Fakenham Town caretaker Jarvis’ no let-up cry

Fakenham Town’s players have been challenged to make the most of their final three games of the season – because 2015/16 will be coming around quickly, writes Gareth Davis.

Back-to-back clashes with Ipswich Wanderers (Saturday, home, 3pm) and a final-day encounter with Newmarket Town make up the remainder of the campaign and although the Ghosts have performed brilliantly in their first season back in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division for a decade, there is still plenty to play for.

The trio of fixtures present a final chance for the players to express themselves in a match environment before the summer break – and the new pre-season schedule then won’t be too far off.

“The lads have got the chance between now and the end of season to show that they are keeping on improving, which is what we want to see, and to get themselves ready to be flying for next pre-season to get in the team,” said joint caretaker boss Neil Jarvis, who is leading the team alongside striker Robbie Harris until the end of 2014/15.

“You try to give one or two of the younger lads minutes here and there at this stage of the season anyway, but with a few injuries in the squad that takes its own course.”

Ipswich, like Fakenham, won promotion from the First Division last season, and have adapted well to top-flight football avoiding a relegation battle comfortably.

Fakenham were beaten 4-0 by fourth-placed Kirkley on Saturday – visiting skipper Ross King (eight minutes, 40 and 47) bagging a hat-trick before substitute Miguel Lopez completed the scoring.

But they were much more like their usual selves on Tuesday night with a resolute 0-0 draw at third-placed Stanway Rovers – their third clean sheet in four games under Jarvis and Harris.

Fakenham’s reserves, who lost 5-0 at Mattishall’s second-string, have no game this Saturday but know they are almost certain to finish no lower than eighth with one Anglian Combination Division Three fixture left.