Dereham Town claim impressive win to all but confirm their safety
Dereham Town have have all but confirmed their Bostik North status Picture: Alan Palmer Photography - Credit: Archant
Dereham Town produced a magnificent team performance against AFC Sudbury at Aldiss Park to secure a 3-0 win that all most certainly ensures their Bostik North survival.
With just five games left to play they are now 15 points clear of second from bottom Mildenhall - so joint managers Adam Gusterson and Ollie Willis can start looking in the other direction, with a respectable mid-table finish now well within the Magpies' grasp.
Their task on Saturday is a tough one however, as they travel to runaway leaders Bowers and Pitsea, who are 15 points clear at the top.
Last weekend Sudbury's Callum Harrison fired an early free-kick wide before Dereham defender Lewis Johnson played out of the back to Adam Smith and his dangerous ball into the box eluded both Ryan Crisp and Joe Gatting.
As play remained open David Hinton made a strong run that took him into the box before he was stopped in his tracks as he looked to pull the trigger.
In the 40th minute Rhys Logan combined with Crisp deep on the right and the later turned inside before firing over the top. On half-time visiting forward Reece Harris drilled a low drive into the side netting as the stalemate continued.
However Dereham soon made the breakthrough after the break. Hinton's forward run was picked out by Shaun Wones' excellent long ball and the home skipper sprinted into the box and lobbed the approaching keeper to give the Magpies a 50th minute lead. Gatting then found space on the edge of the box but curled his effort wide. Logan and Hipperson combined well to create another chance for Dereham but Hinton was soon forced to backtrack and produce a vital interception as Harris homed in on goal.
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Dereham stretched their lead in the 68th minute when Logan drilled home a fine left foot drive after his initial effort had been blocked. Gatting then curled an effort wide before the win was sealed in the 86th minute when Wones climbed well to power home a header from Logan's corner. In added time home keeper Pride had to be alert to tip Holland's curler over the bar.
Dereham: E Pride, L Johnson, D Frary, D Hinton, S Wones, M Castellan, R Logan, A Smith, J Gatting, R Crisp (D Beaumont 72), A Hipperson (J Forshaw 84). Subs not used: A Plumstead, O Willis. Att: 223.
