Heacham pip Downham to promotion after final day demolition job

Nine years ago, Heacham manager David Griggs was pleading league officials not to relegate his side from the North West Norfolk League.

Wind the clock forward, the tiny village club is pinching itself after completing an eighth successive promotion to Step 5 of the non league pyramid by being crowned champions of the First Division North.

The Magpies wrote another chapter in their fairy tale rise as they made sure there was no final-day slip up in front of a record crowd of 315 the Heacham Sports Field.

Before the game the champagne was on ice with West Norfolk rivals Downham Town still in with a chance of winning the title – but by the end of it the beer was flowing after a demolition job on Haverhill Borough.

Heacham started the game two points ahead at the summit and ended it four points clear after Downham Town were held to a 1-1 draw at the SCL Memorial Field to book their place in the play-offs.

Fletcher Toll scored four goals for the Magpies while Luke Gray climbed off the bench to score a hat-trick and Charlie Royle helped himself to a brace.

It was an emphatic display from Griggs’ side, who showed their attacking intent from the very first whistle.

The Haverhill Borough goal came under wave-after-wave of home attacks.

A Royle centre just evading the head of Toll, Nathan Davies seeing an effort deflected wide while John Flanagan watched his shot come back off the post.

But two Toll headers in the space of as many minutes settled any nerves that the Magpies may have had going into the game.

At the other end, home goalkeeper Aaron Watson was at full-stretch to keep out Branham Ince as the depleted visitors refused to buckle in the opening 15 minutes.

Toll missed a great opportunity to complete his treble ten minutes before the break after firing Ben Dear’s knock-on over the woodwork.

But he soon made amends by grabbing his third with Heacham’s next attack of the game as his shot crept over the line with the hep of the post.

Six minutes after the restart it was 4-0 as Charlie Royle let fly from all of 35 yards to beat beleaguered

goalkeeper Jacob Moule all ends up.

Haverhill’s Spencer Sykes almost replied with a spectacular effort from the halfway line after spotting Watson a long way off his line.

Four soon became five as some unselfish play from Toll set up substitute Gray for his first before the impressive Royle made it 6-0 with his second of the afternoon.

Toll was again the provider for number seven as Gray stabbed the ball home – and the home faithful demanded more.

Haverhill replied after Jude Iron nipped in to fire the ball past Watson but normal order was soon restored as Toll nutmegged the goalkeeper for his fourth

The Heacham youngster needed one more goal to win the Golden Boot award on his own but, as hard as he tried, it was Gray who rounded off the scoring two minutes from time.

A superb second half of the season laid the foundations for Heacham’s latest title success with only one defeat in 16 outings since the turn of the year

Since the home defeat to Downham in mid-March, the Magpies have gone on a eight-match unbeaten run – seven of which have been victories.

Heacham: Watson, Gibson, Clunan, Daw, Dear, R. Rawlings, Royle, Goss Toll, Davies, Flanagan. Subs: Coe, Lammiman, Falcao, Gray, G. Rawlings.

Attendance: 315.

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