Top-half finish for Mattishall

Mattishall 8, Watton 2

MATTISHALL played their final league home fixture on Thursday when they entertained already relegated Watton United.

Mattishall had a strong line-up but played Andrew Fulcher at centre- forward in the place of the unavailable Simon Wooden.

Mattishall swarmed all over the visitors from the kick-off and on

10 minutes the visitors failed to clear and Catchpole and Cole combined before the latter fired home.

Palmer then had a shot tipped over by Cruckshank. Mattishall soon went two up when a Lewis run saw him go past McKeever before playing in Catchpole. He fed Cole and he easily fired home.

Fulcher then showed strength before sending in a rasping shot that was tipped over the bar, but on 18 minutes a Hill throw in was flicked on to Fulcher who this time found the back of the net.

On the half-hour a Hill interception saw him find Cole who beat the offside trap and completed his hat-trick with ease.

Mattishall then took their foot off the pedal and on 43 minutes the visitors reduced the arrears when Walker burst through to the byline and pulled the ball back to the inrushing Woods.

Mattishall went into the interval with a 4-1 lead.

On 50 minutes a Lewis long throw set up Fulcher to turn and fire over the bar.

But on the hour an early ball found Fulcher who held it up before shooting across the keeper and into the net.

Minutes later Catchpole sat one up at the far post for Lewis to score his side's sixth and then a Lewis run took him past the full-back before setting up Fulcher for his hat-trick with another crisp strike.

Harbour and Stenner replaced Palmer and Cole and on 75 minutes a combination saw Harbour sprint free but he slid the ball the wrong side of the post.

On 85 minutes Anema was adjudged to have committed a foul on Walker and Crystal made no mistake from the spot as the visitors competed gamely.

Almost immediately Mattishall went up the other end and Fulcher scored his fourth with ease.

There was still time for Crystal for the visitors to cleverly chip keeper Pledger, but the ball rebounded back off the bar.

Spixworth 1, Mattishall 2

MATTISHALL travelled to Spixworth for their penultimate league fixture of the season looking for a quick revenge following their narrow home defeat a fortnight ago.

Mattishall made a few tactical changes with four-goal hero Fulcher continuing in his attacking role.

It was the visitors who started the strongest and they took the lead on 15 minutes when Hewitt won the ball on the edge of the box. When the ball dropped to Fulcher he hit a half-volley that, home keeper Blundell got a hand to but could not prevent from hitting the back of the net.

On 25 minutes Edwards made a left-wing run and fed Fulcher, who in one movement chested the ball down and hit it on the turn from fully 25 yards into the top corner of the net for a 'goal of the season' contender.

The home side reduced the arrears as the visitors switched off when Gashut made a run to the byline unchallenged and set up Didwell, who scored with ease.

A Catchpole corner saw Fulcher control the ball at the far post before firing past the post and then Edwards missed the target when well placed in front of goal, but the visitors fully deserved their half-time lead.

The second half started with the hosts looking to get back in the game but the back four of Anema, Edwards, Stenner and Sommerfield were dominant and hardly allowed Spixworth any clear-cut chances.

And with Lovell, Hewitt, Catchpole and Harbour competing well in midfield the visitors continued to boss the game and clear-cut chances were at a premium.

Mattishall saw out the game to gain another impressive three points and maintain their top-half league position.