Beccles Town 2, Mattishall 1

MATTISHALL kicked off on a breezy day at Beccles looking to continue their winning habit but lost for the first time since last October.

They remnain third in the Anglian Combination Premier Division, however, now a poinjt behind second-place St andrews.

Cromer lead with 40 points from 17 games, Saints have 33 from 16 and Mattishall 32 from 16, with three teams snapping at their heels.

At Beccles, long crossfield ball by Catchpole found Lovell wide on the right and his fine cross was headed over the bar by Stenner.

The visitors forced the first corner, but this came to nothing. Another Catchpole free-kick ended with Lovell blazing over and then a mix-up in the home defence allowed Stenner a scoring chance, but his effort was saved by Cable as Mattishall dominated the opening stages.

A cross by Greengrass was flicked goalwards by Remblance and Pledger was forced into making the save and as Becles came more into the game.

A free-kick from Beccles ended with the ball squirming to Remblance, whose shot was cleared off the line by Catchpole and eventually away for a goal-kick.

Remblance then worked some space down the right flank and his fine cross was headed wide by Bensley.

Another good delivery by Waterman saw a Remblance shot fly over the top, while at the other end a Lovell free-kick saw Sommerfield head wide when well placed. Anema's header was well saved by Caple low down to his left.

Mattishall took the lead when Stenner headed home a corner from Catchpole, although Lovell was on the line to make sure and it went in and the visitors went into the interval with a slender lead.

In the second half started Beccles' first chance saw Martin's attempted lob going wide. A long-range effort from Fulcher saw Cables not claiming the ball cleanly and Catchpole just failed to get to the rebound.

However, on 55 minutes Beccles were awarded a penalty for Marczewski's challenge on Remblance, and Waterman sent Pledger the wrong way from the spot.

A long-range shot by Remblance was shovelled away by Pledger and from the corner kick, after Mattishall failed to clear the ball, Roberts found time and space to find the back of the net on the hour.

From another cross, a Wigley header went just wide as Mattishall failed to create any clear openings.

Fulcher worked some space, but his shot went across the face of the goal, begging for a finishing touch as the visitors pushed for an equalizer.

A mistake by Lovell allowed Remblance a chance and his turn and shot went narrowly wide.

In the dying minutes, a long throw from Lewis was flicked on by Sommerfield, but Anema just failed to hit the target and Beccles kept the ball in the five minutes of added on time to inflict a first defeat on Mattishall since late October.

Mattishall Reserves again fell to defeat, losing 4-1 at home to Waveney.

Mattishall entertain Hempnall on Saturday, ko 2pm, while the Reserves travel to Caister.