Dereham remain in the play-off places despite losing by a solitary goal at fellow promotion hopefuls Potters Bar.

Dereham remain in the play-off places despite losing by a solitary goal at fellow promotion hopefuls Potters Bar.

The Magpies are in the sixth and final play-off place, goal difference separating them from Maldon & Tiptree, who lost 2-0 at home to Bury at the weekend.

Dereham almost went behind in the opening minute at Potters Bar after a slack attempted clearance by Elliot Pride, but the keeper redeemed himself by saving from Ben Ward-Cochrane.

Sam Borrer had Dereham's first chance, on six minutes, heading Danny Beaumont's free-kick into keeper Berkeley Laurencin's arms. There was little between the sides as they looked for openings.

Potters Bar's Cochrane and Chris Doyle both fired well off target from outside the box. Dereham won two corners which were comfortably cleared before skipper David Hinton nearly put Beaumont in with a measured ball.

But the decisive goal came in the 38th minute – Michael Murray's deep free-kick was headed back across goal by James Budden to Ward-Cochrane, who had a simple tap-in from point-blank range.

Dereham hit back, with Robbie Linford having a 25-yard drive charged down. Rhys Logan tried a long-range effort after the break as the Magpies looked for the equaliser.

In the 75th minute Sandro Costa gained possession from Matt Castellan and progressed before hitting a 25 yarder that Pride tipped over the top. he Magpies keeper then made a superb save to acrobatically palm George Nicholas's drive over the bar and with minutes remaining a brilliant block from Andy Howell denied Ryan Forde.

Potters Bar: Laurencin, Doyle, Lomas, O'Leary, Brown, Budden, Nicholas, Wambeek (Adcock 76), Murray (Lawal 86), Ward-Cochrane (Forde 80), Costa. Subs not used: Grace, Ogunsola.

Dereham: Pride, Anema, Kelleher (Kinsande 86), Linford (Exley 80), Castellan, Howell, Logan, Hinton, Jarvis, Borrer, Beaumont. Sub not used: Murphy.

Ref: R Bloy.

Att: 139.