McQuaid is spot-on as Town win at play-off rivals

Downham Town boosted their Premier Division play-off chances on Saturday while Heacham lost on their travels and Swaffham Town suffered a heavy home defeat in the First Division North.An Eoin McQuaid penalty was enough to see Downham to three points in their crunch clash at sixth-placed Mulbarton Wanderers.McQuaid missed another penalty to put more breathing space between the two sides and the win leaves Downham sitting seventh in the table – eight points behind leaders Thetford Town – with games in hand on several sides above them in the table.After the game, the club took to X to say: A disciplined away performance sees us come home with all three points.”Not the prettiest of games at times, on a very difficult surface. A McQuaid penalty was enough, as he also missed another to wrap it up.”Heacham suffered a narrow defeat on their travels, losing 1-0 at second-placed Ely City. Alex Kerr scored the only goal of the game at the Demcom Stadium.Paul Hunt’s side slip down two places in the table to 15th due to the defeat. Fakenham Town – who travel to Pinchbeck United in the League Challenge Cup on Tuesday night – were without a weekend fixture. In the First Division North, Swaffham Town’s must-win home game against nearest rivals Needham Market Reserves ended in a 4-0 reverse for the Pedlars.The win saw 19th-placed Needham move eight points clear of the Pedlars, who are 15 points adrift in the relegation zone.Next weekend sees Fakenham Town host league leaders Thetford Town at the Daly Group Stadium, Heacham entertain Long Melford and Downham Town travel to Kirkley and Pakefield.In the First Division North, Swaffham Town travel to Whittlesey Athletic.