Fakenham Town boss Wayne Anderson insists his side can still pull off the great escape, writes Tony Miles.

The Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division relegation-threatened club – who are six points from safety with just seven matches to play – host mid-table FC Clacton.

With third-from-bottom Thetford Town winning 3-1 at Gorleston in midweek to increase their hopes of pulling clear of the bottom three – and pulling five adrift of Fakenham – each game is now becoming a must-win one for the Ghosts.

Anderson, who missed Saturday’s 1-1 home draw against Ipswich Wanderers, said: “I think we can still do it (stay up). We’ve still got to play teams near us, so there’s no reason why not.

“I spoke to Jarvo several times on Saturday morning about the players and the tactics, and I’d been updated on the score throughout the game as well.

“I’m pleased with how the lads carried out the plan and again with key players missing we’ve had to reshuffle and play players out of position, but we’ve done well. We need to carry that on into the Clacton game.”

With Anderson missing from the home dugout on Saturday, things got off to the perfect start for assistant Neil Jarvis against Ipswich.

Great work from Ricky Claxton after just five minutes allowed Sam Garner to fire the Ghosts ahead – and it was a lead they were good for.

The score remained 1-0 at the break, although Ipswich came back into it more as the half wore on.

The second half was much the same as the first but with 10 minutes remaining it was the visitors that found the net with Jack Severy beating Tommy Rix to level things up.

The Ghosts could have been left completely devoid of points had a penalty awarded to Ipswich deep into stoppage time not been blasted so far over the bar it would have looked more at home round Fakenham’s bypass at the rugby club.

In the end it was deserved point for both sides but still a disappointing one for the Ghosts as they desperately look to move away from the relegation zone.

Fakenham’s reserve side battled to a 2-2 draw with South Walsham at Clipbush Park on Tuesday evening. They currently sit 12th in the Third Division of the Anglian Combination, and travel to face Swaffham Town Reserves this weekend.

Dereham Town visit Thurrock on Saturday and host Maldon & Tiptree on Tuesday off the back of a resounding Ryman League Division One North victory.

The Magpies thumped Redbridge 5-0 on Saturday with Luke Tuttle netting a hat-trick. Craig Bussens and Sam Borrer also found the net.