Whilst in West Norfolk for a holiday I took the opportunity to take in a Pre-season friendly at Fakenham Town.
The ground is reached via the by pass to the North of the town just off the roundabout to the Morrisons Store. There is a large car park and entrance was through the club house which was well appointed with a large bar area. Walking out to the pitch was a gazebo where they were cooking hamburgers on a bar-b-q. The watery sun was going down slowly and although the temperature was still showing 19.5 a breeze made my choice of shorts a bad one.
The club house sits in the centre of one side of the pitch with a central seated stand on the other side. At both ends there are small covered standing areas.
The grass pitch was a lush green after the wet, wet weather we have had over the past 9 months. This was a complete contrast to two years ago when I visited Wells- next-the -Sea for a game at the same time of year, then the grass underfoot was crisp and yellow with thoughts of will it ever recover.
Fakenham Town, nicknamed the ghosts, have been in existence since 1884. They have been one of the strongest teams in the Anglia region during Amateur and later non-league football over their history. Today they play in the Premier Division of the Eastern Counties League.
Long Stratton were started in 1911 and have developed into a community club with teams of all ages and sexes. They currently play in the Premier Division of the Anglian Combination.
Fakenham Town 4 Long Stratton FC 1
Tuesday 23rd July 2024. 19.45 kick off. Clipbush Lane, Fakenham, NR21 8SW.
Pre-Season Friendly between Fakenham Town of the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division and Long Stratton of the Anglian Combination.
Fakenham; Yellow shirts with black sleeves and black shorts: Long Stratton; Red shirts black shorts.
Both teams soon found their rhythm but it was a mistake by the home keeper that led to the first goal. On 16 minutes the goalkeeper dropped the ball to give the Long Stratton forward the chance to turn an shoot. A defender though was back to clear off the line, the ball falling to a player racing in from the right who squeezed it from an acute angle into the net for the opener.
Within two minutes some good passing down right let Myhill through one on one with the keeper and he slid it under his outstretched leg for the equaliser.
Fakenham gained the ascendency, creating scoring chances and a minute before half time a strong run and perfect cross from down the right was met by Robinson who turned and slotted it home for the lead
The officials surprisingly called for the lights to be switched on for the second half and both teams seemed to respond with more energy, perhaps looking to secure a place for the start of the season. Both sides made substitutes as the half progressed, Long Stratton making two due to what looked like worrying leg injuries. Fakenham took more and more control of the game and it was no surprise that they extended their lead on 75 minutes when Middleton chipped the goal keeper.
Long Stratton, the junior in league status of the two teams, were now running out of steam and weary legs were starting to show. It was only a matter of time that Fakenham scored again, but the visitor held out until the last minute when Frostick tapped home a loose ball.
An enjoyable game that proved a good run out for both teams although Long Stratton must have been worried with the injuries their players had endured.
The competitive season gets closer.
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