Ashton Fox scored his second goal in as many games to help Dereham Town to a 2-1 win over Cambridge City. 

Fox, who has returned to the Magpies on loan from Peterborough United, notched the opener on bank holiday Monday by heading home Ryan Swift's cross. 

Swift was on hand to make it 2-0 before the hosts grabbed a late consolation.

Dereham had been out of action for a month until their 6-2 thrashing of Yaxley on Boxing Day, with adverse weather conditions forcing the postponement of games at Gresley Rovers and Hinckley. 

However, the break appears to have rejuvenated Tom Parke's men, who made it back-to-back league games for the first time this season. 

They now sit 13th in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division.

An early chance saw Luke Johnson steer just wide for Dereham, while defender Richard Black made an important interception at the other end. 

Charlie Clarke then tested home keeper Joe Welsh with a well-struck effort from 20 yards out. 

However, the visitors had their breakthrough after 13 minutes, when Swift beat his man and found Fox with a neat chipped cross from the byline. 

In what was an entertaining first half, Welch made a vital save with his legs to deny Swift, while the Lilywhites' Daniel Cotton struck a powerful volley onto the woodwork. 

The Magpies had their second just after the half-hour mark, as Swift's low free-kick evaded everyone and nestled into the far corner.

Cambridge were handed a golden chance to reduce the deficit just before half-time, but Cotton ballooned his penalty way over Dereham keeper Ross Bilham’s bar, meaning the score remained 2-0 at the break.

With City pushing hard to get back into the game, proceedings became feisty as Oli Yun and Cambridge's Simon Swinton were shown yellow cards. 

Cambridge then hit the woodwork again as Bradley Battersby’s 20-yard drive clipped the top of the bar.

Louis Henman-Mason was pulling the strings for Dereham and looked to have created two glorious chances, only for the linesmen’s flag to thwart both moves.

Cambridge set up a tense finale after Cotton volleyed home a cross from the right in stoppage time, and then struck the woodwork yet again, but Dereham held on to secure all three points.