Acle 1 Kirkley and Pakefield Res 0

Title-cashing Acle entertained and defeated a strong visiting side who over the years have proved to be formidable opposition and this Anglian Combination Premier Division encounter proved to be no different.

Both sides started off like trains and play was even with perhaps the hosts just about having the slight advantage of play, writes ROBIN TUNGATE.

Acle’s Hipperson caused the big Kirkley players some uncomfortable moments as he continually sent two and three men the wrong way when making his mazy runs at their defenders.

Roberts for the visitors continually moved forward to add weight and height to the Kirkley frontline but Acle’s Ricky Hodds, Daniel Forman, Danny Colk and Gareth Palmer stood strong in support of keeper Scott Foreman and Acle even saw a penalty kick rebound out into play off the inside of the post.

It was Daniel Foreman who three times made his intentions clear by curling Acle’s corner kicks into the danger area and it was only a matter of time before he got one exactly right and sent a curling deadball kick through four Kirkley defenders that finished up nestled in the far corner to put the hosts ahead at half-time.

Acle were not about to give up their hard-fought for lead in the second half and continued to play the football that they are synonymous with but always needed to be at their best with the visitors by no means just on the pitch to make up the numbers.

Managers Tony Ward and Martyn Sinclair rang the changes to keep Acle on top and display a freshness to their game and sets them up nicely for the Mummery Cup game this week away at Norwich St Johns (kick-off 2).