Second half comeback sees Heacham defeat Fakenham in derby clash

Summer signings Owen Gilbert and Jack Noble were both on target as Heacham came from behind to win 2-1 on their Premier Division home bow.

A clever Gilbert free-kick cancelled out Fin Whiteley’s first-half strike for Fakenham before an emphatic header from Noble clinched the three points against the Ghosts, who had Alex Walpole sent-off early in the second half.

After seeing his side record their first win at Step Five, manager David Griggs said: “Obviously, I was a bit gutted we didn’t get off the mark Saturday, but that’s the nature of this league, so we needed to put it right tonight.

“A local derby against Fakenham, 100-miles-per-hour I think you could say for most of.

“We said to the players at half-time that we needed more because it didn’t feel like they continued where they left off in the second-half at Woodbridge.

“I know they had a player sent-off but we were putting them under a lot of pressure and we’re still finding our feet really. I mean, you look at the team, that’s only our second senior game together.

“We’re under no illusion that we’re gonna go five games and unbeaten in this league. This is a tough league to be in and what you’ve got to do is pick yourself up quickly when you do lose.

“With the group we’ve got and the togetherness you know that’s something we will certainly do.”

The Heacham boss was delighted with the club’s opening-night attendance of more than 300.

“That’s excellent for us as a club and excellent for West Norfolk football in general. I know there’s Kings Lynn who get their attendances, but for a Step Five team to have more than 300 in that’s good.”

There was no love lost between the two sides in the early exchanges with tackles from Heacham’s Paulius Falcao and Ben Dear sparking a reaction from both sets of players.

Heacham felt they should have had a penalty in the first half as Nathan Davies saw his shot cleared off the line by Jack Guyton.

The hosts were adamant that Guyton had used his arm to turn the ball behind for a corner, but the referee deemed it to be his shoulder.

Fakenham’s Jack Watts watched his header come back off the Heacham woodwork after excellent work from Jay Myhill.

The deadlock was finally broken six minutes before the break as Watts set-up the opportunity for Whiteley to smash the ball into the back of the net with the help of the crossbar.

Heacham were a yard off it in the first half but it was a completely different story after the interval – and when Walpole saw red for a crude lunge on the returning Fletcher Toll, which saw the home side’s Nathan Davies booked in the aftermath, the Magpies had their tails up.

Visiting goalkeeper Luke Pearson was in no man’s land for the home equaliser and some quick-thinking from Gilbert saw the youngster smash a free-kick into the back of the net.

Heacham were now in the ascendancy and the winner arrived midway through the second half as Luke Gray whipped in a cross from the left and Noble climbed highest to score with an emphatic header.

Understandably, there were one or two anxious moments for the home outfit towards the end as Fakenham changed personnel and formation to search for a way back into the game.

Guyton saw his shot smothered before Whiteley directed the rebound over the bar.

Heacham almost added a third through a sumptuous volley from Toll which whistled just wide of the target.

The final whistle was greeted with joy as Heacham celebrated their first win at the level.

Heacham: Watson, Akers, Kadun-Falcao, Goss, Rawlings, Gilbert, Dear, Toll, Davies, Gray, Coe. Subs: Osborne, Wood, Noble, Lammiman, Young.

Fakenham Town: Pearson, Guyton, Field, Beazer, Youngs, Walpole, Terry, Sturman, Watts, Whiteley, Mayhill. Subs: Rasberry, Edwards, Frostick, Poore, Malenguka.

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