Great weekend for Needham

THE demise of King Lynn FC this week has seen the Linnet's reserves records expunged from the Ridgeons Premier Division with some winners and losers. Winners from it were CRC, Ely City & Newmarket who all lost to The Linnet's while losers include Leiston and Needham Market who both had big wins removed from their statistics.

On the field it was a good weekend for leaders Needham Market as they gained at least two points on the chasing pack. They halted Wisbech Town's 10 match unbeaten run as they went nap at Bloomfields and were the only side in the top four to take maximum points. An own goal from Cousins gave the home side the lead and Hilton made it two at the break, a Parker brace and one from Phillips in the second half saw them comfortably home.

CRC missed the opportunity to go top in the readjusted league table as they played out a 1-1 draw at Walmer Road to remain one point adrift of Needham but with two games in hand.

The result may well prove costly for the home side who missed the opportunity to gain ground and they remain in seventh spot, the draw means they cannot catch the top four by winning their games in hand. It was all square with ten minutes left and Stone looked to have grabbed the home side three points as he put The Royals ahead but Patrick produced a last gasp equaliser.

Third placed Leiston lost again to slip further behind the top two as victors Mildenhall moved into 6th place with this hard earned win. Sands gave the home side an early lead but Cunningham levelled it before the break. The winner came from Substitute Cooper who looked to have lost control but regained possession to hit what proved to be the winner.

4th placed Stanway were on the road again looking to build on a big midweek win and extend their unbeaten run to four. Home side Wroxham were also midweek winners and this goal-less draw saw them move into the top ten with at least three games in hand over the leading pack although wins from all those games would not see them break into the leading group.

Felixstowe & Walton moved into 5th as they reversed their opening day fixture grabbing the winner with over five minutes of added on time played against a Norwich United side that looked worth a share of the points. Wright gave the Seasiders an early lead but Blythe pegged them back before the break and it looked to be heading for a draw when substitute McKenzie scored from 40 yards with Nower stranded out of his area.

Biggest winners of the day were Debenham LC who themselves had been heavily beaten the previous week. They maintained their ninth spot after smashing six past new basement club Harwich & Parkeston who look doomed this season despite playing decent football but lacking a cutting edge up front and leaking goals at the other end. 2-0 down at the break through goals from Allen and Powling they were reduced to ten men when Springett saw a straight red just before the interval. The home side took full advantage with Jopling adding to Deacons second half hat-trick to make it 6-0.

Newmarket moved up three into 12th place with a big win over a Dereham side that had seen a resurgence of form in recent weeks. Goal-less at the break the visitors were dominating until Grainger scored with a 20 yard volley against the run of play and the home side took control with further goals from Olive and & Drake to give them a hard earned three points.

A strengthened Histon side hit seven past Hadleigh a month ago at the Glassworld Stadium but there was no repeat here as the sides played out a tame 1-1 draw. It cost the home side one place and the visitors three in the table. The game looked to be heading for a goal-less draw until Cowan grabbed what appeared to be an 85th minute winner for Hadleigh but in the liveliest five minutes of the game Leabon converted when Benstead could only parry a free kick to level matters and earn his side a share of the points.

Haverhill Rovers picked up three much needed points but remained in 17th spot as they added to Woodbridge Town's woes with a comfortable three points against a visiting side now on a 14 match losing run and in a real fight to maintain their Premier Division status. Abbot gave Rovers the half time lead and Shipton doubled it just past the hour. Substitute Banham made it three in the closing minutes with Mayhew hitting a consolation goal for the visitors in time added on.

It was goal-less at The Unwin Ground as Ely & Walsham played out a livelier game than the scoreline suggest. Both sides had chances to win it but both 'keepers were in top form to record clean sheets. The point earned the Robins a couple of places, lifting them into 16th but cost Walsham three as they dropped to 18th in the table.