Fakenham Town and Dereham Town return to Ridgeons League football action on Saturday and Tuesday with hopes of success high at both Clipbush Park and Aldiss Park.

At Fakenham, Wayne Anderson has the task of getting the Ghosts well away from the wrong end of the First Division, and is confident the goal-scoring problem of recent campaigns has been solved, writes John Cushion.

Matt Henman’s Dereham have to follow the Magpies’ most successful season ever when they were runners-up in the Ridgeons championship and Norfolk Senior Cup winners.

Both clubs start off with two home games. Fakenham are at home to Brightlingsea Regent on Saturday, followed by Downham on Tuesday (7.45pm).

On Saturday, Dereham entertain Walsham-le-Willows, followed by Ely City on Tuesday (7.45pm), ahead of the August 20 FA Cup extra preliminary round tie at Wroxham.

Fakenham manager Anderson was pleased at the way new signings had blended in. “There is a friendly mood in the dressing room, they are up for the new season. They are working as a side and we have had a good pre-season.”

Striker Karl Pask is now injury-free and has scored in friendlies. The list of signings inlclude Ade Hayes, Kristian Jones, Rory Harper, Danny Rasberry, Carl Plumb and Matt Cross – a full-back signed from Dereham.

“We are looking more than capable of scoring more than a few goals this season,” said Anderson, who said a realistic target was a top-half finish.

Magpies’ manager Matt Henman said he was pleased with his squad, although one late addition might come this week. Pre-season had been a bit hit and miss with players unavailable – “but I am very happy with the make-up of the squads.”

He said he had been pleased with the younger players and pointed out that he had a very good nucleus of players who have been competing at Ridgeons level for three or four years, even in their early or mid-twenties they already had a lot of experience.

He did not want to put pressure on players by setting targets. “We have a good chance of competing at the top of the league and winning a trophy.

“Over a period of five to 10 years we will always be in a position where we compete and try to progress.”