Promotion certs given big fright by Ghosts

Fakenham Town 1, Gorleston 1

Ghosts’ manager Wayne Anderson introduced a new system against the promotion-chasing Greens, and he was delighted at the way his players adapted, writes John Cushion.

He felt their performance deserved completing the league double – Gorleston were beaten 1-0 on their own pitch last August – but it took a last-gasp scrambled effort from defender Matt Gilchrist to earn the point they so richly deserved.

Anderson said the Ridgeons First Division leaders’ management duo applauded his side off the pitch. “They said if we play like that next season, we should finish well up the league. I think we must have had 60-70 per cent of the play.”

Anderson said he had been thinking of playing a new system for five or six weeks and admitted the players “appeared a bit confused” when it was explained on the drawing board in the dressing room. “But they took on board what I and Jarvos (Neil Jarvis) told them and it caused Gorleston problems. It was a great result for us.”

Gorleston took the lead nine minutes into the second half when Steve Taylor and Darren Cockrill set up Mitch Forbes to drill home his 14th goal of the season.

Five minutes into six of added time a cross was hoisted into the Greens’ area by Stephen Harvey, keeper Elliott Pride was put under pressure by Ben Coe and Gilchrist, failed to hold onto the ball and Gilchrist grabbed the equaliser.

The Ghosts have no game on Saturday and are next in action at Godmanchester on April 9.

Fakenham Reserves lost 3-0 at Spixworth in Anglian Combination Division Four, where they are mid-table. They have no game Saturday.