Ghosts' reserves closing the gap

Stalham Town 2, Fakenham Town Reserves 1

With Stuart Woodhouse and Mark King's Fakenham Ridgeons League side with no fixture, it was all focus on the reserves who faced a trip to Carl Nicholls' Stalham Town with assistant manager Chris Evans in attendance to run a roving eye over the young second string.

With Stalham sitting comfortably in midtable in Dolphin Autos Anglian Combination Division One, this was going to be a tough match for Terry Hill and Dean Futter's men at the foot of the table.

Fakenham welcomed Steve Stokes back. The first team winger had been out of action for seven weeks following a broken nose suffered at Long Melford.

Fakenham started well, playing some good football, and soon took the lead when Jason Day collected the ball in central midfield before firing and unstoppable strike into the roof of the Stalham net, giving Stalham's keeper Thomas Nicholls no chance.

The last 20 minutes of the half Stalham were on top and carved out five or six good chances and were unlucky not to be leading at the break.

The second half was quite an even affair. As the clocked tick down Stalham started to have more play and levelled when their, devastating striker scored after the ball was cut back.

Gareth Motterham had an excellent game in goal and pulled of a string of good saves. Stalham grabbed all three points when Karl Barnard slid in at the back post.

Stokes looked hot up top until he hobbled off after 50 minutes, which will be bad news for the first team managers who hoped to have the winger available for selection for Saturday's trip to Downham Market but Woodhouse and King will be pleased to have skipper Matty Garrod back following the previous week's poor defeat at Stowmarket were Garrod was not avaible and was badly missed.

Evans said he was impressed with the progress of the reserve side was making and especially the keeper and Jason Day, who was technically superb.