Acle United 3, Sheringham 1ACLE'S heart to heart following the previous week's debacle at Beccles had the right result as manager Tony Ward left no stone unturned as he spelt out his requirements for the rest of the season.

Acle United 3, Sheringham 1

ACLE'S heart to heart following the previous week's debacle at Beccles had the right result as manager Tony Ward left no stone unturned as he spelt out his requirements for the rest of the season.

The response was electric as his team set out to abolish all thoughts of that last league game and proceeded to give one of their best performances of the season in turning over the Norfolk Senior Cup finalists by the same score as the game at Sheringham earlier in the season.

Ward's words certainly paid off as Acle's roller-coaster season kicked back into life with this impressive showing that keeps alive their hopes of silverware and makes teams above them aware that Acle's season is far from over.

A second-half avalanche appeared to bring the swagger back to the

pre-season Dolphin Autos Anglian Combination Premier Division title favourites.

They are heading into a crunch period, and with more of this confidence being shown Acle will have a real say in where the trophies end up in May.

Although having dropped away from the top two, there remains a real determination to show they are still in there fighting.

The illustrious visitors suffered a set-back as they crashed to defeat at Bridewell Lane as Acle enhanced their own prospects with a clinical performance spearheaded by speedy front men Chris Holmes and John Curtis.

Their pace constantly caused the sluggish visiting defenders headaches and it was Holmes who opened the scoring by getting the last touch in a goal-line scramble after both Bland and Steele had gone close with

efforts that went across the face of Palmer's goal.

It was not until the 85th minute that Acle sealed their victory when Curtis went past Banham and Eastaugh before being chopped down from behind inside the six-yard box. James Foreman stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way with a clinically taken spot kick.

To Acle's amazement, no card was shown to the visiting defender for the original tackle.

Almost immediately at the other end a last-ditch effort by Sheringham saw a penalty awarded for a hand-ball in a goalmouth scramble which was converted by Tanti, and Brewer was dismissed after he appeared to be hit by the ball.

Acle proved the most positive when John Curtis out-sped the sluggish visiting defenders and from the narrowest of angles 15 yards out unleashed a venomous volley that saw Sheringham keeper Stuart Palmer clutching at thin air as the ball thundered into the back of the net for a goal that could grace any ground and certainly good enough to win

any match.

Acle FC thanked Barry Durrant for stepping in as linesman after the unfortunate accident to referee Mr Muir on his way to the ground.

Acle Reserves did the club proud when they reached the final of the League Reserves Knock-out Cup after defeating Sheringham Reserves away from home on penalties.

With scores level after extra time Acle's Andrew Wright usually lethal from 12 yards missed his spot-kick

but was rescued by the young Scott Foreman who saved two of the hosts' kicks.

Robin Tungate