St Andrews 0 Acle 1

Acle put the ball firmly back in Cromer’s court as they moved to the top of the Anglian Combinaton Premier Division again in their final game.

By defeating the Saints, despite a depleted side, Acle set Cromer the task of beating Loddon to retain the Sterry Cup. Last night’s scheduled title decider was called off becasue of waterlogging and was rearranged for Friday, May 18 at Cromer. Anything less than a Cromer win will hand the coveted crown to the Bridewell Lane men for the first time ever.

Minus Gareth Palmer and Robbie Oldham and Adam Hipperson it was always going to be a difficult game to win, writes ROBIN TUNGATE.

As early as the fifth minute Acle made their intentions felt with a fine flowing move which took them into the penalty area and worked the ball to Harry Maddison who with the cleverest of touches put the ball in the back of the net to give the visitors an early lead.

Several chances were created without having a clinical finish as Acle set about putting the game out of reach of the home side but as the game went on it was St Andrews who pushed the eager Acle side backwards towards their own goal and at times having to defend in numbers.

But this brought out the strength of the United side and by the close Acle’s management duo of Tony Ward and Martyn Sinclair were happy with three more points gained in Acle’s most successful season for several years.

Acle 4 St Johns 0

Acle demolished a good Norwich St Johns by scoring four goals without barely letting the opposition out of their own half for long periods of the game and they failed to trouble Acle’s Scott Foreman who was for most of the time a spectator in his own penalty area.

With the whole side clicking on all quarters it was difficult to see the hosts throwing away the opportunity to add to their league points tally and impressive goals difference total which could come into play when the honours are decided.

As early as the sixth minute the ball was squared across the visitors penalty area by Ian Morgan pin-pointing the run and slide of Nathan Thompson who rounded off a fine move with an equally fine finish to put Acle ahead.

Midway through the half St Johns chopped down the Acle striker and Danny Colk made no mistake of clinically putting the penalty kick in the back of the net for the hosts second.

The second half brought more of the flowing football that has become synonymous with Acle United and it was no surprise when Simeon Randall got on the end of a fine flowing move involving Palmer, Daniel Foreman and Hipperson to strike a sweet shot into the far corner giving Vincent no chance for Acle’s number three of the evening. Acle were now running ragged and it was no surprise when Acle went further ahead.

With the threat of Maddison and Thompson continually causing havoc in the visitors’ half St Johns defenders failed to pick up the clever run of Acle’s captain Luke Goreham.He came in on the blind side and scored from an excellent centre.