NOTLEY'S LOWESTOFT AND DISTRICT LEAGUE ROUND UPAPPROACHING the final few games of the season, and a number of issues have already been resolved.Norton Athletic were crowned division one champions last Thursday - without even kicking a ball - as fifth placed Hearts of Oak lost to Ole Frank, meaning the village side couldn't be caught at the top of the table.

NOTLEY'S LOWESTOFT AND DISTRICT LEAGUE ROUND UP

APPROACHING the final few games of the season, and a number of issues have already been resolved.

Norton Athletic were crowned division one champions last Thursday - without even kicking a ball - as fifth placed Hearts of Oak lost to Ole Frank, meaning the village side couldn't be caught at the top of the table.

And sealing the championship in style, Norton followed this up with a 4-1 away win at seventh-placed Pot Black (Danny Hoadley 2, Steven Hak 2).

Spexhall moved up from fourth to second after a 4-2 away win at tenth placed Kirkley & Pakefield A, while Oxford Arms are now joint third - but three goals behind Waveney Reserves - after a 0-0 home draw with Hearts of Oak on Saturday and a 3-1 away win at Pot Black on Tuesday.

Barsham are now sixth after a 3-0 home win over bottom of the table Beccles Caxton Reserves. Corton White Horse Seltic remain in 11th place after consecutive defeats - 4-2 at home to 11th placed Mutford & Wrentham last Saturday and 6-2 away at Hearts of Oak on Tuesday.

In division two, AFC Star now can't be caught at the top after the week's results. They have one game left and even if they fail to beat third placed Great Yarmouth Town Hall they will still finish six points ahead of their rivals.

Second placed Pakefield Re-United (Harlow, Coote) lost 2-4 to Gt Yarmouth Town Hall last Saturday, and the Yarmouth side - with games in hand - can overtake Pakefield in their remaining matches.

Town Hall beat already relegated Harleston Town Reserves 3-0 in midweek, with the bottom of the table side having picked up a point from a 3-3 home draw with sixth placed Hopton last Saturday.

Suffolk Punch remain in fourth after a 2-1 away win at tenth placed Crusaders, while Norton Athletic Reserves moved up to seventh with two wins this week - 4-2 over 11th placed Tudor on Saturday and 2-1 away at eighth placed Lowestoft International on Wednesday.

The International side has previously beaten ninth placed Ellingham 5-1 last Saturday, while 12th placed Bungay Town A were gifted the points as first from bottom Sole Bay United Reserves failed to raise a side.

It's all still to play for in the third division, but it has been a good week for leaders Waveney Gunners. Two victories - 1-0 over tenth placed Oxford Arms Reserves and 4-0 over fourth placed Earsham - in the past week now mean they head the table by three points from second placed Waveney A and they still have two games in hand.

Waveney A lost 4-2 at home to seventh placed Corton White Horse Seltic Reserves last Saturday. Spexhall Reserves, now in third, fine run continued as they beat eighth placed Blundeston Magpies Reserves 3-1.

Earsham drew 0-0 with sixth placed Norman Warrior last Saturday as they dropped points this week, but fifth placed Kirkley & Pakefield B were held to a 1-1 away draw at first from bottom Factory Arms.

Ninth placed Mutford & Wrentham Reserves beat 12th placed Westhall 1-0, while 11th placed Marquis of Lorne had a good week with successive home wins - 3-0 over bottom of the table Carlton Rangers on Saturday and 2-0 over Corton White Horse Seltic Reserves on Wednesday.

Mark Boggis