Clean sweep of wins for Premier Division sides

There was a clean sweep of wins for the West Norfolk representatives in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division this afternoon.League leaders Fakenham Town defeated Ely City 4-3 in a thrilling top-of-the-table clash at the Daly Group Stadium while ten-man Downham Town defeated high-flying Dereham Town at the Memorial Field and Heacham made it back-to-back league wins with a 3-0 win on their travels at Long Melford.The Ghosts twice came from behind against the Robins on home soil before registering their tenth win in 14 games this campaign.Tom Stoker gave the visitors an early lead before Jack Robinson equalised for Alex Walpole’s side after 15 minutes.Jack Friend fired the Robins into a 2-1 interval lead but within a minute of the restart, Jake Watts levelled matters for a second time in the afternoon.Two goals in the space of three minutes turned the game firmly in Fakenham’s favour.Watts tucked away his 26th goal of the campaign from the penalty spot to make it 3-2 before turning provider to set up strike partner Luke Middleton for the Ghosts’ fourth shortly after. Ely added a third goal seven minutes from time but Fakenham saw out the remaining minutes on the clock to take a big three points. The win leaves the Ghosts three points clear at the summit ahead of their FA Vase trip to Harpenden Town next Saturday.Speaking after the game, boss Walpole said: In possession, it was one of our best performances of the season. We controlled the game for long periods, but like many times this season, we’ve conceded cheap goals.”Like many times this season though, we score goals. Wattsy will take the headlines, but the work this squad put in across the pitch is brilliant. “This win is because of the squad we have. In the last 10 minutes, we had to put bodies on the line and dig in deep to keep hold of the three points, and we did. These boys keep doing us proud.”Fakenham Town: Pearson, Reynolds, Walpole, Rasberry, Mayhew, Wright, Keeley, Henman-Mason, Watts, Robinson, Middleton. Subs: Oakley, Twose, Densley, Coslett, Page. Downham Town bounced back from their disappointing exit from the Norfolk Senior Cup in midweek by ending Dereham Town’s ten-match unbeaten league and cup run.The home side had Jake Miller sent off on the stroke of half-time but it only strengthened their resolve for the remainder of the game as they kept their fourth clean sheet in the last five league outings. The winning goal arrived in the 81st minute as Valter Rocha fired home a stunning free-kick to settle matters.The result moves Dale Stokes’ side up to seventh in the league standings with several games in hand on the sides above them.On Wednesday night, Downham Town are back in league action when they host Soham Town Rangers.Downham Town: McAnally, Miller, Reed, Watts-Sturrock, Gould, M. Castellan, V. Rocha, N. Castellan, R. Rocha, McQuaid, Sivakumar. Subs: Smith, Yates, Delgardo, Hobbs, Murkin. Heacham also bounced back from their County Cup exit at the hands of Easton by making it back-to-back league wins with a big victory at Long Melford this afternoon.Midfielder Josh Williams scored twice for the Magpies with Jordan Goult adding the third.Paul Hunt’s side now sit 15th in the latest table ahead of their home fixture against Lakenheath on Tuesday night.Heacham: Watson, Pightling, Anderson, Goult, Robinson, Williams, Davies, Hunt, Prentice, Wood, Jackson. Subs: Akers, Robinson, Forde, Willmott, Parker.In the First Division North, Swaffham Town suffered a 2-1 defeat at Gorleston Town Reserves.