Fakenham Town got their Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division season off to a perfect start by beating Hadleigh United 2-0.

With new signings Jack Barber and George Abbott making their debuts in amber and black at Clipbush Park on Saturday, Fakenham took the lead on the half-hour mark as Ashley Jarvis slotted the ball past the advancing keeper, despite the close attention of two Hadleigh defenders.

The Ghosts added a second in sensational style on the hour when Sam Garner blasted the ball from the touchline halfway inside the Hadleigh half – only to watch it drop in behind the despairing keeper.

It can only be described as a total fluke of a goal, but for a change good fortune was on the Ghosts’ side.

Tommy Rix, in the Fakenham goal, didn’t have a great deal to do throughout the game, and will be more than happy that his defence helped him earn a clean sheet.

At the other end of the pitch, only a superb save from the visiting keeper kept Kyle Plumb from extending the lead towards the end, in what turned out to be a thoroughly deserved win with Fakenham being the more dominant of the two sides.

Ghosts manager Wayne Anderson was quick to praise his troops afterwards.

He said: “It was definitely the start we wanted, now we need to carry that sort of performance on.”

The focus now turns to the FA Cup, and the visit of Sleaford Town on Saturday (3pm) in the extra preliminary round. The Lincolnshire side play in the United Counties League Premier Division – the same as Fakenham’s opponents at the same stage last season (Huntingdon Town).

Assuming no cup replay is required, it’ll be a quick return to league action when Great Yarmouth Town visit Clipbush Park on Wednesday.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Fakenham’s relegation rivals from last season also got their campaigns off to a positive start.

Thetford Town did their best to suggest they will not need a relegation reprieve this term to keep them up – unlike Fakenham who stayed up by the more traditional method of finishing above the drop zone – by winning 4-0 at FC Clacton.

Robbie Priddle (2), Samuel Bond and substitute Ryan Fuller struck to compound Clacton’s opening-day misery.

Swaffham Town, who were likewise handed a top-flight lifeline despite finishing in the bottom three, also had something to smile about on the road.

They were heading for a narrow defeat at Saffron Walden Town until Jake Platten’s header in the 93rd minute rescued a 1-1 draw.