Cromer Town 3 Beccles Town 2

Cromer played host to an in-form Beccles, a side that had won their last four games.

There was one enforced changed to the Crabs side with Matthew Jordan coming in at right back for the injured Liam Davies.

The early threat came from the visitors. Anthony Martin turned with the ball and ran towards goal but fired straight at Andy Jackson. In the fifth minute Bensley showed good strength to hold of the challenge of Shaun Cameron to get himself into a one on one position against Jackson, but the Cromer keeper stood tall to keep out the striker shot.

The hosts then began to put their own mark on the game. Simon Freemantle cut in from the left wing before dragging his shot wide. The Crabs were now playing the ball around nicely with good pace and confidence. Karl Horton had the ball 20 yards out and this called Cable into action for the first time.

The deadlock was finally broken on the half way mark of the half. An excellent forward run from Liam Landamore was picked out by his midfield partner Horton, Landamore then delivered a cross to the back post which found Dale Wilton to head home from close range.

The Crabs were now in control of the game and were looking very comfortable in possession. Matthew Eves had a pacy, driven run down the wing and delivered a cross which took a mean deflection and forced a fine reaction save from Cable.

In the 37th minute Cromer seemed to have a good shout for a penalty when the ball seemed to bounce up into the hand of the defender who then controlled it and cleared away from danger, but despite the protest nothing was awarded.

The majority of the second half was a bit of a stalemate with neither side really looking like scoring. It wasn't until the final 15 minutes that the game sparked into life. Ben Furlong had a superb chance to score just moments after being introduced to the game. After being cleared the ball, at the second attempt, was knocked back into the box,.Wilton played it to the substitute Furlong who controlled well but fired over from close range.

In the 82nd minute Cromer grabbed their second. Furlong's cross found Wilton just inside the box and it sat up nicely for the Crabs forward to fire first time into the right hand side of the net, leaving the keeper with no change.

On 87 minutes the Suffolk side pulled one back when a cross into the box was only half cleared thanks to a Jackson punch and it dropped kindly to Billy Davies who found the back of the net. Then at the end of normal time Beccles grabbed an unlikely equaliser. The initial ball in was headed away by Steve Jordan but the Crabs were unable to deal with the second cross and Martin rose highest to make it 2-2.

The late drama was not concluded just yet and there would still be one more opportunity and it went the way of the homes side. Full back Sam Applegate broke forward quickly and played the ball into the run of Antoni Fawkes. The Cromer striker then turned smartly and got goal side of his marker and closed in on the by line. He then delivered a low cross into the box which was crying out for an incoming attacker and Eves duly obliged and fired into the roof of the net from just inside the box to secure all three points for the Crabs.

It was a very exciting end to the game for the small crowd that had braved the dismal conditions. Cromer will be disappointed to have conceded two late goals that made for a very nervy ending, but thankfully they didn't prove costly as the Crabs showed great resilience to grab that vital third goal with the last meaningful kick of the game.

Credit must also be given to Beccles who having been on the back foot for a majority of the game, except for a bright spell at the beginning of the game, showed resilience of their own to get back level and seemingly take a share of the points.

The Crabs will be hoping for a more relaxing afternoon next time out when make the short trip to North Walsham (3pm), who were without a game at the weekend.

The match was sponsored by East Runton Stores.

Cromer: Jackson, M Jordan, Applegate, Cameron, S Jordan, Landamore, Eves, Horton, Matthews (Fawkes), Wilton, Freemantle (Furlong). Sub Not Used: Groves.

n WALSHAM RESERVES WIN: PAGE 60