Bungay Town 2, Holt United 1THE Black Dogs battled through the rain and mud on Saturday to edge home by the odd goal of three in this Anglian Combination Division One mid-table battle on Saturday.

Bungay Town 2, Holt United 1

THE Black Dogs battled through the rain and mud on Saturday to edge home by the odd goal of three in this Anglian Combination Division One mid-table battle on Saturday.

The Owls had the better of the first half, but Bungay lasted better in the energy-sapping conditions and just about deserved the victory - their third in the last five games, of which they have lost only one.

Holt started well, and twice home keeper Ian Barber had to dash from his line to grab the ball at the feet of onrushing forwards. Impressive home captain Craig Hunting and full-back Mark Shipley, having a good season, both had to be alert to cut out other dangerous attacks.

But it was the home side who went closest to a goal when they finally got moving, the Holt keeper diving to turn away a Hunting free-kick which looked booked for the bottom corner.

In a visitors' attack Barber had to be alert to turn a deflected shot over the bar at full stretch.

The Black Dogs were more in the game towards the interval and took the lead in the 34th minute as another low free-kick from Hunting found its was through the packed defence, the keeper got a hand to it, but Justin Doughty dashed in to slide the loose ball home at the far post.

In another home sortie they opened up the Holt defence but Ash Ling chose to shoot instead of setting up the unmarked Paul Bullen and the keeper took the effort comfortably.

A minute into first half injury time Holt equalised as Dan Lowe's (the centre-back otherwise had an impressive game) control let him down and the ball fell for Billy Edwards to control and drive a shot across Barber into the far corner.

Early in the second half Ling got the by-line and crossed low but a defender just got there ahead of Ainsley Baynes to scoop the ball away for a corner. Hunting had a shot deflected wide and another Ling cross was cleared at the expense of a corner.

Holt went close from a free-kick, but in their next attack the Black Dogs regained the lead as Sean Payne, on for the injured debutant Rees Hepburn, set up Bullen, who finished clinically past the advancing keeper.

Bungay were now moving the ball better despite the cloying mud and driving rain and Payne fired narrowly wide after combining well with Neil Renaut.

At the other end the visitors twice went close, with Barber confidently taking one deflected effort and then a forward should have done better, firing wide after cutting on from the left.

Near the end Baynes set up Payne for a long range effort that the keeper took well, and then Payne was unable to take advantage as the keeper slipped when fielding another low shot.

Bungay Town: I Barber, M Shipley, C Hunting, D Lowe, S Whiteman, R Hepburn (S Payne), N Renaut, J Doughty, P Bullen, A Ling, A Baynes.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Bungay entertain Stalham (kick-off 2pm), while the Reserves visit North Walsham Reserves in the fourth round of the league cup. Bungay U18 entertain Wroxham U18 on Thursday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).