Beccles Town, sponsored by MH Goals, looked forward to Saturday’s game as a chance to redeem their earlier away defeat and to pull some points back in the promotion race.

From the first whistle Beccles launched attack after attack with Bale and Bailey prominent down the wings and Clark and Harvey-Cooper chasing everything. Bradenham played the ball well with smooth passing and movement but could make no headway against a strong Beccles defence, well led by Shade and Jones.

On 15 minutes Bailey was launched down the right wing and cut in to shoot just wide following some close-range efforts from Clark.

Both midfields contested every ball and no one could get free to get a goal attempt on target. On 30 minutes Bradenham put together a good move and managed to wriggle a pass to Sutherland-Gray who shot just wide. The midfield battle, with no real outcome, continued until half time.

The second half started at pace, with Beccles pushing forward, and within five minutes they had forced a Bradenham defender to push the ball straight to Bailey, who hit a screamer, destined for the top right corner, only to be tipped over by the Bradenham keeper.

On 70 minutes a Harvey-Cooper free kick was bound for the bottom corner but was scrambled away for a corner.

The game settled into the gruelling midfield battle which at times boiled over, and the referee had to resort to cards to calm things down.

Harry Booker came on for Ray Masters on 82 minutes and the end-to-end battle continued until the final whistle. So the Wherrymen got a point and moved back to third in the table.

Meanwhile the Reserves were soundly beaten 5-0 away at Attleborough Reserves who have grown very strong over the past four weeks.

Tomorrow the first team travel to Aylsham for another top-of-the-division clash (kick off 2.30pm), and the Reserves have no game as College Meadow plays host for a Suffolk Junior Cup semi-final between Benhall St Mary and Oulton Broad (kick-off at 2.15pm).

Beccles: Cable, Glover, Shade, Jones, Currie, Masters (Booker), Grimmer (Waterman), Bailey, Bale (Shaw), Harvey-Cooper, Clark.