Dereham Town are one win away from a return to a Carrow Road Norfolk Senior Cup final. They will learn their semi-final opponents from tomorrow night's (Friday) live draw on the Radio Norfolk sports programme which starts at 6.

Dereham Town are one win away from a return to a Carrow Road Norfolk Senior Cup final. They will learn their semi-final opponents from tomorrow night's (Friday) live draw on the Radio Norfolk sports programme which starts at 6.30pm.

They won an eight-goal quarter-final at Aldiss Park against a Thetford Town outfit which plays a Ridgeons League division below them, and go into the hat with other Ridgeons sides cup holders Wroxham and King's Lynn Reserves from the premier section and first division Gorleston.

Meanwhile, the third-placed Magpies face a tough return the league action at the weekend with a trip to championship leaders Lowestoft Town.

Dereham Town 5, Thetford Town 3

Twice the Magpies had two-goal cushions and were 4-2 up at the break with Danny Beaumont having completed a hat-trick.

Dereham made a perfect start, scoring in the seventh minute, writes Rene Kendal.

Bacon flashed the ball across the goal to Terrington, who returned it into the danger area, allowing skipper Graham Barrett to slot home from 10 yards.

Minutes later, Furlong rattled Bilham's left-hand post and Eastoe-Smith glanced a header to the right-hand post.

It was soon 2-0 with Beaumont teeing up a superbly struck shot from the edge of the area.

Thetford pulled a goal back with their first attack in the 21st minute. Mann slipped a square pass to Ryan Hayes, who fired home from just inside the box.

Thetford keeper Bilham made a fine double save to deny Bacon and then Beaumont. And Beaumont seized on a mistake by the keeper but fired inches wide. However, Beaumont soon scored Dereham's third when, after receiving Bacon's mis-hit effort following Bulhemann's ball from the back, he turned and shot home from 16 yards in the 30th minute.

Thetford made it 3-2 when skipper Crawford crossed from the right to ex-Magpie Simon Mann, who turned and crashed home from 18 yards in the 37th minute.

Bryant rounded home keeper Higgs before seeing his shot from an acute angle blocked.

Beaumont hit a Thetford post again, but he soon completed his hat-trick in the 43rd minute when he blasted home from 18 yards following Howell's fine pass.

Thetford pulled a goal back early second half and missed a good chance in the 65th minute.

With 10 minutes remaining, a scrappy game could have gone either way. Thetford were then reduced to 10 men, Greg Devlin getting his second yellow card.

In the 85th minute, Dereham registered their nap hand. Terrington gained possession from Crawford before crossing from the left to Paul Atkins, who slotted home from close range.

Dereham: John Higgs, Olly Willis, Ben Furlong, Dan Buhlemann, Jay Eastoe-Smith, Danny Beaumont, Nicky Howell, Sam Willis, Chris Bacon, Graham Barrett, Craig Terrington. Subs: Stuart Garner, George Watts, Paul Atkins, Simon Mowbray.