Norwich United maintained their nine-point lead at the top of the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division table with a comfortable 3-0 home win over lowly Whitton United.

The division's bottom side arrived at Plantation Park having lost 22 of their opening 30 games and soon knew it was going to be the same old story against the reigning champions.

Jay Eastoe-Smith opened the scoring for the Planters in the seventh minute and two goals from winger Adam Hipperson – to take his tally for the season to 19 – before the break made sure of the win.

John Edridge's team can take further control of their title defence this afternoon when they travel to Suffolk to take on lowly Walsham le Willows, knowing that they also still have a game in hand on their rivals.

Stanway remain nine points adrift in second place after a 2-0 win at Swaffham, which keeps the Pedlars in the thick of the relegation battle.

It was a sixth successive defeat for Swaffham but they remain a point above the relegation zone as Thetford were also beaten at home, conceding in the 89th minute to lose 1-0 to Hadleigh United.

Those results keep Fakenham's slim hopes of survival alive. The Ghosts were without a match on Saturday but host Thetford today looking to close the six-point gap to safety. Swaffham face a big ask to end their losing streak when they travel to fifth-placed Mildenhall.

Gorleston have eased their relegation worries though, bringing an end to a run of eight games without a win with a 1-0 home victory over Brantham Athletic. Peter Lambert scored the only goal of the game in the 23rd minute at Emerald Park, scoring his 17th of the season, to lift the Greens to 14th and seven points clear of the bottom three.

Ricci Butler's team make the short trip south to Kirkley & Pakefield this morning, in an 11am kick-off against the in-form Royals, who won 2-1 at struggling Ipswich Wanderers on Saturday. Kirkley secured their fourth win on the bounce to stay sixth, coming from behind to win 2-1 at Ipswich, thanks to goals from Ross King and Ben Lewis.

Great Yarmouth Town made up ground on First Division leaders Wivenhoe Town, who were held to a 1-1 draw at a resurgent Diss Town, with Kyle Downes scoring for the Tangerines. Yarmouth won their ninth game on the spin to continue their push for promotion, Declan McAvoy scoring the only goal shortly after half-time in a narrow 1-0 triumph at Stowmarket Town.

The Bloaters host eighth-placed Diss at The Wellesley today as they look to close the 11-point gap to Wivenhoe, with a game still in hand.

King's Lynn Town Reserves stay fifth after a 2-1 win over Haverhill Borough, ahead of today's trip to Dereham Reserves, who lost 3-0 at Halstead Town. Downham let a 2-0 lead slip at home to AFC Sudbury Reserves, Connor Walker scoring both goals in a 2-2 draw and host Stowmarket this afternoon.