves - a Ridgeons Premier side at the time - as well as Division One side Thetford.

The two teams have not met in the league yet this season, one clash postponed because of the weather.

Cromer secretary Richard Cox said: “League positions don't really count for cup games. We fancy ourselves to win but it's not going to be easy as they will have the same motivation.

“We haven't had a game since December 12 but we have had quite good preparation, training at the sports centre. Pretty much everyone is available so squad wise we're fairly strong.”

Spixworth secretary Jeff Page felt the game would be a good advert for the Anglian Combination and added: “We will just be delighted to play a game - it has been so long! We're all geared up and ready, looking forward to it. It's a big hurdle. “We have a good team spirit and manager Midi Brown is a good motivator with a good team behind him. Most of our league games have been very close, won by one or two goals.”

It's the first year that Spixworth - formerly Norwich Union then AFC Norwich - have played at the ground next to the village hall in Crostwick Road and Page said there was good local support, which was much appreciated.

“We have fitted in the village well. We feel like a club again. There will be a lot of people from the village supporting us.”

In the Ridgeons Premier Division, Dereham host lowly Woodbridge, Mildenhall visit Debenham LC who are three places below them, Ely are at higher-placed Hadleigh and mid-table Wisbech take on visitors Kirkley and Pakefield who are fifth.

Norwich United entertain Wivenhoe, two spots below them and Planters manager Paul Chick has an unusual selection headache. After Tuesday's excellent Senior Cup victory at Wroxham he has the difficult decision of whether to change a winning side, with cup-tied Danny Tacon, George Wilson, and new signing Michael Tacon, recently joined from Gorleston also available.

In Division One there is an all-Norfolk clash as Diss Town host Swaffham, Downham take on visitors Saffron Walden, and Fakenham will hope to take the points from their bottom-of-the-table clash with Ipswich Wanderers.

Leaders Yarmouth travel to mid-table Godmanchester while neighbours Gorleston.

Thetford, who are experiencing a mixed season but have twice drawn with table-topping teams, will fancy their chances of beating visitors Whitton who are just two places above them.