Heacham stun Downham in derby clash

Downham Town 1 Heacham 2

Lewis Gibson scored twice as Heacham came from a goal down at the break to end Downham’s unbeaten start to the new Thurlow Nunn Premier Division season.

The two newly-promoted sides served up a cracker at the SCL Memorial Field but it was the Magpies who prevailed to cease Downham’s unbeaten streak at home in the league, which had stretched back to almost two years.

Heacham had goalkeeper Aaron Watson to thank for a number of fine saves, including a brilliant penalty stop from George Watts-Sturrock in the second half.

Downham Town v Heacham in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division. Picture: Ian Burt

Watson was on hand to keep out a powerful effort from Magic Smalls in the opening few minutes as Downham began well on top.

Owen McQuaid was at the heart of everything good for Downham in the first half, while both James Moore and Smalls were a constant menace to the visitors who had to remain discliplined during some long spells of home pressure.

Gibson saw his snapshot comfortably dealt with by Duncan McAnally at the other end, before McQuaid went close from a set-piece and Watson saved low from Smalls for a second time.

The hard-working Moore saw his shot whistle just wide of the target as the home barrage continued.

Heacham were dealt a blow towards the end of the first half after Owen Gilbert, who had been excellent in the opening 35 minutes, was forced off the field with a head injury to be replaced by Ika Kortua.

Less than five minutes after Gilbert’s departure, Heacham were behind as the brilliant Smalls created some space before firing home low from just outside the left of the Heacham box.

But it was a different story at the start of the second half as a totally-committed Heacham outfit turned the game on its head with two goals in quick succession.

The first was made by Magpies substitute Jack Noble who cut the ball back for Gibson to poke home the equaliser three minutes after the restart.

There was no doubting the quality of Gibson’s second strike nine minutes later after he picked himself up following a foul on the edge of the box to curl home a delightful free-kick.

The two goals and Heacham’s extra heart and desire stunned Downham who struggled to find any rhythm for the next few minutes.

Once they did recover Jake Miller saw his effort cleared off the line while Watson thwarted Smalls with another fine stop.

They were handed a lifeline and a chance of an equaliser as the referee pointed to the penalty spot – but Watts-Sturrock saw his penalty save kept out by the reflexes of Watson low down to his right.

Heacham’s Fletcher Toll missed a golden opportunity to give the visitors some extra breathing space, screwing his effort wide of the target after finding himself one-on-one with McAanally.

There was still time for Watson to deny Moore with another fingertip stop but brave Heacham held on to defeat their rivals for the very first time.

Downham Town: McAnally, Miller, Reed, Watts-Sturrock, Yates, Bird, Visocanskis, McQuaid, Moore, Prudence, Smalls. Subs: Gould, White, Castellan, Jackson, Franks.