DEREHAM boss Matt Henman hailed the 'perfect' away performance as his team enjoyed a potentially crucial success in their quest for title glory.

The Magpies won 3-1 at fellow challengers Mildenhall with goals from Adam Smith, Luke Tuttle and Ryan Hawkins. With title rivals Brantham and Wisbech both suffering postponements on Saturday, the result sent Henman's men three points clear at the top of the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division.

Henman said: 'It was brilliant, an excellent team performance from start to finish. We changed our shape a bit to combat they way they played against us at home (when Mildenhall won 4-1), but that said I think you just have to put it down to the commitment and work rate of our players.

'It was a perfect away performance.'

With 11 games remaining, Dereham are now in a strong position to claim their first ever Eastern Counties League title, but Henman warned there was still plenty of work ahead.

'There are 11 important days left,' he said. 'Saturday was important from the point of view that Wisbech and Brantham were not playing and we had to make sure we got maximum points. Also, other teams would have been looking at that game as one where we might have dropped points.

'I think also it could have put Mildenhall out of the race, it will be very difficult for them to get back into it now.'

Dereham now face three further away games, starting with CRC on Saturday and followed by a trip to Ely on Tuesday, before they visit Godmanchester next weekend.

Henman added: 'The boys are starting to get a real belief now that they are a good side. They don't need a lot of managing or motivating at the moment.'