Dereham Tn 0, Wroxham 3

DEREHAM boss Matty Henman believes the addition of 'strength and experience' will help his side challenge at the top of the Ridgeons League Premier Division next season.

The Magpies were beaten at home by Wroxham on Easter Monday as the Yachtsmen took a significant step towards winning the title.

Earlier in the season it was Dereham who were setting the Premier Division pace, but Henman was keen to avoid comparisons between his side and Wroxham: 'They are a different club and they've gone about building a team in a completely different way to us, so it's difficult to compare the two sides,' he said.

'I suppose the main difference is the strength and experience they have in key areas, but that's no surprise to us, we know where we need to improve.

'We've got some very talented players and with the addition of a bit more strength and experience we will be very close to being a top side.'

Dereham struggled to get going in the early exchanges, and Wroxham striker Paul Cook was unlucky to see his eighth minute header come back off the post from Ross Durrant's corner.

But just three minutes later good hold up play by Cook presented Andy Eastaugh with his first goal of the game.

The woodwork then came to the Magpies' rescue as Wroxham threatened to run riot.

Striker Ben Thompson's excellent lob over goalkeeper Chris Horton landed against a post and the same player hit the other post with a header, but the Yachtsmen were not to be denied.

Eastaugh claimed his second after 33 minutes with a free header from Shaun Howes' pin-point corner.

With 21 minutes remaining winger Gary Gilmore drilled low past Horton to finally kill off Dereham.

Dereham: Horton, Willis, Starling, Eastoe-Smith, Sommerfield, Gusterson (Howell 45), Hannant (Howard 77), A Smith, Rocastle, Borrer, W Smith (Francis 67).

DEREHAM Town travel to Woodbridge on Saturday with the aim of finishing the season on a winning run.

The Magpies suffered a double defeat over the Easter weekend, losing 4-1 at Hadleigh on Saturday before their 3-0 defeat at home to Wroxham on Monday.

They are now eighth in the Ridgeons League Premier Division – two points above Woodbridge – and manager Matty Henman is keen to avoid slipping any further.

He said: 'We've got three games left and we want to try and win them all. If we can do that we'll probably be looking at finishing sixth or seventh.'