Acle United 3, Cromer Town 4

Acle welcomed the Anglian Combination champions-elect to Bridewell Lane on a day when the weather should have made any sort of football virtually an impossibility – but this was not the case.

Both sides earned spontaneous applause regularly throughout the game as they served up a match that had excellence written all over it and was a credit to both sides, the league and county alike.

It looked as if Acle had shot themselves in the foot by going two goals behind against a side that already has both hands on the Sterry Cup and showed why they are the outstanding side in the Premier Division this season.

Acle showed their determined streak by scoring twice to level the scores and looked set to share the spoils. But the Crabs had other ideas and again went two goals ahead.

Cromer’s goals came from the Terrington brothers and Davies and Hill.

Acle’s came from Maddison, who finished off a fine move involving Nobbs and Morgan, with their second being a Ben Morgan special, leaving Bradshaw and Davies like statues before sending a piledriver past the helpless Osborne in Cromer’s goal.

Acle’s third will rate as one of the best of the season by Daniel Foreman, who sent a wickedly bending free-kick from 25 yards into the far left corner across the face of a helpless keeper.

Acle will rue the respect they afforded their visitors early in the game, and giving themselves too much of a mountain to climb in the second half.

There is no league game tomorrow.