Watton United, who play Cromer in the Anglian Combination KO Cup semi-final this Friday, beat Sprowston Wanderers 7-2 in the league.It seems strange to report - with a 7-1 scoreline - that this was a game of two halves.

Watton United, who play Cromer in the Anglian Combination KO Cup semi-final this Friday, beat Sprowston Wanderers 7-2 in the league.

It seems strange to report - with a 7-1 scoreline - that this was a game of two halves.

But despite eventually running out convincing winners, Watton were very poor for the first 45 minutes at Dereham Road against a Sprowston Wanderers side who have struggled all season.

In truth, United did not look like conceding for most of the half. However, neither did they really look like scoring.

The home side were generally restricted to some fairly wayward long-range efforts for the most part. And when they did finally get their noses in front, on 36 minutes, it was from the penalty spot.

A ball down the centre was flicked on by Nichols to Lomas and he was dragged down in the area as he ran in on goal.

Callaghan duly converted the spot kick and United had a 1-0 lead their play barely deserved.

During the interval, Managers Derbyshire and Harwood implored the team to “switch on” and to move the ball quicker. They also urged the central midfielders to get up and support the front two.

But it was a shock goal for the visitors, right at the start of the second period, that seemed to get Watton going at last.

United, normally so solid at the back, looked all at sea as a cross was allowed to bounce around like a pinball. Finally, it fell to Sprowston's No. 9 and he fired a really well-placed shot into the top right-hand corner.

Within a minute, Nichols got clear on the right, made space for a cross and drilled in a fine, low ball, which the diving Lomas nodded home.

Just two minutes later, it was 3-1. The same combination of Nichols and Lomas did the damage - with the latter nipping in front of a Sprowston defender to net from another good low ball in.

Watton added a fifth when Sharpe headed in from close range from a corner following two earlier efforts by Harrison.

And then man-of-the-match Lomas had his hat-trick when he got in front of his marker to head in from 10 yards out.

Two substitutes combined to set up the goal, with Astbury feeding Mark Woods and his brilliant cross met by Lomas.

Lomas wriggled free in the Sprowston penalty area and slotted home his fourth - and United's sixth. Then, finally, in the last minute of stoppage time, Nichols rose to nod home Callaghan's cross from 10 yards - a goal Nichols' previous hard work had definitely warranted.

In between, there were chances for Nichols, Campbell and the very unlucky Karl Harrison who hit the bar twice.