MATTISHALL are promoted to the top flight of the Anglian Combination.They needed a point from last night's (Wednesday's) home fixture against Horsford to guarantee promotion to the Premier Division and secured all three with a 1-0 win.

MATTISHALL are promoted to the top flight of the Anglian Combination.

They needed a point from last night's (Wednesday's) home fixture against Horsford to guarantee promotion to the Premier Division and secured all three with a 1-0 win.

Corton 1, Mattishall 3

Third played fourth in a match which would end the promotion hopes of one of them.

The first real chance fell to Mattishall's Winter when he burst through and dinked the ball over the keeper but the wrong side of the post.

Clear-cut chances were few but Mattishall looked the more likely to score as they had greater possession.

Tireless running by Knights led to him opening the scoring in the 28th minute. From the edge of the box he acrobatically scissor-kicked the ball into the top right corner of the net.

Within five minutes Mattishall had the ball in the net again but Harbour was adjudged to have handled.

The second half started with Corton coming out and having a real go, and within five minutes of the restart they were on level terms when Dawes made no mistake when well placed at the back post.

Mattishall were clearly shaken and had to survive a period of pressure as they appeared to start slowly after the half-time break.

But having weathered the storm they slowly started to make an impression and on 65 minutes took the lead.

Another Hall corner found Harbour on the edge of the box and his powerful header found the back of the net.

With Corton having to chase the game the contest opened up and the pace of Winter and Hall was causing the Corton defence problems.

Both players had good opportunities to finish the game off but shot wide when well placed.

The back four of Connelly, King, Lovell and Starling protected the Mattishall goal with some stout defending and it was the visitors who looked the side more likely to score.

Further chances fell to Wooden, Hall and Winter, and it was Winter who made the game safe with a minute to go.

He bravely challenged the keeper and beat him to the ball to toe-poke home. After scoring he needed lengthy treatment for his troubles, but it ensured Mattishall all three points. But for the result from Wells, it would have given them the runners-up spot.

It left Kirkley & Pakefield and Mattishall on 55 points with last night's game to decide promotion.