Anglian: Neil gives Brandon crucial lift

Brandon Town took another major step towards claiming the Sterry Cup on Saturday with a 1-0 home defeat of closest rivals Sheringham.

Brandon Town took another major step towards claiming the Sterry Cup on Saturday with a 1-0 home defeat of closest rivals Sheringham.

They went into the match knowing that a repeat of their defeat to Cromer in another top of the table battle two weeks ago would have allowed Sheringham to claim pole position.

Instead they are five points clear thanks to a solitary goal from Neil Suckling. And their perfect day was completed when they came off to discover that third-place Cromer had suffered a shock home defeat to Norwich Union.

Simon Durrant, Andy Blowers and Tom Casey scored the goals which helped to ease Union's relegation worries, Cromer needing an own goal to supplement a strike from Darren Terrington in reply.

Cromer are now ten points adrift of Brandon, though with a game in hand. And fourth-placed Blofield also dropped points to lowly opposition, drawing 2-2 at Attleborough - goals from Oliver Ramsbottom and Gregory Devlin earning the hosts a vital point.

Dereham Reserves closed in on the top two in Division One by winning 3-1 at Aylsham Wanderers while Hindringham and Hempnall were being held by Scole and Wells respectively.

Leaders Hindringham scored three through Scott Gray, Mark Betts and Darren West. But they were matched by efforts from Samuel Wilby, Ben Cussons and Kevin Goldsmith.

Hempnall's 0-0 draw at Wells leaves them ahead of Dereham on goal difference alone with Hindringham two points clear from a game less.