Both Dereham Town and Fakenham Town suffered a weekend of football frustration.

The Magpies' Norfolk Senior Cup tie at Blofield was postponed until Saturday because of pitch conditions, and the Ghosts suffered a heavy league defeat.

After two steps forward it was a case of one back for Fakenham when they suffered a disappointing 5-0 reverse at Thetford.

Any hopes they had of following up the midweek win over Diss with another stride towards mid-table security were dented by a Thetford goal in the opening minutes, and three more followed by half-time.

'I think we caught them on the hop,' said Thetford manager Mark Scott. 'They didn't expect us to come out so quickly.

'Fakenham showed a lot of chaacter and spirit in the second half but they lacked bite in the final third of the pitch.'

The Ghosts, six from bottom, face a tough trip to second-placed Stowmarket on Saturday.

Fakenham Reserves won a challenging Norfolk Junior Cup fourth round home tie against Wymondham Reserves 4-3 on penalties after the sides were locked at 2-2.

Dereham are seven points ahead of Wroxham in the chase for the Ridgeons championship and 10 ahead of Leiston, who have five games in hand but are still involved in the FA Vase.

There is a real crunch match at Aldiss Park on Tuesday night (7.45pm) when Dereham entertain Wroxham.

The Magpies' quarter-final cup tie at Anglian Combination champions Blofield, who are well placed to defend their league title, is set for a 1.45pm kick-off.