PREMIER DIVISION LITTLEPORT Town moved up to fourth spot on goal difference ahead of local rivals Fordham with a 6-1 victory at Eaton Socon. It was quite a niggly game, said Port manager Dave Cullum afterwards, adding: But I thought we played

PREMIER DIVISION

LITTLEPORT Town moved up to fourth spot on goal difference ahead of local rivals Fordham with a 6-1 victory at Eaton Socon.

"It was quite a niggly game," said 'Port manager Dave Cullum afterwards, adding: "But I thought we played well within ourselves."

There was only one goal in the opening 45 minutes, with Danny Jordan chesting the ball goalwards after Dave Beeton's header had hit the bar and Nigel Smith finishing off with a diving header.

Eaton Socon levelled at the start of the second half, but that only served to galvanise the visitors and Ben Layn scored to make it 2-1 after Beeton had flicked on a long throw from Sean Ambrose.

Smith extended 'Port's lead with a well-controlled volley, and he then completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after substitute Chris Wilson had been brought down - a foul which resulted in a dismissal for the home side.

Ambrose made it 5-1 after rounding the goalkeeper, and Jack Jordan - who along with fellow substitutes Wilson and Alan White changed the course of the game - added a sixth goal in the closing stages.

Fordham - who entertain Littleport in the Cup on Saturday - continued their fine run with a 4-1 victory at Great Paxton.

John Sands put them ahead with a well-taken goal, and Jose Montero - on as substitute after arriving 20 minutes late - made it 2-0 after good work by Jamie Palmer.

Paxton responded with 25 minutes left, but Ben Fuller fired into the bottom left-hand corner to make it 3-1 and Sands - who slammed the crossbar with a thumping effort - then wrapped things up with a chip over the advancing goalkeeper.

SENIOR DIVISION A

SOHAM Town Rangers Reserves - who travel to Wisbech Town Reserves on Saturday - moved within five points of the current leaders by coming from behind to defeat Gamlingay United.

Gareth Randall made the scores level before half-time, and he then made the points safe at 3-1 after Lee Moll had put the hosts in front at the start of the second period.

"We improved a bit (after half-time)," said Soham boss Steve Bye afterwards, "and in the end it was just a matter of how many (goals) we were going to get."

Ely City Reserves did themselves and Soham a huge favour in midweek by overturning a 1-0 interval deficit to beat Wisbech 3-1 at the Unwin Ground.

Andy Chatters cancelled out City's first-half deficit, and Gareth Arter fired a 75th-minute shot into the top corner before Richie Murfitt wrapped things up with five minutes remaining.

SENIOR DIVISION B

SOHAM United player-manager Andy Parker admitted that his side "deserved what they got" after local rivals Haddenham Rovers recorded a 4-3 victory over them.

A Kenny Holmes penalty was saved by United's goalkeeper before Robbie Keen gave Haddenham the lead, and Holmes made it 2-0 before Harley Day pulled one back from Jim Brown's cross.

Will Ludbrooke made it 3-1 before half-time however, and he also scored what proved to be the decisive goal after Steve Dalby (penalty) and Brown had briefly got Soham back on level terms.

DIVISION 1B

LITTLEPORT Town Reserves are now only two points off the leadership after they beat Eaton Socon Reserves 3-0 whilst top-dogs Tuddenham Rovers lost their 100 per cent record with a shock 1-0 home defeat by Gransden Chequers.

Luke Butcher missed a penalty kick, but Richard Layn scored twice and Nathan Bennett struck the goal which effectively clinched all three points.

DIVISION 2B

STRETHAM Hotspurs turned the form-book upside-down by winning 4-1 at the expense of previously unbeaten leaders Wisbech St Mary.

"It was a tremendous result," said Hotspurs boss Paul Wells afterwards, adding: "They (Wisbech) came here expecting a walkover, but we were just so hungry for it."

Seventeen year-old Chris Grayland - man of the match at right-back - opened the scoring with a brilliant 35-yard drive in the second minute, but Wisbech got back on terms with a well-taken free kick.

Left-back Martin Sims then saw his shot deflected home on the hour mark, and Leigh Iball made it 3-1 before Ben Page's superb half-volley wrapped up the points.

Sutton United won 5-2 at Longstanton with goals from Matthew Keys (4) and Wayne Newman - with a typically speculative effort - and Ely City A also shared seven goals before coming away with all three points at Milton Reserves.

Milton led after Jamie Gayfer had opened the scoring with a lob, but Stuart Seekings levelled and Matt Brodie tapped home to put City back in front.

An Adam Scott own goal briefly restored parity for the visitors, but with time running out substitute Lee Abbs scored at the second attempt to secure a 4-3 win.

Isleham United scored first at Newmarket White Lion, but eventually had to settle for a share of the spoils after drawing 1-1.

DIVISION 3B

SOHAM United Reserves joined Wisbech St Mary Reserves on 19 points at the top of the table by defeating pointless bottom club Hemingfords United A, but having established a 4-0 interval lead they made life extremely difficult for themselves.

Aaron Lee (2), Shane Sadler (2), Mark Allen and Stuart Freeland earned United a 6-5 win in the end, but the hosts almost paid the price for complacency after an exhilarating first-half performance.

DIVISION 4B

WES Reid helped himself to a hat-trick - including two penalty kicks - as Ely Crusaders recovered a 2-1 deficit to mop up the points against Milton A.

They looked in trouble after Leigh Williams' opener was negated, and although Reid's opening spot-kick made it 2-2 at half-time the dismissal of Mark Bridge still left Crusaders with a mountain to climb.

Goals from Reid (penalty) and Schunmann made it 4-2 however, and Reid was on target again with a 30-yarder which made the points safe after the visitors had managed to pull a goal back.

DIVISION 5B

NICK Samuels matched Reid's feat of scoring two penalties as Isleham United Reserves shared eight goals with Dataracks Elite.

Mark Chinnery and Sam Richardson were also on target in a topsy-turvy encounter.

The points were also shared as Little Downham Swifts Reserves came from 2-0 down to draw with local rivals Littleport Town A.

Jamie Doswell was one of the players on target as the visitors started well, but Paul Bone and Gareth Draper eventually earned a point for the hosts.