Cromer Town 3 Blofield United 0

The penultimate game of the season saw second placed Cromer face third placed Blofield. The recent wet weather had caused Cabbell Park to be waterlogged but fortunately the game could be moved to Holt.

The Crabs were able to field the same side that had drawn with Acle in their previous outing. Cromer knew victory was imperative if they were to remain in the driving seat in the race for the title.

Cromer looked to make their mark on the game from the first whistle and had a lot of early possession. David Harwood delivered a teasing ball across the box, but no one was able to get that killer touch. Scott Woodcock's free kick was then blocked and came back to Matthew Eves who blasted over.

In the 23rd minute the Crabs took the lead. Antoni Fawkes headed the ball down to Dale Wilton who took the ball into the box and showed good trickery, forcing a rash tackle from the left back Mills, and the referee had a simple decision to award a penalty. Harwood stepped up and blasted down the middle of the goal.

It continued to be all Cromer. Woodcock made a run down the left and then pulled the ball back across goal and it went to Eves who couldn't get the desired connection.

Three minutes before the break it was 2-0. Eves laid the ball back to Harwood who delivered a first time cross to the back post which found Woodcock who nicked ahead of his marker to finish via the post.

Blofield did have an opportunity to grab an unlikely goal before half- time when Rushbrook rose highest to meet a Morgan cross, but the Blofield defender headed over.

In the first minute of the second half Eves pounced on to a stray pass and went through on goal, but was forced wide by Hemmings and Eves was unable to score from a very tight angle. Eves was again at the centre of the action, this time feeding Fawkes who turned and fired wide.

The threat then came from the right hand side. Left back Sam Groves found himself in an advanced position and from the edge of the box his strike had Hemmings beaten but the ball came back of the bar.

The result now seemed in very little doubt as Blofield offered very little offensively, and Cromer were still having a majority of the ball.

There was then one moment of controversy when a bad tackle from Matty Banham went unpunished. Liam Landamore didn't take kindly to it and was booked for his reaction. but Banham only received a talking to from the referee.

The Crabs put the icing on the cake in time added on. Some patient play around the Blofield box resulted in Wilton playing a clever ball inside for Eves, who had made yet another roaming run. He used his pace to get to the byline before crossing for Fawkes to finish from close range.

It was job done for Cromer. They had to win the game to put themselves back to the top of the table and each and every player put in a superb performance to ensure they got the right result.

This was a very disciplined display that saw some very good football played. From the outset there looked like there was only going to be one winner and keeper Nathan Pauling was practically a spectator throughout.

Cromer were grateful to Holt United for agreeing to host the game.

Cromer: Pauling, Harwood, Groves, Davies, Bradshaw, Landamore, Wilton, Horton, Woodcock (Freemantle), Fawkes, Eves. Subs Not Used: Curtis, Winterbone.

Richard Cox