Mick Broxup had warned his Beccles Town side that, despite their 3-1 win over St Andrews at College Meadow the previous Saturday (when Alex Holmes scored his brilliant hat-trick), St Andrews would come out with all guns blazing to try and avenge the defeat.

Mick Broxup had warned his Beccles Town side that, despite their 3-1 win over St Andrews at College Meadow the previous Saturday (when Alex Holmes scored his brilliant hat-trick), St Andrews would come out with all guns blazing to try and avenge the defeat.

With North Walsham losing to Wroxham Reserves, Beccles Town are just three points off the top of the Anglian Combination Premier Division, with two games in hand. Tomorrow Beccles have a very tricky away fixture at Hempnall (note 2.30pm kick-off).

St Andrews 2, Beccles Town 3

Beccles, playing their first away league fixture of the year, were looking for points to cement their

top-three place.

The visitors got off to the perfect start when top scorer Alan Remblence, obviously stung by the goal drought of the previous week, took only five minutes to open his account.

With the goal in the bank you would have expected Beccles to kick on and seize the initiative. However, it was the Saints who bossed the early play.

They got the goal they deserved with Lee Mason notching the equaliser.

Worse was to follow and the Beccles rearguard was breached once more towards the end of the first half with Alex Taylor giving St Andrews the lead.

Beccles at last awoke from their slumbers and grabbed a crucial equaliser just before half-time when Jason Clarke finished off a fine team move to take the sides into the break on level terms.

The second half was much more even with the Beccles defence standing firm on a tricky surface. As the game reached the final stages it became increasingly clear the next goal would be decisive - and as it was it came from a familiar source.

The prolific boot of Remblence notched the third and ensured Beccles travelled back to Suffolk with all three points.

This was a big win for Beccles as with league leaders North Walsham going down 4-1 at Wroxham Reserves, this left Beccles in second place only three points behind but with two games in hand. However, Blofield moved into third place with games in hand as Beccles took back over their shoulder.

The Reserves had a fine 4-2 victory over Freethorpe in a thoroughly entertaining game at College Meadow played for some of the time in a blizzard.

Beccles took the lead twice only to be pegged back to 2-2, both Beccles goals coming from Chris Davies. Beccles then took the lead with a mazy run and shot from Matt King. Victory was sealed by a 40-yard shot from Ray Masters with the goalkeeper off his line.

Two excellent defensive contributions from the towering Danny Compton at the back, ably matched by the evergreen James Ellis in goal.

The Reserves have a warm-up to their Morley Cup semi-final, playing Cromer Reserves in a league encounter (kick-off 2.30pm) at College Meadow.