Beccles missed the chance to leapfrog Cromer into first position in the Anglian Combination Premier Division on Saturday. In a very tight game, Cromer edged it with a single goal aided by a deflection.

Beccles missed the chance to leapfrog Cromer into first position in the Anglian Combination Premier Division on Saturday.

In a very tight game, Cromer edged it with a single goal aided by a deflection.

Beccles started the game the brighter of the two sides, Waterman and Peters were busy in midfield with Hurren and Remblance starting to cause the away side problems. Cromer didn't really look like threatening the Beccles rearguard at the beginning of the first half until 25 minutes when against the run of play, they broke the deadlock.

Cromer forced a corner after some good wing play, from the resulting corner the ball was only half-cleared by a combination of Barham and Peters. The ball fell for a Cromer midfielder and was confronted by Waterman on the edge of the box.

As he shaped to shoot he nicked the ball past Waterman, this forced the Beccles man to stick out a leg and the midfielder took a tumble.

Harwood stepped us to smash the free-kick towards goal, it seemed to take a deflection off the wall and fly under the stranded Cable to make the score 1-0.

If the home faithful were expecting Beccles to come back from a goal behind, which they had done so in their last three games, they were to be disappointed.

Both sides struggled to break the opposition down, neither front two could create anything and the few attacks were easily snuffed out by both defences.

Broxup made changes with 20 minutes remaining; Fiske and Day replaced Waterman and Peters with Martin replacing Greengrass to make a three-man attack alongside Remblance and Hurren. This seemed to breathe new life into Beccles; they forced three corners but still could not open up a well-organised Cromer defence.

Beccles continued to huff and puff but this was to be Cromer's day. The three points extended their lead at the top and brought Beccles three-match unbeaten run to an end.

Beccles drop to fourth in the table after both Hempnall and Loddon picked up three points. Town will have to pick themselves up quickly as an away trip at North Walsham Town tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).