Fakenham Town, who climbed off the bottom of Ridgeons League Division One at the weekend with supporters' applause ringing in their ears as they left the field, face a daunting Saturday trip to joint leaders Hadleigh United.

Fakenham Town, who climbed off the bottom of Ridgeons League Division One at the weekend with supporters' applause ringing in their ears as they left the field, face a daunting Saturday trip to joint leaders Hadleigh United.

The Ghosts salvaged some of the pride which had been dented by their Norfolk Senior Cup defeat the previous week with a spirited performance at Clipbush Park against seventh-placed God-manchester Rovers who were beaten by goals in each half from Nick Haynes and Karl Pask.

The crowd of 38 may have been the second smallest in the league, but they clapped the side off the pitch at the end of a workmanlike performance which ran through the whole team.

“That's the sort of performance we know they are capable of,” said joint manager Stuart Woodhouse. “We know it's there, we know it's in the players. It was a good performance.” He thought with consistency the team could rise above the bottom two into a pack of clubs.

Saturday saw a change of system with Jason Cole and Martin Fenwick tucking in the add more challenges to balls into the box which before had gone uncontested.

Woodhouse felt they and players such as Nick Tagg rose to the occasion. He and fellow manager Mark King are pleased with the way the forward partnership of Mark Betts and Pask is developing, and Woodhouse described Pask as “a real Ridgeons League player.”

Mark Critten and Jason Day are unavailable for the trip to Hadleigh.

After that match, Fakenham have home games against Debenham LC on December 20 and Swaffham Town, now the bottom side, on December 27.

Fakenham Town 2, Godmanchester Rovers 0

In a lively, positive opening, the Ghosts took the lead after seven minutes. Betts initiated a move from the left from which the ball eventually reached Haynes at the far post and he drilled home the first goal from close range.

A fine Rovers move ended with a shot over the bar and Lee Boon was wasteful with a shot wide after a good break and home keeper Daniel Stockdale, playing despite a leg injury, made a brave block at a forward's feet.

At the other end, Betts slotted over a dangerous low cross but Pask was unable to get in a telling touch at full stretch after 37 minutes.

Godmanchester asked questions of the Fakenham midfield and defence in a promising start to the second half, but the Ghosts found the right answers, even though James Edwards should have done better than lob over the bar at the end of a long clearance.

The counter-attacks started to flow form the Fakenham defence and midfield and the Ghosts extended their lead after 63 minutes in style.

Jason Day set Betts free to the right, and his cross was converted by Pask.

Godmanchester threatened with a couple of dangerous balls into the box and Stockdale made a good late save, despite hampered by his leg injury.

The match set the standard which Town must now hit consistently in the 13 league games left.

Fakenham: Stockdale, Fenwick, Cole, Whittred, Tagg, A Woodhouse, Haynes, Bamford, Pask, Betts, Day. Subs: Hooks, B Woodhouse, Critten, King.