Ghosts beat Magpies in seven-goal thriller

Fakenham Town and Heacham served up a seven-goal thriller on Tuesday night as the Ghosts made a winning start to their Premier Division campaign.The first Thurlow Nunn League derby of the new season had just about everything and exploded into life with three goals during a four-minute spell in the first half.Josh Williams fired Heacham in front before two Jake Watts penalties and a wonder strike from Jay Myhill saw Fakenham go into the break with a 3-1 lead.Jack Prentice pulled a goal back a minute after the restart and although Watts went on to complete his treble there was still time for Toby Hilliard to set up an anxious last 25 minutes for the Ghosts by making it 4-3.The drama was played out in front of a crowd of 275.Fakenham boss Alex Walpole said: “It was a game that wasn’t great for the nerves. We conceded three sloppy goals, which we are frustrated about, but thankfully, we were very clinical at the other end.”Jack Robinson, Jay Myhill, and Jake Watts caused the Heacham backline problems all evening but in the last 20 minutes, we had to dig deep to cope with the direct physical nature of the Heacham side. “Some of the boys could have easily folded under the pressure, but they stood tall and handled everything thrown at them.” Heacham boss Paul Hunt said: For a neutral, it was a really good game of football with lots of attacking intent from both sides.”We didn’t play very well in the first half and Fakenham were much the better side. We had a good chat at half-time and changed one or two things.”I thought the second half we were superb, we created lots of chances and dominated long periods of the half. “We’re a new squad and it’s going to take the players a little bit of time to understand how I want this football team to play, but they took the information on board at half-time and I was proud of how we played in that second half.”In the end, I was perhaps disappointed not to get a draw from the game. It was on a knife-edge and there were several goalmouth scrambles and chances and there were plenty of positives from our second-half display.” Elsewhere last night, Downham Town’s campaign got off on a losing note with a 3-1 defeat at Ely City.The Robins scored three times in the second half before Downham scored a late consolation through Luke Reed. Manager Dale Stokes said: “It was a bitterly disappointing start to the new season.”We didn’t find any rhythm really and, although we had some large periods of possession, we didn’t create enough to make it count.”To rub salt into the wounds, we conceded during the spells that we were on top.”We are a million miles better than what we showed this evening. It can happen in football and I get that, but the frustrating part is that we were outworked, which isn’t acceptable. “You can’t take anything away from Ely though, they put a proper shift in and wanted it more, simple as that.”Elsewhere, Swaffham Town fell to a second successive defeat with a 1-0 home loss to Holbeach United.On Saturday, all three Premier Division sides find themselves away in the FA Cup.Heacham travel to Harleston with boss Hunt saying: “It’s the best competition in the country and as a club you want to stay in it as long as possible. “We know Harleston are a good side but we’ll go there and enjoy it and if we go there and replicate our second-half performance against Fakenham then we will give ourselves a chance.”Fakenham are at Cornard with Walpole saying: Cornard is a difficult place to go, and they’re high on confidence after getting promoted last season.”Over the last few seasons, we’ve had some really good cup runs at the club and this year is no different.”The FA Cup is a great competition to be involved in, and the boys are looking forward to the game.”Downham Town are at Long Melford and Stokes is after a reaction from his players.”The players know Tuesday night wasn’t good enough and Saturday we have the FA Cup, so I’d hope they can get up for that and right some wrongs,” he said.