Magpies hold league leaders

Goals were in short supply for all four of the West Norfolk representatives in the Thurlow Nunn League this afternoon.But perhaps the result of the afternoon came at Station Road where Heacham held league leaders Ely City to a goalless draw.Paul Hunt’s side gave a great account of themselves in front of a crowd of 163 and on another day the Magpies could have easily picked up all three points.Speaking after the game, Hunt said: “We created some really good chances. We got through on numerous occasions and had good opportunities against the league leaders.”I’m proud of the lads and the way they stuck to what we planned and I think on the quality of the chances, we could have perhaps won it.”They’re the league leaders and are going to have some good players and put you under pressure but I thought it was a fairly even game all of the way through.”I thought we looked hard to break down which is testament when playing against a good side like Ely.” Hunt was delighted to his side bounce straight back from the 6-1 drubbing at Yarmouth. “I lost all three centre-halves before the Saturday and that’s hard to adjust to,” he said.”I was then putting people in positions they weren’t used to playing in against a good and fast Yarmouth side.”Then on the bench, we had two or three who were injured and potentially couldn’t come on, so I couldn’t change a lot. “We didn’t do very well collectively and you take a hold of that and you say, right we didn’t do well that week, but we’ve got next week and that was our mentality.”The way the players responded this week and the way they stuck to the task was outstanding.” It wasn’t through the want of trying for Heacham, who hit the woodwork three times through Colby Wood while Lynn-based goalkeeper Tyler made some fine saves to thwart the home side.The Robins did have their chances as well with Aaron Watson pulling off a great save to deny Alex Theobald in a one-on-one situation in the first half. Heacham also had late appeals for a penalty waved away after Wood appeared to be shoved to the floor in the box.”Colby has worked so hard today,” said Hunt.”He’s a cracking lad but like all young players, they have ups and downs. We’re all working with Colby to let him know when he’s not playing so well what was it that made him not play so well?”He’s such a willing lad and wants to learn and that performance was great to see cause off the ball I thought he was phenomenal. “The bits on the ball everyone sees when he scores a goal and does a good bit of work on the ball but the work he did off the ball today was superb.” Alfred Buhlemann was the latest youngster from the club’s under-18 set-up to be handed his first senior start, coming on for the final 25 minutes of the game.”I thought he worked hard for his first game at Step 5,” said Hunt.”He’s doing some really good things for our under-18s and reserves. He has had a run today and he loves being around it.”He’s a football lad and when he came off the pitch he apologised as he felt he could have had a shot and perhaps a goal. “That is his mentality and he wants to do well. It was lovely to hear that.”All of his family would have been here watching so it would be a big day for him. He was with us a couple of weeks ago and he didn’t get on but today he had a run.”It’s always nice when a youngster comes through and breaks into the team and all of the young lads were good off the bench. Conall (Forde) did well on the left and gave us some legs when we needed it.”All-round it was a great team display right from the goalkeeper, through the whole squad. Everyone did what was expected of them.” Second-placed Fakenham suffered a narrow loss at Cornard United with Louie Arnold scoring the only goal of the game in the 74th minute.Downham Town also fired a rare blank in a goalless draw at basement boys Sheringham – the hosts missing a first-half penalty on the coast.On Tuesday night, Dale Stokes’ side are back in league action at Harleston Town.In the First Division North, Swaffham Town lost 1-0 at play-off contenders Diss Town to leave the Pedlars with just the one win in 19 attempts this season.