Ghosts go five points clear at the top of Premier Division

Fakenham Town moved five points clear at the top of the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division yesterday.The Ghosts were 2-1 winners over Long Melford while Downham dropped two points in a 2-2 home draw against Kirkley and Pakefield and Heacham suffered a narrow 1-0 loss at play-off hopefuls Woodbridge Town.In the First Division North, Swaffham Town look doomed to relegation as they suffered an embarrassing 13-2 defeat at league leaders Haverhill Rovers.Fakenham had to rely on a winner from Lewis Sturman in the eighth minute of injury time to get them over the line at the Daly Group Stadium.Although delighted with the outcome, Ghosts boss Alex Walpole admitted his side hadn’t been at their best after they were forced to come from behind to claim the three points.Walpole said: “Today was a disappointing performance, but a positive result.”We haven’t been able to say that much this season, but today, we got fortunate. The intensity was way off in the first half and our decision-making was dreadful. “Long Melford deservedly went ahead and based on today’s performance I’m surprised to see them down towards the foot of the table. “We made a triple change in the second half, which sparked some intensity into our game. We were wasteful in front only goal and on another day, we could have scored six or seven.”Against the likes of Dereham and Mulbarton, we won’t get many chances, so we have to be more clinical.”The prolific Jake Watts had cancelled out Melford’s opener 19 minutes into the second half. On Tuesday night, the Ghosts are back in action when they host Norwich City U21s in the last eight of the Norfolk Senior Cup (7.15pm) – a game rescheduled from last week.Elsewhere yesterday, it was Groundhog Day at The Memorial Field as Downham Town spurned a hatful of chances in a 2-2 home draw against Kirkley and Pakefield. The visitors went ahead against the run of play and extended their advantage early in the second half.Sixth-placed Downham fought back with two quickfire goals through Eoin McQuaid and Dylan Edge to level matters but then wasted more opportunities to clinch all three points. Downham handed a debut to ex-Fakenham goalkeeper Tom Coombe between the posts.Heacham returned home empty-handed from Woodbridge Town after a slender loss against the play-off hopefuls.In the First Division North, Swaffham Town found themselves 8-1 down at the break and, although they added a second towards the end of the 90 minutes, the home side found the back of the net a further five times in the second half.The defeat leaves the Pedlars 12 points adrift in the relegation zone with 16 games left to play.