SECOND team players from Dereham Hockey Club are celebrating winning promotion. Next season they will move up to Division 2N in the East Hockey Men's League after winning Division 3NE.

SECOND team players from Dereham Hockey Club are celebrating winning promotion. Next season they will move up to Division 2N in the East Hockey Men's League after winning Division 3NE.

Dereham secured promotion with an emphatic 7-0 win over an up and coming Harleston 4th XI development side.

Dereham had their work cut out with a number of absentees - captain Peter Hazel, vice-captain Tim Allen, Richard Waters and Duggy Mcleod - but saw the return of Tom Rivett from injury and replacements Martin Sexton and Chris Vernon steppd up and produced fine performances.

The opener came from an extremely well taken goal from Johnny Allison, powering the ball into the back of the net from the back of the D.

The second goal was the result of an aerial ball from Glenn Richardson which was gathered by Allison who set up Gibb to beat the keeper on a one-on-one.

Allison soon finished off a slick short corner manoeuvre involving James Nash and Mark Braybrook.

Goal No 4 came just before half-time with Allison completing his hat-trick with a penalty flick after Gibb was brought down in another one-on-one with the keeper.

Harleston still looked dangerous on the break, moving the ball well in the middle of the park but not where it mattered, in and around the Dereham defence where the experienced Wroth, Nash, Braybrook and Rivett cleared up the majority of what was thrown at them. When they put some passes together in the danger zone they were very unlucky not to score and a fine double save fromPhil Kerridge was required to guarantee a clean sheet.

Andrew Skiggs took command of the midfield and with the help of Glenn Richardson, Andy Dere and Chris Vern, Dereham were always looking dangerous going forward.

Braybrook opened the scoring in the second half with a well-taken short corner, beating two defenders and finishing with a simple tap-in.

The sixth goal was the result of some fine, fast hockey down the right involving Andrew Dere, Ian Gibb and Andrew Skiggs. The final pass from Skiggs across the goal was neatly tucked away by Martin Sexton.

A final bit of show piecing from Braybrook saw him beat a number of players before slipping the ball between his legs to the waiting Gibb, who scored his second with precision.

Securing promotion brings to an end a fine season for the Dereham side who, under the guidance of captain Peter Hazel and vice-captain Tim Allen, have put together some outstanding displays.