Fakenham Town maintained their good start to the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division season with a 3-0 victory over Heacham this evening.
The Ghosts – 7-2 victors over Stowmarket Town on the opening day of the season – travelled to a Magpies side, who held Hadleigh United to a goalless draw on Saturday.
Jake Watts went close to finding the back of the net in the opening minutes, before eventually breaking the deadlock with a stunning finish on the volley from an acute angle just outside the box.
Fakenham doubled their advantage a few minutes later as Jack Robinson bundled home a Joe Henman cross at the far post.
That’s the way it stayed until the final minutes of the contest, when Watts teed up substitute Jamie Smith to score his first goal for the club.
“I would say that we’re a little bit disappointed with the tempo that we played at times, but coming away from home mid-week and taking the three points with a clean sheet, you can’t ask more from the lads than that.
“For us, the pitch is smaller than what we’re used to. It was playing quite long as well tonight and dry. I know a few of the lads were commenting on how their passes wouldn’t get in there and they struggled to get the ball out of their feet.
“Those things are excuses at the end of the day, but they probably are relevant.
“We’re happy with the three points and we just know that we’ve got to do a lot better with regards to our tempo before we play Wroxham this weekend in the FA Cup.”
Opposing boss Paul Hunt said: “I thought we looked a little bit nervous to start with because, again, we are a side at the start of a cycle.
“We’ve got some youngsters in there, so we looked a little bit nervous and that gave them two early goals.
“As the first half went on, we started to gain in confidence, and then I thought in the second half, we did well.
“We changed shape slightly, we contained them for long periods of that, and we had some chances of our own so I was fairly happy with the second half.
“You’re always disappointed to lose, but Fakenham look in a cycle to really push for the league this year and they have got the outstanding centre-forward in the league.
“You know, he makes a world of difference when he plays.”
A new-look Heacham side may remain without a goal so far this season, but there were plenty of positives for Paul Hunt’s young side to take away after a battling display at Station Road, especially in the second half.
Next up for Heacham is their first-ever FA Cup home tie against Isthmian League North Newmarket Town in the Extra Preliminary Round on Saturday.
Fakenham Town also face Isthmian League North opposition in the shape of Wroxham, who visit the Daly Group Stadium, also in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.
Heacham: Oughton, Anderson, Hutton, Robinson, Forde, Harwood, Parker, Hunt, Wright, Wood, Poore. Subs: Mitchell, Pightling, Easton, Smith, Ellis-O’Hara.
Fakenham: Pearson, Mayhew, Bonner, Sturman, Page, Wright, Robinson, Henman-Mason, Watts, Henman, Flack. Subs: Smith, Keeley, Nantongwe, Malenguka, Burrwood.
Attendance: 212.
