Beccles Town 1, Horsford United 0

Beccles eased past Horsford United at College Meadow in the first round of the Mummery Cup, but know they will have to play better tomorrow to win at Sheringham in the league.

Beccles were without Lee Pike and Scott Barnard, and as Horsford had beaten Division One leaders Long Stratton the previous week they were anticipating a tough encounter.

Horsford nearly opened the scoring in the first couple of minutes, a 40-yard drive nearly catching Cable off his line. But the keeper just managed to get his fingertips to the ball and turn it onto the bar for the defence to clear.

Beccles were playing with little fluency and this gave Horsford the encouragement to take the game them. Cable again had to make a full-length save, to his right.

Eventually, Beccles started to gel and Waterman and Remblance linked up. Remblance saw his curling effort cleared off the line with the keeper well beaten.

Beccles got the breakthrough goal half-an-hour in when Woods’ far-post corner was headed home by Mcmorran.

Beccles had a couple of free-kicks given in good areas, but both times the wall was hit with tame efforts.

Horsford should have drawn level just before half-time but a flowing move ended with Roberts making a last-ditch tackle to stop a certain goal.

The second period followed the pattern of the first with neither side giving anything away. Beccles’ defence off Greengrass, Myhill, Mcmorran and Roberts stood firm and repelled the Horsford attacks.

Further forward Beccles were struggling to retain possession, but they should have given themselves the cushion off a two-goal lead midway through the half when Martin ran onto Heaney’s ball and went beyond the last defender. However, he hit the keeper with his effort and the ball came back off the bar.

Watkins was introduced by the home side in place off the tiring Woods, and he showed some nice touches. Peters, in midfield, was his usual combative self and was helping to break up Horsford attacks.

Horsford did have a half-chance late on, but from an acute angle the shot failed to trouble Cable and Beccles moved into the second round.

Not the greatest game witnessed at the Meadow.

BTFC man of the match: Neil Mcmorran.