it isn't easy to throw a 3-0 lead. First you have to stand around looking at eachother while the opposition attacks, then get someone sent off.

Curiously the crowd on Saturday consisted mainly of Malaysian businessmen who appeared to be betting with eachother and handing out small brown envelopes to Dereham defenders. Whether the two events are connected we shall never know.

Bury started brightly. very brightly in fact and soon had the Dereham team on the back foot penned in their own D. Bury forced a string of corners, both short and long bringing about some Dereham defending later described as "quite good".

Scoring opportunities at the other end were sparse, but with 15 minutes gone President Reeve forced his way through the Bury defence to slot in a goal to put Dereham 1-0 up.

A short corner a few minutes later saw Les strike a shot through the keepers pads (sounds less obscene than through his legs) to make it 2-0.

Obscene was the watchword at half time when paddy explaining the Bury keeper's apparent dislike of diving added "well he did go down on Steve". We think and fervently hope he was referring to a save he made in the first half when the Dereham forward broke through  the Bury defence. If not it adds a different and frankly distasteful alternative meaning to a 'one on one situation'

Rather ominously Les spent the half time break muttering about 'retribution'.

With a 2-0 lead to defend in the second half Dereham got on to the serious business of trying to lose it. Conceding another string of short corners the visitors were unable to convert, thanks mainly to Simon who unlike the Bury keeper did not appear fussed at who he went down on.

Midway through the second half Reeve stuck again with a characteristic high octane run through the defence and a back stick shot into the goal. As one admirer pointed out "the match report could not do it justice" so I wont try.

it was then the Malaysian betting money kicked in, with two goals conceded in two minutes through two unforced defensive errors.

With 5 minutes to go the score at 3-2 and tensions rising Les saw yellow and departed the game, but the remaining players managed to hold Bury at bay for 3 points.

Tough luck for Bury who are definitely one of the better sides in the league. The return fixture should be just as enjoyable.

As a side note Ii hear Bruce Grobelaar's lawyer is available to anyone interested.......

Scorers (league games) This season

Brian Reid                6*

Ian White                  6

Steve Marsh             5

Jerry Reeve              4

Martin Bohn              2

Matt Hawker             2

Les Howlett              1

Robert Mann             1

Shane Barnes          1

*1 x scored in an abandoned game.