Ridgeons League round-up

JUST six fixtures made it with none of the top three in League action. Leaders CRC called off their home game against Felixstowe & Walton a full 24 hours before kick-off declaring the Abbey Stadium pitch unfit to leave Seasiders manager Glenn Driver less than happy about the early decision.

Second-placed Needham Market were on Vase duty, defeating United Counties League leaders Daventry Town to move into the quarter finals of that competition.

Victory Road also fell victim to the weather with third placed Leiston calling off their game against Hadleigh United whose inactivity cost them four places in the table.

Fourth-placed Stanway Rovers failed to take advantage of the top three's inactivity along with fifth-placed Kirkley & Pakefield only picking up a point each.

Stanway travelled to Norwich United's Plantation Park with the Planters hovering just above the relegation zone and the match finished all square. Rovers broke the deadlock in a half where they had the better of the exchanges through Coleman who put his side ahead seven minutes before the break but the home side collected a deserved point with Andy Claydon finishing a flowing move with a close range header in the 57th minute.

Fifth-placed Kirkley & Pakefield saw two points slip away at Hamlet Croft as they used up one of their games in hand and had to rely on an 89th minute equaliser from Russell Stock to salvage a point after Wardley had given the hosts a 69th minute lead from the penalty spot.

Sixth and seventh-placed Mildenhall Town & Felixstowe & Walton United saw their games at Wivenhoe and CRC respectively fall victim to the weather but kept the status quo although their five point cushion was reduced to three as eighth-placed Dereham attracted the top gate of the day for their 2-1 win over Histon.

The Magpies had Kenny Reeves, who has been selected for the England under 18's schools squad, in their starting line and he proved a constant threat all afternoon. Histon took a 42minute lead into the half time break through Sparkes, but the home side raised their game in the second half. Beaumont squared the game on 67th minutes, but along with his strike partner was guilty of missing some gilt edged chances before Howell made sure of all three points with an 83rd minute winner.

Wisbech, starting the day in 12th climbed above their hosts into ninth spot with a 3-2 win at Maitlands. Without a game since December 28 the Fenmen were soon in their stride and Cubberly put them ahead from the penalty spot with Reeve adding a second before the break.

Debenham improved after the break with Gedny pulling one back before Harper restored the visitors' advantage to condemn Debenham to their fourth successive home defeat with Deacon's 90th minute goal to make it 2-3 scant consolation.

Wroxham moved into 10th place despite being on Vase duty and making progress into the fifth round with Debenham dropping to 11th on goal difference following their defeat at home to Wisbech.

Although a narrow win, the 2-1 result was a big one for Walsham Le Willows who climbed four places into 12th against relegation haunted Woodbridge Town following a run of four defeats. Tatham gave the home side a 10th minute lead and Head extended it after 65 minutes. Churchyard pulled one back for the Woodpeckers but it was not enough to extend the gap over Wivenhoe.

Haverhill's draw at home saw them climb above both Hadleigh who slipped to 14th and Newmarket 15th who were without a game.

In the only other fixture played, Ely travelled to The Royal Oak and hit five past a young and inexperienced Harwich & Parkeston. The Shrimpers had a disastrous start, conceding an own goal with just nine minutes on the clock and Fielding punished them with two more before the break. Mason made it four early in the second half and Smith hit the fifth a minute from time.

The three points were enough to see The Robins climb above Histon into 16th but left Harwich entrenched at the foot of the table. Wivenhoe lost no ground on Woodbridge with their game being postponed and remained four points adrift of the Woodpeckers in 20th place.