A vastly improved Crabs side gave the Black Dogs a much closer game than the one at Cromer earlier in the season.

On that occasion they won 8-1 in the league cup, but the visitors have signed several new players in the past couple of weeks and Bungay had to defend well at times on a heavy pitch to take the Anglian Combination Division One points.

They still carved out plenty of chances — turning them into goals and comfortable wins is proving the difficult part at the moment, but this must be considered a good three points against a rejuvenated side who will beat other teams, having got their first points at Attleborough the previous week.

The opening period was even and neither side got a shot on target until the 20th minute, when Shaun Flint got on the end of a long ball from Lewis Bilham and lobbed the advancing keeper to give the home side the lead. Shortly after he put another difficult chance just too high, before Jordan Wheeler brought a good save from the keeper from John Riches' pass.

An organised Cromer put an effort just off target themselves in the 32nd minute but two minutes from half-time Bungay went 2-0 up as Josh Knights picked up the ball in midfield and drove a powerful low shot into the corner from 30 yards.

At the start of the second half Brandon Ling did well to turn a well struck free-kick over the bar, before Kevin Riches saw an effort cleared off the line. Bungay were awarded a penalty in the 53rd minute as John Riches was brought down by the keeper, but Riches himself saw the keeper save his spot-kick.

A surging run by Tom Hunter set up a chance for Wheeler, but his second bite was saved by the keeper. Four minutes later Cromer pulled a goal back as half-hit shot from Liam Amos was deflected past Ling.

Bungay should have increased their lead soon after as Dom Mirner found Wheeler in space but the keeper managed to deflect his shot just wide of the far post. Mirner and John Riches had other chances but could not quite force the ball in from closed range while Ling had to be in the right place to deal with a strong shot from Cromer.

The Crabs make the short journey to North Walsham on Saturday (2pm) looking to set the record straight after a 10-0 home defeat in early December.