Gorleston 2, Dereham III 1Gorleston completed a hockey hat-trick of wins in Division 3 NE of the NE14 East Men's League to climb to sixth place on 15 points with this hard-fought victory at Cliff Park on Saturday.

Gorleston 2, Dereham III 1

Gorleston completed a hockey hat-trick of wins in Division 3 NE of the NE14 East Men's League to climb to sixth place on 15 points with this hard-fought victory at Cliff Park on Saturday.

There was no doubting the superior skills and tactics of the Gorleston midfield where Johnny Mobbs, Herman Cheung, skipper Kevin MacDonald and Martyn Vaudin assumed majority control backed by MoM Mark Vaudin and Andrew Lilly.

After 15 minutes Jamie Higginbotham came of the bench to replace Tom Woodrow and almost immediately he and Russ Crawford began to cause problems. After wasting one good effort and then combining well with Russ to see the keeper brilliantly clear his goal-bound strike, Jamie finally swept home a shot on the reverse following good approach work by Simon Long and Andrew Lilly. Moments before half-time Dereham equalised.

Under floodlights the second half sparked few dangers for the Gorleston defence. At the other end Jamie shot wide then Martyn Vaudin also when well placed. Another fine move between Simon Long Russ Crawford and Jamie broke down and five minutes later the goal came when least expected.

Following a great defensive clearance by Mark Vaudin, Russ Crawford broke away down the left wing - the Dereham keeper advanced to narrow the angle but when he miskicked the ball fell kindly for Russ who slotted it home into an unmarked net.

With the Gorleston defence at its best and one great save by Barney King in goal the team held out for the final whistle.

Next the team travel to Cromer for the game against seventh placed North Walsham with a 4pm pushback. Transport leaves the Albion at 2 pm.

Harleston Magpies IV 1, Gorleston 4

GorlestoN after five minutes were awarded a penalty which Jamie Clarkson coolly converted.

With MoM Martyn Vaudin showing some great touches in midfield they got the second goal after a further 15 minutes when Malcolm Berry picked out Monty Raymond unmarked on the left side of the Harleston D and crossed for him to beat the keeper comprehensibly. Shortly before half-time the visitors were awarded another short corner. Jamie Clarkson's strike was well saved but Simon Long nipped in to convert the rebound.

Second half Simon Long picked up his second goal before a Harleston consolation.