The Black Dogs maintained second place in the Anglian Combination Division One table with a 4-0 victory at Hempnall on Saturday that was not quite as clear cut as the scoreline suggests.

The hosts were a far better side than the one Bungay trounced 13-0 in October, and in the second half had more shots on goal than Bungay.

But four well-taken first half goals had put the visitors in a comfortable position and they seemed happy to hang on to that after the interval.

Interim player-manager Craig Hunting and assistant Alan James kept faith with the side which won 6-1 at Foulsham the previous week, but early on Hunting had to clear an effort off the line as Hempnall started well.

Bungay took the lead as 17-year-old Luke Spear found 16-year-old Alex Perrin on the edge of the area and he scored with a fine shot on the turn.

The goal woke up Bungay and Joe McFarlane had a shot cleared off the line after another good run and cross by the lively Spear. Hempnall blasted a good chance wide, and then struck the bar with a shot that had Howes beaten.

But after the flurry Bungay moved to the other end to make it 2-0 in the 30th minute.

Danny Wilby and Spear combined for Sam Bone to put in a header that was blocked. Perrin had the loose ball blocked by a defender but scored with a header when the ball looped to him with the keeper on the ground.

Four minutes later Wilby’s free kick was half cleared to McFarlane, who scored from 12 yards. The Black Dogs were on top and Wilby was unlucky to see his goal-bound drive turned away by the keeper.

The fourth goal came on half time as Kevin Riches scored from close range. The second half was largely a non-event as Bungay seemed content to contain Hempnall, who edged the 45 minutes. Howes was called on to make a brave save at the feet of a forward as Hempnall looked to grab a consolation.

Bungay: Howes, Olley, Hunting (J Riches), Whiteman, McFadden, Spear, K Riches, McFarlane, Bone (Mirner), Wilby (Holmes), Perrin.

Tomorrow Bungay are at home to North Walsham (2.30pm).

Beccles were in Suffolk Senior Cup action, going down 3-2 at home to AFC Sudbury Reserves.

nA much-changed Anglian Combination representative side bowed out of the FA Inter League Cup at Wroxham.

After 90 minutes on a heavy pitch at Trafford Park, it was the visitors from the Spartan South Midlands League who went through to the quarter-finals on the back of 4-1 win.

The game only went ahead after an early morning pitch inspection, and due to the re-arranged Norfolk county cup matches and some call-offs, the Anglian Combination were without a number of their players.

The pitch was heavy but the players settled down well and the defence was solid, with Ryan Hemmings behind them in goal, having a superb match, producing some top saves.

Both teams played some good football in difficult conditions, but with no goals at full time and conditions worsening, players started to tire and injuries kicked in.

In extra time, Pat Daly scored twice for the visitors, before Ben Morgan got a goal back for the hosts to open it up again.

However, Nathan Graham added a third for the Spartan League and after Hemmings went off injured, Daly completed his hat-trick.