Dereham coach Karen Cleaver admits her depleted team have struggled with life in the National League – but insists they are working hard to turn their season around.

Following three successive heavy defeats in Women's Conference East, Dereham showed signs of improvement in a 2-1 loss to Cambridge City last weekend. This weekend they travel to fifth-placed Ipswich and Cleaver said: 'The season so far has proved extremely hard, especially having Evie Gardner out with pregnancy and her sister Holly Allen out with injury – both players sorely missed up front.

'Unfortunately another blow for the squad has been the loss of Chloe Hobson, who is attending university in London. The travelling has proved too much and she has transferred to St Albans. The squad will continue to work hard and try to improve every aspect of their game.'

Dereham: B Colman, S Durrans, G Edwards, R Livings, H Malcolmson, G Nicholls, H Palmer (Capt), J Purser (Gk), S Savage, E Settle, S Skelton, S Trundle, H Turner.