AHEAD of their FA Vase second-round visit to Kirkley & Pakefield on Saturday, Dereham Town fired a warning shot across the bows of Ridgeons Premier Division leaders Lowestoft as they climbed from third place into second with a 3-2 win at mid-table Woodbridge.

AHEAD of their FA Vase second-round visit to Kirkley & Pakefield on Saturday, Dereham Town fired a warning shot across the bows of Ridgeons Premier Division leaders Lowestoft as they climbed from third place into second with a 3-2 win at mid-table Woodbridge.

The hosts led 2-1 at the interval but Nicky Howell, who scored Dereham's first-half goal, stabbed home a late winner to seal Town's stirring second-half fightback.

The results saw them leapfrog Wivenhoe, to go second, nine points behind Lowestoft.

Danny Beaumont rifled home a 65th-minute penalty after Olly Willis had been upended before Howell applied the finishing touch with a scrambled effort seven minutes from full-time.

Lowestoft's attempt to turn the title race into a procession was undermined as they were kept in check by a Harwich & Parkeston side fighting to stay up.

The Magpies' Vase hosts won 3-1 at home to Wivenhoe to go sixth in the Ridgeons Premier

Woodbridge 2 Dereham 3.

After an even start Woodbridge took the lead in the 10th minute following an error by Higgs, Liam Jaques' cross from the left reached Luke Read whose low drive went under the keeper.

Lively midfielder Howell rifled home the equaliser from 12 yards after receiving Smith's square pass with Barrett starting the move in the 16th minute, writes Rene Kendal.

The Magpies should have netted again when Beaumont was put clean through but fired wide with only Ross to beat.

As play flowed home player Hart shot over the top from point-blank range.

Shortly before the break the ball fell to Jaques who swivelled and planted a low 20-yard drive into the bottom right corner of Higgs' net to give the home side an interval lead.

Jennings missed a good opportunity to increase the Woodpecekers' advantage in the 53rd minute when he raced clear before shooting straight at Higgs with the keeper able to grab the rebound.

A scuffle erupted in the middle of the park and Woodbridge's Scopes was dismissed for striking Sam Willis. In the 57th minute Olly Willis went on a long run that took him into the home box before he was clipped by defender Rae, with a penalty awarded. Beaumont converted for 2-2.

Howell was presented with a clear chance by Bacon's lay-off but shot wide. In the 72nd minute midfielder Smith tested Ross with a 25-yard drive.

The Magpies won three corners. From the third Buhlemann challenged with keeper Ross and the loose ball fell to Howell who stabbed home the winner in the 82nd minute.