Downham given green light for promotion as title race hots up

Downham Town have been given the green light for promotion should they win the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division or go up to the next level through the play-offs.The Memorial Field passed a Step 5 ground grading this week following a visit from Football Association officials, but further work is required if the club is to pass a Step 4 grading next March.It comes as a major boost for the club, who are embroiled in a three-horse race with Brantham Athletic and Fakenham Town for the league title.Fakenham Town claimed a sixth straight Premier Division victory after defeating Stowmarket Town 1-0 on Tuesday night.The third-placed Ghosts moved level on points with Brantham Athletic in second and are now just a point shy of leaders Downham Town with three games of the campaign remaining.Although his side remains at the summit, Downham boss Dale Stokes doesn’t believe the title is a foregone conclusion.Stokes said: “In terms of the race for promotion, we know it’s going to be tough. “I know Fakenham will certainly fancy their chances with the run of games they’ve got. You can easily see them going unbeaten in their last three. “People keep telling me we’ve got the hardest fixtures out of the teams in the play-offs so we will just see how it goes.”It’s only our second season at Step 5, and we set our target a while back to reach the play-offs. If we achieve that, then we’ve had a great season.”Downham regained the top spot courtesy of their 1-0 home win against Thetford Town last weekend. “I thought it was a professional and organised performance,” admitted Stokes.”We controlled the game for large periods with and without the ball and never really came under any threat. “In the first half, we looked so comfortable and they struggled to get anywhere near our box, which is a testament to the work rate and discipline of the players.”I said to the players after, I think sometimes in football when you only create three or four good chances and win 1-0, the overall performance isn’t fully appreciated. “But that was a pleasing 90 minutes for me. In and out of possession, we were far superior.”Fakenham will fancy their chances of going on to win the title should they pick up maximum points from their final three fixtures.A fantastic free-kick from Joe Keeley 13 minutes from time handed the Ghosts a crucial three points in their quest for league glory.Fakenham travel to Hadleigh United tomorrow before a trip to Long Melford the following weekend and a home derby against Dereham Town on Easter Monday. Second-placed Brantham entertain Yarmouth tomorrow before travelling to Kirkley and Pakefield on April 19 and entertaining Hadleigh United on the final day.Leaders Downham are at Walsham le Willows – 4-0 winners against Heacham on Tuesday night – tomorrow and finish with a trip to Yarmouth Town on April 19 and a home derby against Heacham on April 21.Heacham are without a fixture in the Premier Division this weekend, as are Swaffham Town in the First Division North.