DAVID THORPE Holders Dereham made a stunning opening to their defence of the Norfolk Senior Cup when they beat Gorleston 9-3.Sam Willis, Danny Wright and Paul Atkins scored two goals each with Oli Willis, Danny Self also on the mark for the Magpies, whose other goal was a deflection from skipper Graham Barrett's corner.

DAVID THORPE

Holders Dereham made a stunning opening to their defence of the Norfolk Senior Cup when they beat Gorleston 9-3.

Sam Willis, Danny Wright and Paul Atkins scored two goals each with Oli Willis, Danny Self also on the mark for the Magpies, whose other goal was a deflection from skipper Graham Barrett's corner.

The young Greens team were 6-0 down before a mini-revival brought them three goals without reply from Chris Henderson (two) and Jordan Burkenham midway through the match.

But Dereham finished with a three-goal late burst to warn their challengers that they mean to keep the trophy at Aldiss Park.

The upset of the day was the all Ridgeons League tie at Brewers Green Lane, where Premier Division strugglers Diss were beaten 2-0 by First Division Fakenham.

Having beaten Premier high-flyers Newmarket with an injury-time goal in the FA Vase seven days earlier, it was much more comfortable for the Ghosts this time.

They were in front after only 12 minutes when Jamie McManus snapped up a chance after a shot from Paul Wheeler had been blocked.

And Diss never looked likely to recover from the Fakenham second, scored by Ben Darby immediately after the interval.

New Tangerines boss Richard Carter, having watched his charges beat King's Lynn Reserves in his first game, has since overseen seven successive defeats - despite signing 15 players.

Yarmouth goalkeeper Nick Banham celebrated his 400th appearance for the club with a clean sheet which allowed the Ridgeons Leaguers to beat Sprowston Athletic 1-0.

Youth teamer Reg Harman scored the only goal of an afternoon which started with a minute's silence for former Bloaters sectary Jack Pegg, who died last week.

Ridgeons Division One leaders Swaffham advanced as comfortably as expected with a 3-0 win over St Andrews while Anglian Combination leaders Sheringham beat Hempnall 2-0. Nelson Modeira and Elliott Kempton scored two goals each as Dersingham beat Mattishall 4-1.

The postponed derby between Blofield and Norwich United will be played on Saturday.

t New Wisbech signing Andrew Stanhope couldn't prevent the Fenmen going down 3-0 at home to Soham on a day when the Ridgeons League was decimated by the weather.

Just half a dozen matches were played in both divisions, but Wisbech, complete with the former Peterborough, King's Lynn and Boston United man, will be wishing they'd had a Saturday off.

They were a goal down at half-time, through Michael Simpson, before sub Paul Jones made it 2-0 a minute after coming on as a 66th-minute sub. Former Fenman Andy Furnell sealed the points with a third 10 minutes later.