Dereham had a comfortable victory in the long-awaited top of the table home clash against Hethersett & Tas Valley in Norfolk Alliance Division Two.

Winning the toss on a perfectly good surface, Dereham elected to field, knowing that Hethersett's strength was their batting.

Dereham welcomed back Lee Hogget from university who opened the attack with Gary Starling.

H&TV had only five on the board from the first four overs before Hoggett (3-24) broke the deadlock with a gem of a ball.

Starling joined in with more great away-swing bowling, his 10 overs conceding just 13 runs for two wickets.

The heat of the day took its toll on the pace bowlers and Dereham opted for slow pace. Spin twins Jake Anema (3-59) and Max Cheetham (2-39) ripped the heart out of the visitors' batting, taking five wickets between them, including a sharp stumping by Neil Burrage. Hethersett totalled only 136 from 42 overs.

With 49 over's to reach the total, Dereham were dealt an early blow with Duncan Hewitt lbw with the score on eight. Two more wickets followed as Anema and Jon Crisp departed for 10 runs each.

With the score on 49 for three the game was poised for a frantic ending, but the in-form opener David Lake made batting look so easy with his well-placed scoring shots.

At the other end Joe Marczewski again produced the big shots in majestic style from poor bowling. Lake ended up 62no and Marczewski 42no as Dereham raced passed the total.

Dereham's double over their promotion rivals gives them a seven-point lead.

Overjoyed at the win, skipper Hewitt said: 'Our approach to this game was second to none. Our build-up, despite midweek rain, was perfect. No one is saying the P word yet, we must keep going.'

Dereham travel to Beccles on Saturday.

Hethersett & Tas Valley: N Burett b Hoggett 4, R Matthews b Hoggett 0, M Ellis c Burrage b Starling 3, R Ellis b Anema 37, J Curtis lbw Starling 8, T Hunt b Hoggett 2, J Emeny c Hoggett b Anema 2, M Steward c Burrage b Cheetham 50, L King c Starling b Cheetham 0, P Walmsley not out 8, C Groves c Burrage b Anema 0, extras 22. Total 136. Bowling: G Starling 10-4-13-2, L Hoggett 12-6-24-3, J Anema 11.2-1-59-3, M Cheetham 9-1-39-2.

Dereham: D Lake not out 62, D Hewitt lbw Emeny 1, J Anema c Burrett b Ellis 10, J Crisp b Ellis 10, J Marczewski not out 42, extras 12. Total (3 wkts) 137. Bowling: P Walmsley 7-3-19-0, J Emeny 11-1-45-1, M Ellis 3-0-19-2, M Steward 4-0-21-0, L King 3-0-14-0, R Matthews 1-0-9-0, C Groves 0.5-0-9-0.