Playing against a strong wind, United started the brighter as Wiley and Diggins posed a constant threat down the right-hand side.
The early Acle pressure almost gave them the lead, but Wiley’s cross couldn’t quite get converted by Smith at the far post. It was Wiley again when he played in Diggins whose measured cross found Warminger steaming in as he crashed the ball into the net for 1-0.
At the other end, Spalding sped clear but pulled his shot wide of the post. Diggins put in another telling cross as Acle were enjoying the better possession.
Brooks and Spalding got in a tangle and both men went into the Referee’s notebook, with the official having a great game in the middle. Bryen should have equalised from a long throw assisted by the wind, but his shot was straight at the keeper, as United were let off the hook.
Warminger was having another fine game leading the Acle line as he beat his marker before putting in a dangerous cross. With the referee looking at his whistle Bryen easily converted a penalty after Brooks had pulled his man down as he was about to pull the trigger from 8 yards out.
Bradenham came out stronger in the second period as Manager Challen moved Diggins into midfield, as United lost a little of his attacking flair down the right as the bulldogs started to dominate the middle of the park.
An Acle short corner routine saw Warminger head wide, before Alibone tested the stand in Acle keeper as he saved the day at the near post.
Warminger was busy up front and touched his header into the path of Jamie Smith but after rounding the keeper he couldn’t quite tuck the chance away. Last swung in a cross but neither of the Smiths could apply the final touch to give Acle the lead.
With 10 minutes on the clock Bradenham took the lead as Spalding sliced his cross and by good fortune the ball found the top corner of the net.
Alibone then had a shot well saved by the Acle keeper, and although the pacey Jamie Smith set up substitute Tooley he wasn’t able to convert as the bulldogs went top of the league in a match niether team deserved to lose.
Acle United: L Hall, C Wiley, C Bishop, N Mackenzie, S Brooks. A Last, G Diggens, A Smith, R Warminger, R Forder, J Smith. Subs all used: D Cooper, R Fisher, H Tooley.