Hethersett Athletic

Despite their match at Poringland on Sunday being postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, their grasp on top spot tightened when one of their closest rivals, Delaneys, lost 5-3 to Quebec.

With nine league games still to go, Athletic are refusing to get carried away, however.

“We are really looking forward to the run-in but we aren’t taking anything for granted. There are some very difficult hurdles to overcome if we are to win the title, but we are hoping our belief in our own ability will see us through,” said player-manager Ross Potter.

Results at the weekend make it even more likely that the title will go to one of three clubs – Hethersett, Marlborough or Delaneys.

“We still have to play Marlborough twice and Delaneys once, so the results of those games could be crucial.

“We have only lost four league and cup games this season and three of those have been to Delaneys and Marlborough and in those games we didn’t score a single goal. All the defeats have been very close, so we need to step up our performance against these teams,” Potter added.

This Sunday Hethersett are home to Coltishall (Easton College 10.30 a.m. Coltshall are one of a number of teams fighting to avoid relegation.

“We cannot afford any slip-ups. There are no weak teams in the division this season and the teams towards the bottom still have plenty to play for. From now on every game will be like a cup final for us. We really don’t want to end such a good season empty-handed,” Potter added.

Hethersett Women’s scheduled final league match of the season at Chelmsford was postponed on Sunday due to a waterlogged pitch.

The team have a break this Sunday before facing two important cup matches on March 11^th (home to Cambridge City in the League Cup quarter-finals) and March 18^th (home to Norwich City Racers in the Norfolk and Suffolk Cup semi-final).

The Girls Under-11s suffered their first defeat of the season when they went down 3-1 to Blofield.

Blofield gave the Hethersett youngsters a lesson in finishing. Hethersett started well and forced a number of corners but conceded the first goal after 20 minutes. Blofield doubled their lead before the break and then dominated much of the second half and went into an unassailable 3-0 lead before Sophie Rock pulled a goal back just before the end. The result was a reversal of the scoreline from earlier in the season when Hethersett won 3-1. This Saturday the Girls Under-11s play Red Rose B at Easton College 10 a.m).

Most of Hethersett Athletic’s games were postponed at the weekend due to waterlogged pitches.

In the games that did go ahead the Men’s A team were soundly beaten 8-2 at Dynamo Denmark with their goals coming from Lewis Allen and Matt Bradfield.

The Under-16s beat Hellesdon 3-1 (Marshall, Devlin, Waters), the Under-12s lost 5-0 at Firside and the Under-9A went down 1-0 to Attleborough A and 5-1 to Dereham with Lewis Baxter scoring their only goal.

This week the Girls Under-15s visit Mulbarton Belles tomorrow. On Sunday the Men’s Firsts are home to Coltishall (Easton College 10.30), the Reserves visit AFC Rompers, the A team are home to Felmingham (Memorial Field 10.30), the Under-15s visit Spixworth and the Under-14s are home to Blofield (old Hall School 10.30). The Under-13s visit Firside, the Under-12s are at Mulbarton, the Under-11s are home to Mulbarton (Old Hall School 2 p.m) and the Under-10s visit Mattishall.