KEITH PEEL Fakenham Town produced the only surprise in the Norfolk Senior Cup quarter-finals. The Ghosts, tenth in Division One of the Ridgeons Football League, won 2-1 on Saturday against King's Lynn Reserves, who are tenth in the Premier Division.

KEITH PEEL

Fakenham Town produced the only surprise in the Norfolk Senior Cup quarter-finals. The Ghosts, tenth in Division One of the Ridgeons Football League, won 2-1 on Saturday against King's Lynn Reserves, who are tenth in the Premier Division. Hopes of an upset by a Lovewell Blake Anglian Combination side were dashed as Cromer and Sheringham both lost to Ridgeons League teams, respectively by 2-1 to Norwich United and 5-0 to Dereham Town. The other semi-finalists are Wroxham, who beat holders Diss Town 4-0 on Friday night. Robbie Palmer converted two penalties for Fakenham, in the 18th and 57th minutes, after Liam Forshaw had fired Lynn into a 13th-minute lead.

Goals from Jamie Hunton and Paul Cook in the last 10 minutes earned Norwich United victory at Cabbell Park, where Nicky Mace had given Cromer the lead from a 10th-minute penalty.

“It was a very difficult game, as it always is against Cromer, because they're a very good side with a lot of experienced players,” reflected United manager Paul Franklin.

“I felt we were the better team in the first half, although we came in 1-0 down. We had two or three chances before they scored, but didn't take them, which has been the story of our season so far.

“We told our players at half-time they had to score goals to prove they were the better team, and eventually the pressure told.”

Skipper Graham Barrett (2), Chris Bacon, Nicky Howell and Danny Wright netted for Dereham after Sheringham keeper Will Frazer had been sent off for a foul.

Dereham are winning many admirers as they re-emerge as a potent force playing fluent football, and manager Rob Taylor said: “We have a good, young squad of players, who are all learning.

“They all listen and take things on board, so future prospects look promising.”

The draw for the semi-finals will be made on BBC Radio Norfolk between 6.30 and 7pm on Friday.

Lowestoft Town, meanwhile, beat Woodbridge 3-1 at Crown Meadow to keep the pressure on fellow Ridgeons League Premier Division title contenders.

Gary McGee, Matty Potter and Russell Stock scored for the fourth-placed Blues, who, with three games in hand, are a dozen points behind leaders AFC Sudbury.

Goals from Tom English (2), Darren Bethell, Andrew Claydon, Tommy Noble and an opponent earned Sudbury a 6-0 win over Cambridge City Reserves.

From two games more, they are now five points ahead of closest rivals Needham Market, who drew 1-1 with Newmarket.

Third-placed Bury Town, who won 1-0 at Wisbech, are eight points behind Sudbury with three games in hand.

Andrew Woods scored in the 86th minute for Bury, leaving Wisbech manager Dick Creasey to lament: “We bossed the game for 75 minutes and then switched off.

“You don't get many chances against a side as good as Bury, and those you get you have to take. We didn't - and got punished.”

Leiston beat Harwich 2-1 and Ipswich Wanderers won 7-1 at Halstead in other top-flight fixtures.

Swaffham Town stay third in Division One after a 1-1 draw at Downham Town.

Yarmouth Town are fourth from bottom after a 1-0 defeat at Debenham, for whom Ian Gedney scored in the 73rd minute.

Lowestoft have been drawn against Sudbury, and Leiston against Newmarket, in the Suffolk Premier Cup semi-finals. The games are on March 21 at grounds to be decided.