With several first-choice players unavailable for varying reasons, a depleted Fakenham Town suffered a home defeat to Felixstowe & Walton United, writes Tony Miles.

But first-team boss Wayne Anderson refused to apportion blame, and instead declared himself pleased with his players’ effort throughout the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division game. Putting the visitors’ goals down to defensive errors against a very strong side, Anderson felt that he couldn’t fault his players, some of which hadn’t looked like making the fixture at the beginning of the week.

The Ghosts’ boss said: “We had a very makeshift side and although we ultimately lost, we put in a decent shift against a good side. The lads that came in played out of their skins, and showed what they are capable of.”

Such was the extent of the Ghosts’ injury worries that Anderson was close to including himself in the squad.

“I’ve been playing veteran’s football, so I’d like to think I’m fairly sharp – I certainly think I could have given a half if needed,” he added.

Felixstowe didn’t have it all their own way though during their 2-0 victory at Clipbush Park, with the Ghosts hitting the post and creating other chances.

The visitors took the lead midway through the first half after a scramble in the area wasn’t cleared. Their second came in second-half stoppage time. In truth though, it could have been a completely different scoreline had Ghosts keeper Tommy Rix not been in fine form.

A trip to Hadleigh United is the task for relegation-threatened Fakenham this Saturday (3pm).

The club’s reserves travelled to Buxton in the Third Division of the Anglian Combination and came away with a point after a 0-0 draw. Sprowston Wanderers are the visitors to Clipbush Park on Saturday (2.30pm).

Fakenham Ladies drew 3-3 at home against Long Stratton on Sunday with the goals coming from Nina Batchelor, Rochy Woods and Sian Sands. An away tie at Lynn awaits the Ghosts this Sunday (2pm).

Fakenham Under-18s exited the Thurlow Nunn League Youth Cup at the preliminary round stage after a 3-1 defeat against King’s Lynn Town at Clipbush Park on Monday night. That came after the frustration of a last-minute postponement of last Thursday’s fixture at North Walsham Town in the league, after the referee deemed the pitch unplayable.

n Ryman League Division One North Dereham Town won 2-1 at Romford on Saturday before seeing their Norfolk Senior Cup semi-final at King’s Lynn Town Reserves fall foul of the weather on Tuesday.

A date for the restaging was yet to be confirmed when the paper went to print. Dereham return to action on Saturday when they welcome Maldon & Tiptree on Saturday.