Downham back on top after Dereham win

Dale Stokes commended his Downham Town players after seeing them regain top spot in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division.Downham were back to their very best as they dented Dereham’s promotion aspirations with a 3-1 victory in the derby clash at Aldiss Park.Goals from Dylan Kirk and Eoin McQuaid gave Downham a 2-0 advantage and, although Dereham pulled a goal back with ten minutes to go, Charlie Royle wrapped up a big win by adding a late third.Downham find themselves a point clear of Brantham Athletic – 2-0 losers at home to Soham Town Rangers – having played a game more than the team in second spot.Stokes said: “I’m pleased with the performance and the three points. I thought we were good value for it and had chances throughout the game to win by a bigger margin.”After the disappointment of recent results, we needed to get back on track and with Dereham only losing once at home all season, it was going to be difficult.”But the players executed what was asked of them and controlled large parts of the game both in and out of possession, which was great to see. “This isn’t something I particularly like to praise as it should be a given, but the desire and work rate were superb. It needed to increase after a lacklustre showing last weekend and they were fully aware of how disappointed I was with several aspects of that game. “Today was more like what I expect and as a group they were brilliant. Duncan (McAnally) didn’t have a great deal to do as a result of the discipline and organisation in front of him.”That came from Harley (Murkin) who was a handful all day. He’s only 18 and he deserves a lot of credit for the shift he put in against some experienced centra-backs.”Elsewhere, Heacham made it back-to-back wins and seven points from their last three games with a 2-1 win at Lakenheath. Colby Wood gave Paul Hunt’s side the lead before Jack Prentice doubled the Magpies’ advantage with his second goal in as many games.Lakenheath reduced the arrears but Heacham, who find themselves 11 points better off than this time last season, held on to take the three points.In the Thurlow Nunn First Division North, relegated Swaffham Town suffered a 7-0 reverse at Framlingham.