Notley's Lowestoft & District Football League round-upTHE week's results have proved to be crucial in the battle at the top of the first division - with Norton Athletic now just one point away from winning the title.

Notley's Lowestoft & District League round-up

THE week's results have proved to be crucial in the battle at the top of the first division - with Norton Athletic now just one point away from winning the title.

In fact, the village side - at the time of going to press - could already be champions. That is provided sixth placed Hearts of Oak - who are the only side that can prevent Norton from winning the league - failed to win against Ole Frank last night (Thursday).

Norton, with three games still to play, beat bottom of the table Beccles Caxton Reserves 5-0 on Saturday with goals from Kevin Briers (two), Nick Persich, Dan Hoadley and an own goal.

With second placed Waveney Reserves suffering their third consecutive defeat, this time 2-1 at home to seventh placed Pot Black - who scored through Gav Hunt and a Darren Boyd penalty, with Ian Hunter scoring the Waveney goal, Norton needed only four points to secure the title.

But with Hearts of Oak losing 1-0 to Pot Black on Tuesday evening, Norton are now only a point away from the title.

Micki Williams' sixth placed Hearts of Oak side - who still have five games left - had previously beaten eighth placed Blundeston Magpies 5-1 on Saturday.

Fourth placed Spexhall were gifted the points after Ole Frank were unable to raise a side, while late goals from tenth placed Kirkley & Pakefield A's Chris Mayhew, Kez Wardrope and Rob Bunning sealed the points with a 3-1 away win at first from bottom Mutford & Wrentham.

In division two, it has been another bad week for second-placed Pakefield Re-United, beset by injury problems. They lost 6-3 to bottom of the table Harleston Town Reserves on Saturday, and then drew 4-4 with eighth placed Lowestoft International on Tuesday night.

AFC Star are now nine points clear at the top of the table as they beat seventh placed Ellingham 5-1, while third placed Great Yarmouth Town Hall - who still have six games in hand on the leaders - were held to a 2-2 home draw with sixth placed Hopton.

This draw came just a few hours after the Yarmouth side had lost 4-2 (Matt Anderson, Jason Thompson) to Old Hunstanton in the Norfolk Primary Cup Final.

Fourth placed Suffolk Punch beat first from bottom Bungay Town A 5-1, while fifth placed Corton A lost 5-2 to eighth placed Lowestoft International.

Ninth placed Norton Athletic Reserves beat 12th placed Sole Bay United Reserves 2-1 with goals from Daniel Robinson and Shane Smith.

Just four games were played in the third division, as the John Moore Shield Semi Finals took priority. Waveney Gunners and Earsham will contest the final next month after 3-1 and 4-1 wins respectively over Waveney A and Marquis of Lorne.

A late winner from third placed Spexhall Reserves was enough to take the points in a narrow 1-0 win over fifth placed Kirkley & Pakefield B. Sixth placed Norman Warrior beat Oxford Arms Reserves 2-0, while seventh placed Corton White Horse Seltic Reserves beat tenth placed Mutford & Wrentham Reserves 5-2.

Blundeston Magpies Reserves have had a good week with two successive 1-0 wins, moving them into eighth, after they beat 12th placed Factory Arms on Saturday and then beat ninth placed Oxford Arms Reserves on Tuesday.

Mark Boggis