Reepham Town 1, Hindringham 0

Hindringham travelled to Stimpson’s Piece to take on the sixth-placed Robins knowing they had to get another win to keep Corton and Poringland at bay in the Anglian Combination Division One relegation battle, as both clubs had two games in hand.

They were also hoping for much improvement on the 4-1 defeat they suffered at Reepham earlier in the season. A few games ago if anyone had suggested Hindringham could come away with something from this sort of fixture, they’d have probably been laughed at.

However, with the village side recording three wins in a row they were in with a chance – a run that has seen them climb off the bottom to 12th place. in the 15-team league

Clipston, Whittred and Hudson were both out so Nathan Stockdale and Ainsley started. And with no reserve game, Broughton, Gibson and Savoury were named on the bench.

The opening minutes were pretty even with neither side giving much away although keeper Stockdale did fumble a ball into the box on nine minutes but claimed it before an opponent could pounce.

Stockdale came to the rescue ten minutes later when he blocked an effort from a one-on-one situation.

However, on 21 minutes Reepham took the lead when a cross from deep evaded Raisbury. Stockdale parried, but the rebound fell to an opponent who got past the keeper and was left with a simple tap-in.

Hindringham failed to create a single clear chance or even a shot on goal in the first half. They got into the final third enough, but moves broke down all too often, and when they did get through they were foiled by Reepham’s defending.

The Village defended well too as Reepham only had one more chance of note – a shot from the edge of the area blazing just over the bar on the half-hour mark.

The second half started with much the same pattern as the first, but on 54 minutes Hindringham created their first real chance of the game when Ainsley turned a defender, broke through but fired over.

Three minutes later a ball got past the Reepham defence and sent Betts through, but the keeper narrowed the angle and shut him out.

By this time Hindringham’s play was getting more disjointed and with The Village also pushing for an equaliser, Reepham had some dangerous counter-attacks, sometimes having one against two situations in their favour, but Hindringham survived these breaks.

In the last minute Stockdale made a double save, one from long range and then blocking the follow-up.

A frustrating day for The Village who defended well in most parts but just didn’t create enough. However neither side had much in the way of chances and it was the sort of game where one goal was likely to win it.

Poringland’s 6-1 win against Sprowston has put Hindringham under more pressure and closed the gap to three points.

Team: D Stockdale, Chilvers, Defew, G Belton, Raisbury, N Stockdale (Gibson 45), S Belton, Coslett, Betts, Ainsley (Broughton 76), West. Subs not used: Savoury.