Three second half goals gave the visitors a comfortable victory and left Hethersett’s championship aspirations in tatters. They have now lost five of their last six games in all competitions.

Over the past few weeks Hethersett have been forced to field under-par teams through injury and suspensions. On Sunday they welcomed back Ross Potter and Lee Barrett but were still without five key players and it showed.

After a goalless first half, the home side lost their shape after the break when central defender Matt Steward was forced out of the game with a hamstring injury.

The Grove celebrated their victory as if they had won the FA Cup. In truth they had just beaten a very average Hethersett side that, on this form, will be struggling to stop their drop down the Sunday League Premier Division.

This Sunday Hethersett will be looking for an improved performance when they visit Hillside Old Boys in the first round of the League Cup. This competition now represents the team’s only chance of a trophy this season.

Hethersett Athletic Reserves went down 2-1 at Earlham United. The A team did better – beating Mundesley 4-3 with two goals from Tom Rainsford and others from Andy Oliver and Adam Waters. This week the reserves are home to Earlham United (Memorial Field 10.30) and the A team visit Mundesley.

Hethersett Athletic Ladies 5

Woodbridge Town 0

Hethersett Ladies comfortably saw off fellow promotion challengers Woodbridge Town in a game they dominated from start to finish.

With over half the season gone, Hethersett are sitting pretty at the top of the Eastern League Premier Division with only two three other teams – Harringey Borough, Norwich City and Peterborough having a realistic chance of stopping the Norfolk side from winning the title and promotion.

A determined Hethersett side went all out to beat one of only two teams to have defeated them this season. They achieved this in some style with ‘keeper Karen Wilson a spectator for much of the game.

Hethersett have won their last five league games and last six games in all competitions. In that league run they have scored 24 goals and conceded just three. Add in the cup win over King’s Lynn and it’s 32 goals for and three against.

Hethersett were slightly disappointed with their first half performance, going in 2-0 ahead despite having the advantage of a strong breeze. Sophie Fuller opened the scoring after 18 minutes with a penalty for hand ball. Leading scorer Nicola Bray made it 2-0 after 30 minutes with a goal from an acute angle.

Hethersett were on fire after the break with three goals in a five minute period. Fuller scored her second after 54 minutes with a shot into the top corner, Jemma Smythe popped up two minutes later to head home an Emily Coates cross and Bray rounded off the scoring two minutes later. On the odd occasion that Woodbridge threatened they found the Hethersett defence in uncompromising form wit Jodie Rettie producing a superb sliding tackle when a Woodbridge player was through with only the goalkeeper to beat.

This Sunday Hethersett embark on the first of three consecutive away games in the lead up to Christmas. They visit Cambridge United and follow this with visits to Dagenham and Redbridge on December 9^th and Bedford on December 16^th.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Hethersett Athletic	12	9	1	2	45	11	28
Haringey Borough	12	7	3	2	32	27	24
Norwich City	10	6	3	1	29	7	21
Peterborough	11	7	0	4	22	13	21
Woodbridge Town	12	6	1	5	21	19	19
Cambridge University	13	5	1	7	18	32	16
Cambridge United	13	4	1	8	22	33	13
Bedford Ladies	10	3	3	4	23	27	12
Dagenham & Redbridge	10	2	5	3	22	18	11
Haverhill Rovers	12	3	2	7	18	33	11
Barking	10	3	0	7	9	23	9
Royston Town	11	3	0	8	9	27	9

Hethersett Athletic Under-15s continued their recent improved performances with a good 4-0 win at home to Firside thanks to goals from Smith 2, Cooper and an own goal. The Under-16s drew 1-1 at Firside (Mates), the Under-14s suffered a heavy 10-2 defeat at home to Sprowston (Bensley, Price), the Under-13s went down 2-1 to Drayton (Wilcox), the Under-12s beat Wymondham United 8-2 (Foster 4, Greengrass 2, Tarrant, McDonagh), the Under-10B team lost 5-0 at Litcham and the Under-9s drew 2-2 with Bressingham (White, Jones) but lost 3-0 to Dereham.

This Sunday the Under-16s visit Wymondham United and the Under-10A team play Lakeford and Hillside at Lakeford.

Hethersett Athletic Girls Under-12s continued their winning form with a 2-1 victory over Aylsham Town thanks to two goals from top scorer Sophie Rock. The Girls Under-15s went down 3-0 at home to Red Rose Reserves. This Saturday the Under-15 Girls visit Scole and the Under-12 Girls are at Blofield United.