BOWERS & Pitsea’s hopes of securing an automatic promotion place were kept alive by Lewis Manor scoring his 98th and 99th goals for the club in a 3-2 win over Dereham Town.

Daniel Beaumont’s early strike for the visitors was cancelled out by Manor’s record-breaking goal.

Ben Sartain’s wonder goal gave Bowers the lead, but Sam Borrer’s equaliser pegged the hosts back.

However, Manor scored the winning goal in the dying moments – before being sent off – to secure a valuable three points.

Bowers were to concede early on for the second Isthmian North clash in succession.

Just three days after going behind inside three minutes in the draw at Maldon & Tiptree, Beaumont’s low free-kick found the bottom corner of the net to give the Magpies the lead with just seven minutes on the clock.

Sartain, Adam Vyse – who was making his full debut since joining the club from Tilbury – and Manor tried their luck from range as Small’s charges went in search of an equaliser.

The hosts were back on level terms after 33 minutes.

Callum Leahy’s pass into the right-hand channel found Manor, who cut inside Dereham central defender Ollie Ebbage before firing through goalkeeper Elliot Pride’s legs.

The goal was the striker’s 98th in Bowers colours, meaning he has now overtaken David Hope’s previous record haul and become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.

And the game was turned on its head seven minutes later when Sartain’s brilliant long range volley found the top corner of the net after the visitors failed to clear a Jamie Dicks free-kick.

But an impressive team goal saw Dereham draw level five minutes after the break, with Jamie Forshaw dummying before Rhys Logan squared for Borrer to hit home.

Sartain tested Pride’s reactions after good build-up play involving Manor.

Dicks’ low free-kick deflected inches wide of the target, with Pride rooted to the spot as Bowers aimed to restore their advantage.

Manor’s looping header, from a Fahad Nyanja cross, was kept out as the home side continued to be frustrated.

Leahy headed an Adalberto Pinto cross wide of the target and Bowers were to grab the winner in the dying moments.

Substitute David Knight’s intelligent pull-back found Manor to tap home from close range and move to within one goal of 100 for the club.

In stoppage time, Manor was shown a straight red card but the sending off proves too late for Dereham to take advantage.

Bowers & Pitsea: Chafer, Boswell, Thomas, Stokes, Easterford, Leahy, Dicks (Pinto 78), Sartain, Vyse (Knight 67), Manor, Nyanja (Hughes 83)