Fakenham Town succumbed to a heavy defeat against Stanway Rovers in their last home game of 2015, writes Tony Miles.

Having already lost on the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division’s opening day at Stanway by a single goal, it was again the opposition that came out with all three points on Saturday – but not after the Ghosts had taken the lead very early on.

It was Kyle Plumb who scored in the third minute after a long throw wasn’t dealt with, but unlike when Long Melford visited Clipbush Park a fortnight ago, it wasn’t to be.

Stanway, who prior to kick-off sat fourth, hit back, scoring twice shortly after, the first an own goal, and the second from the penalty spot. The teams went in at the break with Stanway edging it 2-1.

However, the second half was a different story, with Stanway scoring four times to lead 6-1.

The Ghosts then had Sam Garner sent off for asecond bookable offence.

Matt Franks pulled another goal back for the hosts, but it was still an afternoon to be forgotten with the final scoreline reading Fakenham Town 2 Stanway Rovers 6.

However, despite the Ghosts’ current league position of 19th, it’s not all doom and gloom, according to player-manager Robbie Harris.

From the 18 league games remaining for Fakenham to play this season, 13 of those are against teams in the lower half of the table, a statistic identified by Harris.

The Ghosts’ next four games are against teams that currently find themselves in the bottom five places and a winning run isn’t out of the question against the fellow strugglers.

“We had a very tough start to the season, playing the top five teams in the first few weeks,” said Harris.

“We still have a real chance to take points off those around us and push up the league.

“I’d like to think that realistically we could be sitting around the mid-table mark by the end of April.”

Fakenham’s post-Christmas fixtures begin at Thetford Town – who are just a place and a point above the Ghosts – on Monday. The Bank Holiday match kicks-off at 3pm.

Fakenham’s reserves ran out 2-1 winners at Downham Town Reserves on Saturday. Scoring the goals for the Ghosts were Ricky Claxton & Luke Gray. Their next fixture is on Saturday January 2 at Sprowston Wanderers.