Downham too strong for Fakenham in derby clash

James Moore and Fletcher Toll were both on target in a 2-0 victory as Downham Town got the better of Fakenham Town in a tight derby encounter at the Daly Group Stadium last night.Downham’s dynamic forward duo were the difference in a tight Thurlow Nunn Premier Division encounter with a couple of clinical finishes to see off the Ghosts.The win maintained Downham’s push for a play-off spot while all but ending Fakenham’s hopes of making a late charge towards the top five.Fakenham’s cause wasn’t helped by the loss of midfielder Cameron Beazer who recently left the club to join Gorleston in the Isthmian League.There was nothing in the opening quarter in which visiting goalkeeper Duncan McAnally pulled off an excellent save low down to his left to deny Fin Whiteley the opener.A clinical Downham outfit took the lead with their first real opportunity of the match midway through the first half.There looked little on as Luke Reed and Eoin McQuaid combined to play in teenager Moore, who found the back of the net with a brilliant finish on the turn just inside the box.That’s how it stayed until the interval and the second goal was always going to be crucial in the overall outcome of the game.Fakenham enjoyed long spells with the ball in the second half but rarely looked like penetrating the visitors’ defence.A patient visiting side bided their time and 20 minutes from time the influential McQuaid picked out Toll who finished brilliantly for his 20th Downham goal in 20 games.Visiting goalkeeper McAnally was called upon to make a couple of routine stops to deny both Jake Watts and Whiteley in the second half but Downham were good value for the three points and their game management was excellent.On Saturday, Downham Town welcome Woodbridge Town to the Memorial Field while Fakenham Town are on their travels at Hadleigh United.Fakenham Town: Pearson, Walpole, Field, Rasberry, Youngs, Wright, Robinson, Guyton, Watts, Whiteley, Myhill. Subs: Frostick, Page, Terry, Bonner.Downham Town: McAnally, Miller, Reed, Watts-Sturrock, Yates, Castellan, Visocanskis, Gould, Moore, McQuaid, Toll, Subs: Hutton, Prudence, Jackson.