Ridgeons League: Wisbech Town manager Steve Appleby admits last month's 9-0 drubbing at the hands of Mildenhall provided the catalyst for his side's stunning run of form.

The Fenmen stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight games on Saturday as a Chris Bacon double fired them to a 3-0 victory at Norwich United.

Their remarkable run of seven wins and a draw stretches back to that battering at Mildenhall and with 13 points from a possible 15 in their last five Premier Division matches, they have moved up to sixth in the table.

Appleby said: 'I'm pleased with how it's going but I'm more pleased with the response to that defeat at Mildenhall.

'We had a bit of a heart-to-heart after that game and after the things that happened on the night, it could have gone either way.

'But the lads have pulled together, showed a lot of character and that is more pleasing to me than the actual statistics.

'Sometimes you need things like the defeat at Mildenhall just to remind you what you should be doing.'

Bacon notched his 14th and 15th goals of the season against the Planters and Appleby joked: 'He's terrible isn't he?

'He's typical of what we have here. He's a humble lad who will run through brick walls for you and he appreciates his team-mates.

'It's about the whole team and we're not really into singling out individuals, but I will say he has been magnificent this season.'

Following a goalless first half at Plantation Park, Matthew Lunn turned in a rebound after Bacon's shot hit the bar to put the visitors ahead on 55 minutes.

Liam Nimmo broke clear with 13 minutes remaining and crossed low for Bacon to score with a simple tap-in.

And the prolific striker netted again two minutes later, firing in the rebound after his initial header was well saved by Ben Nower.

Dereham extended their lead at the top to five points with a 3-0 win at Newmarket.

The Magpies welcomed Kyle Downes back into the starting line-up after a lengthy injury absence and they took the lead on 12 minutes when Gary Starling's free-kick from wide on the right found its way into the net.

Starling repeated the feat from a more central position with a superbly struck effort 11 minutes later to make it 2-0.

Dereham sealed their win with a third on 64 minutes. Nicky Howell burst down the right and crossed from the byline for Sam Borrer to score from close range.

Wroxham completed a disappointing October schedule with a 2-2 draw at home to Ely.

Andy Eastaugh and Ben Thompson were on target for the hosts, but their efforts were cancelled out by James Wallis and Josh Bridgeman.

Wroxham won just one of their four league games in the month, and also bowed out of the FA Cup and the FA Vase.

Kirkley & Pakefield let a lead slip before losing 2-1 at Brantham Athletic.

Joe Clarke headed the visitors in front from close range after 10 minutes, but Josh Mayhew's long distance screamer made it all-square at half-time. Kieran Lawler beat the offside trap to score the winner for Brantham.

Gorleston failed to build on a strong start as they lost 3-2 at home to Hadleigh.

After Darren Cockrill's drive in the first minute thundered back off the bar, the Greens soon went ahead as Mitch Forbes slotted past the Hadleigh keeper.

The lead lasted just seven minutes as Oliver Canfer headed an equaliser and worse was to follow for Gorleston three minutes later as a high ball into the box was dropped by Elliott Pride and the ball hit Stuart Joplin before dropping into the net.

The Greens pulled themselves level nine minutes before the break when Kyle Howell crossed for Christy Finch to sidefoot home.

The winning goal came 20 minutes from time as Chris McLaughlin stole into the box and fired a shot into the roof of the net.

Great Yarmouth remain stuck at the bottom of the table after another defeat, losing 2-0 at fellow strugglers Wivenhoe.

In the First Division, Matt Blake's hat-trick put Thetford on course to maintain their 100pc record as they beat Halstead 5-0. Bruno Tavares and Tom Cusack were also on target for Thetford.

Richard Cornwall gave Swaffham a fifth minute lead at Debenham, but the hosts recovered to win 3-1.

Fakenham, 6-1 winners in their previous league match, crashed to a 5-0 defeat in a horror show at the morning's bottom side Stowmarket, while Downham drew 1-1 at home to Godmanchester.