IT was back to league action for Beccles this week against high-flying Acle United and they lost 2-1.Manager Mick Broxup was forced into several changes due to player unavailability.

IT was back to league action for Beccles this week against high-flying Acle United and they lost 2-1.

Manager Mick Broxup was forced into several changes due to player unavailability. Keeper Danny Cable was still under treatment for his injured back and Alan Remblance was still sidelined with a foot injury. Also central defenders Andy Wigg and Lee Shaw were unable to escape from Army duties.

So, with some reinforcement from Reserve players, the starting line-up was James Ellis, Martin Myhill, Neil McMorran, Sam Barham and Alex Greengrass, across the back, Alex Holmes, Kevin Waterman, Ricci Wilson and Nick Day in midfield with Neil Hurren and Malik Knight up front.

Andy Woods dropped to the bench.

Both teams set out at a fast pace with Beccles defending the bowls club end into a fairly strong and blustery wind. This made long clearances difficult and as a result most of the pressure came from the Acle United attack.

The weaker right flank seemed more exposed and young Alex Holmes had to look more to defensive duties to aid the besieged Martin Myhill.

The central partnership of Barham and McMorran had worked well previously and once again kept the Acle attack at bay.

The breakthrough after approximately 30 minutes came against the run of play via a long ball out of defence. It found Malik Knight who headed down to Neil Hurren who then found Alex Holmes with a quality ball and the young winger cleanly chipped the Acle keeper to give Beccles a 1-0 lead. This redoubled Acle's intensity of attacks and an equaliser came just before half time when Damien Didswell found the net from a goalmouth scramble after a right-wing corner. So the teams went in at the break even, 1-1.

The second half was much more even as it was Acle's turn to play into the blustery wind. Both sides had chances come and go and the game settled into an uncompromising midfield battle.

Eventually, Acle's pressure paid off in about the 75th minute when a poor clearance from a corner fell direct to Ben Morgan who finished well to give Acle a 2-1 lead.

Beccles tried hard to get back on even terms but it was not to be their day and even though both sides had further chances, the final score remained at 2-1 to Acle United.

This Saturday the first team visit Blofield United in a rehearsal for the League Cup final while the reserves entertain East Harling, both 2.30 ko.

The date for Beccles Town's Suffolk Senior Cup final against Crane Sports has been set as March 31, Portman Road, Ipswich, KO 7pm.

The club will be running a supporters' coach for this game and if any people would like to go, they can put their name on a list that will be down the College Meadow ground on Saturday when the reserves play at home.

Alternatively call Paul Honeywood on 01502716933 for details.