Ghosts have tough Easter eggs to crack

FAKENHAM Town have two tough Easter fixtures, at home to promotion certainties Hadleigh on Saturday and a derby at Swaffham on Monday.

Again the battling Ghosts showed that two games in four days is a little beyond their current resources, writes John Cushion.

They followed a magnificent 1-1 draw at top-four FC Clacton on Saturday with a 4-2 home defeat by bottom-six Downham on Tuesday.

At Clacton, Karl Pask scored a magnificent goal which was cancelled out by a header from a corner as the Ghosts' defence was confused by the referee's attempts to get on a home sub with the ball coming across from a corner.

Later the ref overruled what Fakenham conceded were legitimate claims for a penalty, however.

Earlier, James Bamford hit a post from 25 yards and Pask had forced the keeper to tip a shot onto the woodwork.

On Tuesday, an early Mark Betts cross from the right was turned into his own net by a Downham defender, but braces from Tim Kavanaugh and Simon Bush either side of half-time put a physically stronger Downham in control before Mark Betts pulled one back.

The early loss through injury of Kevin Whittred was a big blow, although the defence will again need to look at their concentration levels and the midfield their accuracy and speed of passing.

Once more the Ghosts could not be faulted for their spirit and endeavour, and they gave a hint of things to come with the introduction of two substitutes from Trevor Bird's flourishing under-16 side.

Defender Harry Felton and attacking midfielder Jake Betts looked confident after being given their chances after 65 minutes.

A 4-1 home defeat by Norwich United Reserves left Fakenham Reserves rooted to the bottom of Anglian Combination Division Two, with a drop further into junior football looking inevitable.

On Tuesday, the reserves are at home to Norwich CEYMS.

Tonight (Thursday) Clipbush Park hosts the Norfolk v Suffolk U18s.