Results fell right for Acle at the weekend to boost their chances in the race for the Anglian Combination championship.They are now just one point behind leaders Sheringham, one ahead of Hempnall who have played three games more, but teams below have games in hand.

Results fell right for Acle at the weekend to boost their chances in the race for the Anglian Combination championship.

They are now just one point behind leaders Sheringham, one ahead of Hempnall who have played three games more, but teams below have games in hand.

Tomorrow, Acle entertain seventh-placed Cromer.

Acle United 1, Sprowston Athletic 0

United expected and got a difficult game against a side playing good football who contributed to an exhilarating game that had everything that local football is about, writes Robin Tungate.

Dean Crosbie kept Acle on course for honours with the only goal after 18 minutes with a clever back-heel after Ben Morgan had swung in a wicked curling corner from United's left. Crosbie reacted first when the ball was blocked in a crowded goalmouth to beat keeper Chris Hill.

Athletic's Potter had wasted a good chance by firing over Scott Foreman's bar after six minutes. Acle's Holsworth, getting back to his best, saw a good shot saved by Hill who performed with confidence against his former side.

It had looked like being a frustrating afternoon for Tony Ward's Acle side with Ritchie Fruin, Warren Nicholls, and Ben Morgan seeing chances saved by an inspired Hill or scrape the wrong side of the woodwork.

Acle created the better chances in a close game and Hill had to be at his best to deny Acle a bigger lead at the break. But the visitors failed to seriously trouble Acle's keeper Foreman apart from one cross-shot that he dealt with admirably.

Sprowston had to wait until the 35th minute for their first effort on target but Potter's header from Scott Sell's cross lacked power.

Acle dominated the chances in the second half and will be disappointed not to have registered more goals.

But manager Ward was pleased at the result and effort put in by his side and readily accepted the lone-goal victory against a side who have proved to be a bogey team in recent seasons.