Acle Gain Ample Revenge

The match saw 8 goals, a sending off for the visitors, and a return to the competitive nature of previous derbies, thrilling a good-sized crowd.

Manager Challen named both Carus and Bullent in his squad but the first opportunity fell to Blofield only for Foreman to pull off a great save to maintain parity. Acle soon took control though, and Coleto-Colo was unfortunate not to win a spot kick when taken out in the box.

Blofield were on the back foot and had to deal with a succession of corners to keep the A's at bay but could not cope with a Daniel Foreman special when his inswinging corner was met by Josh Carus as his bullet header flashed into the net to give Acle an early advantage 1-0.

Tooley then put in a dangerous cross that just needed a touch to double the lead, but better was to come when Acle's talented Spanish midfielder put the home side two up. Bull-Anthony made it three, before man of the match Coleto-Cano bagged his second to put United in cruise control.

As half time approached May pulled a goal back for the Beavers but all in all it was a deserving 4-1 lead into the break.

The second half saw fortunes turn around as Blofield came back strongly, with that man May scoring again as he scythed his way through the Acle rear-guard to make the score 4-2.

The sun was making it difficult for the Acle defence and although Foreman's free kick was inches wide, and Smith had a shot narrowly over the bar, tempers began to flare as the visitors were penalised for a number of fouls none more so than when Johnstone was dismissed by referee Green.

Bull-Anthony couldn't quite connect to get his second from 8 yards out and Blofield deserved a third when Cox poked the ball home through a melee of players.

Acle restored order in injury time when the busy Bullent rifled the ball home from outside the box to seal the deal 5-3, to win a match that on balance was fully deserved and well received by the Bridewell Lane faithful.

Acle United: S Foreman, L Bull-Anthony, J Goodall, D Foreman, J Carus, P Kelf, H Tooley, A Smith, L Thacker, R Forder, J Coleto-Cano. Subs used: G Diggens, A Bullent. Unused: S Howard.