Dereham Town will be aiming to put a disappointing run of form behind them on Saturday when they return to action at AFC Sudbury.

The Magpies have drooped to fourth in the Bostik League North table after taking just one point from their previous four fixtures.

Neal Simmons side were without a fixture at the weekend and with leaders AFC Hornchurch and closest challengers Bowers and Pitsea both winning again are now 10 points off top spot and five adrift of second.

The Magpies lost 3-0 at home to Bowers in their most recent fixture on December 9 and before that drew 2-2 at Aveley, when a last minute goal saw them pegged back to 2-2, and were beaten 1-0 at home by Grays Athletic and 5-1 away by Maldon and Tiptree.

The disappointing sequence since an excellent 2-1 victory at Heybridge Swifts on November 18 means a number promotion rivals with games in hand are now in position to overhaul Dereham, so Simmons' side need to make full use of their final match before Christmas.

'No one here is getting ahead of themselves but we are still in a good position going into an important spell over Christmas when we play four times,' added Simmons. 'For us to go up automatically we probably need to go on another couple of good runs - but with the squad I have got here we are certainly capable of doing that.

'The lads have done superbly so far and in a league as competitive as this you are always going to get little spells when things don't go for you.'

The game at Sudbury is Dereham's first of a hectic 10 day spell, with neighbours Norwich United visiting Aldiss Park on Boxing Day (1pm) and Canvey Island providing the opposition on Saturday, December 30.

Dereham then have just one day of rest before visiting Soham Town Rangers on New Year's Day.

Fakenham Town, who were also without a game at the weekend, return to Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division action on Saturday with a visit to Walsham le Willows. The Ghosts then travel to Thetford Town on Boxing Day morning (11am) before a welcome home fixture against Histon on Saturday, December 30.