On a grey day Beccles travelled to Aylsham looking to catch up with the division’s leaders.

From the off Aylsham sought to dominate and with a tall midfield and the wind at their backs they were winning the battle in the air.

However, they were unable to cash in and Beccles managed to win most of the second ball. On five minutes, Liam Harvey-Cooper was sent on a great run down the right and cut inside to test the home keeper. Then it was the turn of Keiron Bale to get in a rasping right-footer which flew off the keeper’s boot for a corner.

For the next 20 minutes Beccles continued to attack with Bailey, Bale and Harvey-Cooper in the action but unable to find that special ball to beat a resolute Aylsham defence.

At half time Beccles manager, Steve Batt, who had spotted the first half aerial domination of Aylsham, decided to substitute Callum Grimmer with Billy Shaw whose physical presence immediately helped to swing the game towards the Wherrymen.

Within five minutes Luke Bailey was launched on one of his runs. He managed to outpace two defenders and got in a low shot that the home keeper could only parry into the net.

Beccles continued to play on the break and Bale, Harvey-Cooper and Bailey went close. On 73 minutes Bale extended Beccles’ lead when he latched on to a through pass from Waterman to beat the keeper with a low shot.

That ended his excellent contribution to the game and he was replaced by Rob Bishop which gave Beccles five forwards and they dominated the remainder of the game. With the final whistle seconds away, Bailey was again sent down the right and his low cross was met by Harvey-Cooper for the goal of the game, giving Beccles a 3-0 win which stabilised their third position.

The Reserves had no game as College Meadow was used for a Suffolk Junior Cup semi-final where Oulton Broad beat Benhall St Mary 2-1 to go into the final play off against rivals Bacton United.

Tomorrow Beccles entertain North Walsham in a re-arranged Division One game at 2.30pm.

The Reserves have no game tomorrow, but entertain Yelverton Reserves on Tuesday with a 7.30pm kick off.

Beccles Town: Cable, Glover, Jones, Shade, Currie, Waterman, Grimmer, Bailey, Bale, Clark, Harvey-Cooper. Subs: Shaw, Bishop, S Roberts.