There was joy and frustration in equal measure for Dereham Hockey Club on Saturday as the men staved off relegation, but the women missed out on title glory.

There was joy and frustration in equal measure for Dereham Hockey Club on Saturday as the men staved off relegation, but the women missed out on title glory.

The men's team won 3-1 at Ipswich II to preserve their Premier A Division status, but the women - who completed their fixtures last week - were denied the Premier Division title as Cambridge City won their final game of the season, beating Tunbridge Wells 3-1.

Needing victory at relegation rivals Ipswich to be sure of staying up, Dereham made a terrible start when keeper Tom Vaughan allowed a shot from outside the D to go past him. The umpire, however, ruled that the strike had been from inside the D and allowed the goal to stand.

Ipswich then had a second goal ruled out as they dominated early on.

Dereham settled and began to step up the pace. Will Edwards broke down the right and crossed for Jon Allison, whose shot was parried by the keeper, but Mike Timm followed up to draw level.

Timm then put Dereham ahead before the break, picking up a pass from Andy Lawrence inside his own half and beating four Ipswich defenders before rounding the keeper to score.

Dereham opted to try and hold their lead in the second half, with Lawrence man marking the Ipswich playmaker and Stuart Dix, Richard Timm and Ash Woodyatt providing solid defensive cover.

The plan worked perfectly as Vaughan was left with little work to do, before Dereham established a two-goal cushion. Laurie Hill's persistence was rewarded with a short corner, which was expertly converted by Mark Braybrook.

Dereham moved above Ipswich to finish fourth from bottom - a fine achievement having been rock bottom at the halfway stage with just three points.