Fakenham Town continue their efforts to climb clear of the bottom of Ridgeons One when they visit mid-table Cornard on Saturday and entertain Gorleston on Tuesday (7.

Fakenham Town continue their efforts to climb clear of the bottom of Ridgeons One when they visit mid-table Cornard on Saturday and entertain Gorleston on Tuesday (7.45).

The Ghosts are now just two points behind Long Melford, with four games in hand, and three adrift of third-bottom Ipswich Wanderers who have played a game more.

Fakenham Town 1, Stowmarket 1

On Friday night, a first half with plenty of effort from both sides ended goalless, the Ghosts' defence tackling and covering well, writes John Cushion.

Their best move ended with a Nick Haynes shot from distance which found the keeper.

Early second half Fakenham's Karl Pask broke through but his shot was blocked bravely by the keeper. Kevin Whittred had little time to react to the rebound and sent

it wide.

Stowmarket took the lead with a fluke in the 71st minute. Dan Allen made ground down the left and hit the ball high across goal. It surprised new keeper Ian Cooper by swerving over his head, hitting the inside of the far post and bouncing into the goal.

Gritty Fakenham equalised when defender Ben Woodhouse attacked a Mark Critten corner and headed home in the 84th minute.

Fakenham again showed encouraging signs of improving their defensive work. The first half was not pretty, but the home rearguard looked organised. There was hard work all over the pitch, although the home midfield did not produce very much for the hard-running front men to feed on. A draw was a fair result.

Fakenham: Cooper, Ben Woodhouse, Adam Woodhouse (Raisbury 46), Tagg, Day (Bamford 63), Whittred, Fenwick (Cole 63), Haynes, Pask, Betts, Critten.