BLUNDESTON MAGPIES had another even and tough game against Pakefield Reunited as the balance flowed from team to team and again Magpies just done enough to take the points with a 4-2 victory. Pakefield fielded a much stronger team than last week and there was a great fair tussle between McGee and Chong where honours ended even. Both teams started well and Watts went very close for Magpies but Pakefield gained the advantage and took the game to Magpies where Hargreaves was called upon to make several good saves. Magpies’ wide men England and Crowe were getting their centres across and Lilly was unlucky to see two separate headers cleared of the line by a defender. However, Magpies’ persistence paid of as Hargreaves’ long kick was picked up by England who centred and Delaney managed to crash the ball into the net from close in. The game was end to end and Taylor and Chong defended stoutly ably supported by Salmom and McComas. Magpies increased their lead when Taylor headed in from a corner to give them 2-0 half-time lead. Pakefield got back into the game after five minutes with a tremendous shot from just outside the box. This spurred them on and it looked very likely that they would score again as they put Magpies under a lot of pressure. With 30 minutes to go Magpies made their two changes and Hopwood who had just come on scored a real scorching goal from the right hand side of the goal much against the play. Pakefield continued to press and with 15 minutes to go scored from a corner as the ball hit the bar and bounced just over the line. This passed the advantage to Pakefield who kept on pressing and made chance after chance but found Hargreaves and his back four solid. However, the impressive Jarvis chased a weak back pass and managed to get to the ball before the keeper to score his 50th Magpie goal and seal the win. The previous week playing Pakefield Re-United Magpies won 6-2 but didn’t have the game all their own way in fact in the first half Reunited looked the better team but couldn’t turn this into goals. Magpies scored first on one of their rare attacks as in a scramble the ball fell to Watts making his return to the team who surprised the Reunited keeper with an early shot. Then just before half time a mix up between the Magpies’ keeper and a defender allowed a simple tap-in to level the game. Magpies’ players when in possession either tried to take a player on or lost it with a wayward pass as a result their good play counted for nothing. However, in the second half Hopwood passed to Peek who set Watts up to put Magpies back in the lead. Magpies then made three changes bringing on England for his first game of the season, Mawford and McComas just to freshen things up. Salmon passed down the wing to England who centred for Watts to clinically finish and bag his hat-trick. This spurred Reunited on and they began to take control and again some loose defending allowed their forwards to go through the middle to give Hargeaves no chance in goal. The game went from end to end but then England showed his class by cutting inside and scoring. Reunited who had put up a really good battle suddenly collapsed and Magpies scored two more goals, one from the impressive Watts and England grabbed his second.

CAISTER RESERVES welcomed a much improved Bungay Town Reserves side who had won their previous fixture to Allendale Road for the first of two games against them still to play. A very tight first half saw few chances for either side. The best chance was when Anton Ward skipped inside from the wing for Caister, he was brought down in the penalty area. All the players appealed and Bungay even stopped but to both teams amazement the referee waved play on. Poor decisions became somewhat of a theme to the game. The second half was just as tight but Caister thought they had taken the lead when Jamie Mansfield slotted in on 48 minutes but the linesman was stood with his flag raised to deny Mansfield who was clearly onside when the ball was played.

To put it mildly this was a Bore Draw all round. The only positives are that Owen Newman was again immense at the back putting a MOM performance, another clean sheet and another week unbeaten now taking us to nine games. Before The game Craig Sharman was named March Player Of the Month.

Important game next on Wednesday night away to Waveney. To ensure all are hard work has been worth it lets continue are run and get a result.

CAISTER VETS next match is on Sunday at home to King’s Head Loddon. This is a 2.30pm kick-off. Meet at the Caister field at 1.15pm. Team from full squad.

CATFIELD failed in their bid to retain the Wiltshire Cup with some strange decisions by the officials contributing to the defeat but on the day Caister just wanted it that bit more and probably deserved their victory. So well done to Caister. This week against Caister CC in the league cup semi-final at home (kick-off 2.30pm). Any problems contact Selfy on 07831 228007 or Bev on 07917 711596.

MK UNITED play Prostar Windows in the JB Cup this week. Let’s have a good turn out lads. Meet Magdalen 2pm sharp, call-offs Mick on 07796 331860. Team (from): L Miller, Bollington, D Kemp, D Saunders, D Pasco, J Potter, Con Oxborough, G Quinn, Z Bircham, C Ingram, D Ingram, T Manning, Stu Reeve, D Tennison, B Ingram, Ad Hogg.

MK UNITED RESERVES disappointingly lost to Prostar Windows last week. If we are to achieve anything this season then we cannot afford any more performances like this. Next game against Haven Bridge at Burgh Castle, meet ground 1.50pm, call-offs to Leo asap.

Stalham Town Reserves with their cup final postponed on Wednesday it meant they had no injury worries for the visit to Rivers Park of early season pace-setters Scole United Reserves and victory would mean Stalham couldn’t finish lower than runners-up in the league. The whole team were up for this before kick-off and continued this attitude as the match started, instantly putting their defence under pressure and a pass from Scott Charlton gave Danny Camish the first chance within two minutes, unfortunately Danny’s shot was too close to the keeper. Stalham took the lead on 10 minutes following a free kick by Scott Charlton, the ball fell to Danny whose shot deflected to the waiting Ross Charlton and he finished superbly to make it 1-0. Craig Arnold then played a neat one-two with Ross but Craig just failed to hit the target with a good shot, then Scott Charlton fired wide before creating another chance for Danny, who shot across the face of goal only missing by inches. The lead was extended on 17 minutes when Scott was involved yet again, this time sending brother Ross clear and his deft finish past the on rushing keeper had just enough strength to trickle over the line. This forced Scole into a re-shuffle which settled them down and got their own attacks going and on 21 minutes they pulled a goal back as Scole’s winger was allowed to get to the goal line and cut the ball back to give their striker and easy chance. Stalham lifted themselves and from a superb Tom Gilbert corner, Jamie Hopwood got up highest but put his header wide. Scott Charlton then hit the bar with a free kick and the rebound came out to Craig but his header went over. Stalham went in 2-1 up at half-time knowing that they really should have been in a more commanding position. The second half continued in the same manner as the first with Stalham mounting attacks at will and three minutes into it, David Willis and Tom linked up well with Tom then picking Ross out and he raced clear but hit his shot just past the post. Ross then turned provider when he made a great run and played the ball across for Danny but a defender got there first and nearly blasted into his own net, unfortunately he cleared the bar and Tom Gilbert hit the bar directly from the resulting corner. A good run from defence by Ollie Eastwood saw him put in a great cross that Danny really should have scored, but he put his header over from the corner of the six yard area. Danny’s pace caused Scole no end of problems and he outstripped the defence before sending over a ball for Ross, but it was just too far ahead of him and the chance went, then he created a chance for Craig who was unlucky to see his superb strike hit the post and rebound to safety. Matt Haystead got in on the act of setting players up and his pass to Ross was perfect and Ross’s turn was exquisite leaving a defender for dead before firing just past the post. Michael Green’s long throws caused panic and with two minutes to go he sent Danny away down the left, with Danny playing for time a defender came at him leaving a massive hole to run into and he put in a sublime pinpoint pass that the Marie Meale Photography, Man-of-the-Match, Jamie Hopwood only needed to guide in at the far post to make it 3-1 and this was the goal that would be enough to clinch promotion. Considering how the season began, it is certainly ending on a massive high with runners-up spot guaranteed and a cup final to come.