PREMIER Division Beccles Town beat Division One side Stalham Town 3-1 in the quarter-finals of the Mummery Cup on Saturday.So Beccles' season is looking in good shape as it continues to go from strength to strength.

PREMIER Division Beccles Town beat Division One side Stalham Town 3-1 in the quarter-finals of the Mummery Cup on Saturday.

So Beccles' season is looking in good shape as it continues to go from strength to strength.

They are in the semi-finals of the League Cup, the quarter-finals of the Suffolk Senior Cup and well placed in the league with games in hand.

Next it's back to Anglian Combination league action as a tough trip to Dersingham Rovers awaits (kick-off 2pm).

In terrible weather on a badly cut-up pitch, Beccles left it late to win convincingly against Stalham and set up a mouth-watering local derby in the semi-finals against Corton FC.

Manager Broxup had the luxury of picking the same starting 11 from the side that thrashed Westerfield the previous weekend, leaving places on the bench for Ling, Wilson and Lees.

After the damage caused to the College Meadow pitch last weekend many people expected this game not to be played, but it passed a morning inspection.

Beccles started very sluggishly and it was the lower league visitors who took the game to Town, creating a few half-chances and forcing Cable into one very smart save.

It took until the 25-minute mark for Town to get a grip of the tie. The ever-present midfield of Peters, Day and Waterman were starting to stamp their authority in difficult conditions on a slippery surface.

Attacks were at a premium for Beccles but Woods and Hurren in the wide positions were starting to get some joy, and on 35 minutes Beccles carved out the best chance of the half.

Remblance and Hurren combined to see the latter slip Day through one-on-one with an astute pass. Day drew the keeper before picking his spot. but the keeper saved well down to his left.

This was to be the best chance that either side managed to create in a half of little football due to the awful playing conditions.

Beccles started the second half like an express train and attacked from the offset.

Remblance had the first chance as he danced past two defenders before bending a 25-yard shot which was destined for the top corner, only for the keeper to dive to his left and turn the ball round a post. Waterman had an effort on goal from a free-kick, which caught the wind and troubled the keeper, but he managed to tip the ball over the bar.

Beccles created many corners and both Woods and Remblance had half-chances but the Stalham defence and keeper frustrated Town.

Beccles continued to attack and the pressure counted and on 70 minutes Waterman picked up the ball just inside the Beccles half and picked out Hurren's run with a lovely pass. He advanced on goal only for his first effort to be blocked by a defender before the ball rebounded kindly to him.

The in-form striker made no mistake from nine yards.

One soon became two as on 75 minutes Waterman turned scorer to grab his third goal in two games.

Hurren was given room on the left to send a deep ball to the far post for Remblance. He beautifully knocked the ball back into the path of the in-rushing Waterman who lashed the ball under the keeper.

The conditions were taking their toll on both teams, but it was all Beccles and on 80 minutes Hurren grabbed his second.

Day found time and space in the centre of midfield to expertly play in Hurren one-on-one. He drew the keeper and slid the ball under him just inside the near post.

There was still time for Stalham to grab a late consolation through a Daniel Tindall strike, but soon after the referee blew his whistle.