Form upset sinks Acle

Mattishall 4, Acle United 1

MATTISHALL, hot on the heels of Norfolk Senior Cup success against Ridgeons League side Diss, threw the Anglian Combination Premier Division form book out of the window by easily defeating a lacklustre Acle side who struggled to compete against the long ball, kick-and-run football played by the village side.

A killer second goal from Jason Cole added to Gary Starling's opening strikefollowed by a third from Ben Lewis handed Tony Ward's flapping side another away defeat and dented their chances of Sterry Cup success.

The defeat leaves Acle sixth, one of four teams on 20 points and three points behind the leading duo.

Mattishall, third bottom, were determined to make a good fist of it from the start in the soggy conditions, which were not helpful to Acle's type of push-and-run style of football.

Acle seemed shell-shocked by the way Mattishall set about them and found themselves a goal down after three minutes. Starling curled home a free-kick inside the far post to open the scoring.

Acle had two half-chances and they were made to pay heavily for their wastefulness when Cole was allowed to run 30 yards with the ball before scoring the hosts' second, giving Scott Foreman no chance in Acle's goal.

After 15 minutes of the second period it was curtains for Acle when Lewis hit a hopeful ball into the Acle goalmouth, deceiving Foreman between the sticks.

Acle had a ray of hope in the 82nd minute when Ian Morgan sent a header beyond Hewitt to make it 3-1.

But this was too little too late as Lewis fastened onto a long ball out of defence. Edwards cleverly stepped over the ball from a five-yards off-side position. Play was waved on by the official, allowing Lewis to slot the easiest of chances unchallenged past Foreman.

Tomorrow, Acle visit Spixworth, another Senior Cup surprise team who knocked out holders King's Lynn Reserves. Spixworth are five from bottom.