HAVING recorded a maximum points haul from their two games over Easter in their chase for a top-three league spot, Dereham Town on Saturday travel to Needham Market looking to avenge their FA Vase defeat.

HAVING recorded a maximum points haul from their two games over Easter in their chase for a top-three league spot, Dereham Town on Saturday travel to Needham Market looking to avenge their FA Vase defeat.

The Magpies will be hoping for better playing conditions than the gluepot which contributed to their Vase exit. League form suggests a bigger challenge than those from Mildenhall and Harwich, beaten 3-2 and 6-1 respectively at Aldiss Park on Saturday and Monday. Needham Market are seventh in the Ridgeons Premier, three places and six points below the Magpies, who have played a game more.

Dereham Town 6, Harwich & Parkeston 1

DANNY Beaumont hit a hat-trick as the Magpies cruised to victory.

In a tame opening 10 minutes on Monday neither keeper was called to action before Mowbray won a corner on the right, however Smith fouled keeper Munson from Terrington's centre, writes Rene Kendal.

Harwich keeper Stace ventured forward to volley wide in the 14th minute before Ollie Willis had a 'goal' disallowed for offside.

The Essex side won two free-kicks, Calver headed Wake's first delivery wide and Mowbray headed the second away for a corner. Garner cleared Darren Bethel's first flag kick and Calver fired feebly wide from his second.

Dereham eased the pressure with Terrington blazing over from 22 yards. Within minutes the Magpies were two up courtesy of two Danny Beaumont strikes.

Garner lifted a quality ball over the Harwich defence to Beaumont on the left who moved to the by-line before netting via the inside of the left-hand post from an acute angle in the 20th minute.

Almost from the restart Smith slipped the ball between the visiting centre-backs and the in-form striker, faced with only Munson to beat, coolly slotted home his fourth goal of the Easter period.

After continued home dominance Fitzgibbon fired wide from 20 yards in the 30th minute. Dereham were soon back on the offensive but it was not until the 40th minute that they nearly increased their advantage when Mowbray rattled Munson's left-hand post from 18 yards.

However they soon netted their third when Nicky Howell scored from close range after Mowbray's initial shot had been saved.

Half time: Dereham 3, Harwich 0.

Shortly after the break Gusterston replaced Barrett. Dereham wasted a corner before Harwich gained a flag kick on the left. Wake's centre was cleared by Garner but the ball was returned to Calver who placed a 20-yard shot wide.

In the 60th minute keeper Higgs unnecessarily upended Darren Bethel when he was going nowhere in the box to earn the Essex side a spot kick. The striker got up to send the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

In the 66th minute Howell picked up a wayward pass and found Beaumont out to his right before heading the striker's centre wide from 12 yards.

Howell put Terrington clean through but the wide man made a poor connection, allowing Munson to save. Mowbray put Beaumont in with a superb long-range pass that Munson was able to gather.

The Magpies sealed victory in the 80th minute when Danny Beaumont completed his hat-trick from close range following brilliant work by Howell down the right. He twice won the ball from defenders before teeing up the striker.

Immediately after Hadleigh and Brien were introduced, Brien soon made his mark by delivering a great cross from the left for Mowbray to thump home Dereham's fifth with a cracking finish.

In the 85th minute Munson made a fine save to deny Brien as Dereham were now outclassing their opponents. It was soon six as Ollie Willis played a neat one-two with Howell. After reaching the by-line he squared for Mowbray to tap-in his second from a yard out.

Mildenhall game: Page 46