Dereham Tn 2, Stanway Rov 0

Dereham climbed back to the top of the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division with a comfortable win against Stanway on Tuesday.

After being displaced at the top by Brantham on Saturday, Dereham made an ideal start when Nicky Howell slotted home Shaun Bammant's low cross from the left in the fourth minute.

The home side carved out another good chance in the 28th minute when Howell and Ollie Willis exchanged passes down the right but the latter's cross flew just beyond Luke Tuttle. From their next attack Bammant headed Tuttle's superb deep centre wide of the target with the goal at his mercy.

Dereham continued to look the more likely and in the 37th minute Stanway keeper Paul Rutherford produced a fine save to deny Bammant with the striker slamming the rebound against the right hand post.

Adam Smith was cautioned just before the break as the half ended with a fracas near the touchline.

Dereham pressed hard at the start of the second half but the Essex side came close in the 58th minute with home keeper Andy Wilton having to spring to his left to turn Stuart Fergus' fierce 20-yarder wide.

The Magpies then looked to have earned a penalty after Smith was upended in the box but the referee waved away the home side's appeals.

Visiting keeper Rutherford was forced into saves by Smith and Tuttle as Dereham could not turn their dominance into a two-goal advantage.

In the 85th minute a defender handled a Craig Bussens cross in the box, but Rutherford made a great save from Tuttle's well struck spot kick.

From Dereham's next attack Ollie Willis was brought down in the box. This time Scott Roberts made no mistake from the resulting penalty, drilling the ball home.

Dereham are at home to Haverhill Rovers on Saturday.