ACLE travelled to second-from-bottom Norwich and Coltishall Wanderers in the Alliance Premier Division knowing that a positive result would make them 100 per cent safe from relegation and put Wanderers in deep trouble.

ACLE travelled to second-from-bottom Norwich and Coltishall Wanderers in the Alliance Premier Division knowing that a positive result would make them 100 per cent safe from relegation and put Wanderers in deep trouble.

The game was delayed as one half of the wicket was soaking wet following a freak hailstorm.

Play eventually got under way at 3.35pm and the overs were reduced to 35 per side. Acle won the toss and elected to bowl.

Acle openers Newman and Rowe made life difficult for the Wanderers batsman early on, but it was a fantastic piece of fielding by Matty Short that sent Hopkins back to the pavilion, run out for seven.

Newman than began to make inroads into the Wanderers' top order, removing Ponder (7), Stebbings (2) and Williams (0), and with support from Rowe, Lee and Grady, they reduced Wanderers to 53-8.

A valiant effort at the end from Hayes made the total a bit more respectable, and the home side finished on 95 all out from 34 overs.

Paul Newman finished with figures of three for 14 from his nine overs, and Jon Lee three for 25

from eight.

Acle knew that 95 was not going to be easy to overcome, on a

wicket that was still bowler friendly, and with Wanderers overseas star Lindon Brown bowling express pace.

Acle openers Rob Porter and Adam Munford showed great courage, and battled through a hostile opening period from Brown.

The pair had put on a valuable 40 for the first wicket when Munford (16) was adjudged lbw off the bowling of Elliott.

Porter soon followed after a leading edge looped up to mid-off, again off the bowling of Elliott, but Kiwi Matty Short and young Tom Wilson displayed composure and skill beyond their years, and the pair saw Acle home to victory with five overs to spare.

Acle are now guaranteed fifth place in the Alliance Premier Division, and can now look forward to playing Vauxhall Mallards at home in the last game of the season tomorrow.

Acle Social Club man-of-the-match: Matty Short, for a fantastic piece of fielding that started the ball rolling, and a composed 33 not out under pressure to win the game for Acle.