Dereham III 3, Gorleston 5Gorleston's excellent form in Division Three North East of the NE14 East Men's Hockey League was maintained on Saturday as they climbed to fourth position on 30 points at the expense of Dereham's third team.

Dereham III 3, Gorleston 5

Gorleston's excellent form in Division Three North East of the NE14 East Men's Hockey League was maintained on Saturday as they climbed to fourth position on 30 points at the expense of Dereham's third team.

Gorleston welcomed back Mark Vaudin after a lengthy shoulder injury, and until he tired towards the end of the game his speed and skill on the right wing posed a constant threat in the absence of Jamie Clarkson and Adam Stone.

Gorleston took a while to settle down and it was the home side who took the advantage and scored an early goal before Neil Hudson equalised with a fine strike after 10 minutes.

Dereham then restored their lead but had no answer to Jamie Higginbotham's drag-flicked short corner shortly before half-time to equalise again.

Early in the second half Gorleston suddenly upped their game and scored three times in quick succession to seal a deserved victory.

First man-of-the-match Neil Hudson struck again to convert another Mark Vaudin pin-point cross before a well-worked five-man move, instigated by Jamie Higginbotham, saw Simon Long slip the ball home.

Then Gorleston went 5-2 up as another slick short-corner variation was tucked home by Simon again before Dereham notched a consolation third in the dying minutes from a short corner of their own.

With four more games to go Gorleston's chances of taking third spot in the league look slim after a surprise upset as Pelicans III beat leaders Harleston Magpies II.

But Gorleston hope to close the gap tomorrow when they take on North Walsham.

The visitors unexpectedly beat them at Cromer last November and Gorleston, with a full-strength side and a 2.30pm pushback, will be out for revenge.