Defeat in the Norfolk Senior Cup final proved a bitter pill to swallow for Dereham Town manager Matt Henman – after Wroxham snatched victory in a dramatic finale at Carrow Road, writes Dave Freezer.

The Magpies had taken the lead in the 61st minute when Luke Tuttle squeezed home a rebound after seeing his penalty saved. The drama began in the sixth minute of added time though, when skipper Olly Willis was adjudged to have used his hand to prevent a goal. A red card and penalty followed, which was dispatched by Wroxham striker Jamie Forshaw. That sent the match into extra-time and the Yachtsmen then took the lead through a Forshaw strike, only to see Dereham rally and Toby Hilliard equalise. But there was late heartbreak after another controversial penalty was given on the cusp of full-time, allowing Forshaw to snatch the victory.

'I thought we passed the ball really well in the first half, I think they found it difficult to stop us and having gone a goal up you hopefully see it out and you're kind of stuck between two things really,' Henman said.

'We made a change because they chucked their centre-half up front, to try and counter that, and then double whammy, we concede a goal and get a man sent off and we're left with, who had probably been our best player Michael Clunan, on the bench with extra-time to play. But then I thought we showed brilliant character to get back on terms and at the end of the day I can point to three or four decisions on the night which haven't gone our way.

'We feel that they should have had a man sent off in the first half and most people have seen it apart from the four officials. If it's a penalty (for Wroxham's equaliser), it's a great spot from 60 yards away. And then the last penalty, I'm not sure anyone actually appealed for a penalty. It was kind of a dangerous looking tackle but he then looked as if he was going to play on and then went back to give the penalty.'

Henman now turns his attentions to building on the club's seventh-placed finish in Ryman North.

'We'll be losing Ryan Hawkins, that was his last game, he's signing for St Neots,' the Dereham boss revealed.

'He deserves to play at a higher level and we saw that with the strike that hit the bar (at 1-1). We're going to bring two or three players in which will hopefully strengthen us in key areas so we can build on what we've done this year and the foundations of the club as well, and hopefully we'll go from strength to strength.'