FOOTBALL: Wroxham eased a point ahead of Dereham in the Norfolk race for second place in the Ridgeons Premier after Leiston had sealed the championship.

On Saturday, the Yachtsmen are at home to Ely City.

Wroxham 2, Hadleigh United 1

The home defence was cut to shreds with a long hoofed ball upfield for the visitors to claim the opening goal. Duane Wright appeared to have over-run the chance as Scott Howie came out, only to spill the ball, allowing Wright to round him to slot home, writes Paul Gibson.

Wroxham then forced a couple of quick chances Ben Thompson unleashed a shot that was well saved.

Gavin Lemmon showed his class, linking up with Paul Cook, allowing the striker to shoot just wide.

From a careless Wroxham backpass, the Wroxham keeper headed away straight to Wright, who from eight yards hit the bar. At the end of a poor first half performance Wroxham were fortunate to be only one behind.

Wroxham resumed all guns blazing and equalised straight away with a stroke of good fortune. Howes' cross found Cook, who bundled forward, and the ball feel kindly for an unmarked Ross Durrant whose half-hit shot deceived all the Hadlieigh defenders and ended up in the far corner.

Wroxham stepped up their game and looked likely to add to the score before more disappointing play saw Josh Mayhew in space, and only a last-ditch tackle from Carus cleared the danger.

With the game frustrated by long balls from both sides it was difficult to see where a goal would come from.

But Wroxham won a free-kick when the lively Danny Bloomfield was fouled on the edge of area on 65 minutes. Lemmon and Danny Self both stood together to take the kick with the full-back electing to do so and he hit a cracking shot over the wall past Johnson to put the Yachtsmen 2-1 up.

Bloomfield held the ball up, followed by a great lay-off to Ross Durant, whose half-volley was brilliantly saved by Johnson.

With the game getting away from Hadleigh they made a final push and forced a corner which was taken short and layed back for Luke Reed whose long-range shot was only just over.

More pressure came in the final minutes but Wroxham held on to leapfrog over Dereham.