Southern Premier Division (sponsored by Evo-Stik)
King’s Lynn Town kicked off the month of February by going on a goal rampage to back up their dramatic injury time win at the end of the previous month over Hereford. Ian Culverhouse’s men went nap over Dunstable Town, before hitting a magnificent seven over Gosport Borough. The twelve goals were shared out between seven different players, with Ryan Fryatt and Tom Siddons scoring in both, whilst Ryan Hawkins added to his strike against Dunstable with a hat-trick at bottom club Gosport. Siddons’ goals were his last contribution to The Linnets for a while, as he joined Spalding Utd on loan soon after the Gosport Borough encounter.
After a free Saturday, Lynn were held to a frustrating draw, in front of another four figure crowd, by Banbury Utd, relying on an injury time equaliser from Toby Hilliard to grab a point. They then had a long trip home from the West Country as the visit to Tiverton Town resulted in the home side grabbing the solitary goal in the 87th minute.
These setbacks, coupled with Hereford’s ominous looking form, means our top non-league side now sit in 2nd, seven points adrift of The Bulls, who also have two games in hand on The Linnets. Given the current situation, it seems unlikely that Culverhouse’s squad will obtain the automatic promotion spot, and will be focussing their attentions on ensuring they are ready for a tilt at the end-of-season play-offs.
Isthmian League North (sponsored by Bostik)
Another team to suffer a frustrating month are Dereham Town. Despite going unbeaten through the month, events that transpired in late February have put a dampener on the achievements.
The Magpies began the month with wins over Heybridge Swifts (2-1) and at Romford (2-0). Sandwiched in-between this was a 2-2 draw at home to Canvey Island. However, since then, things haven’t gone to plan. First up was a 90th minute equaliser by Aveley in a 2-2 draw at Aldiss Park, before news filtered through in the preceding week that Neal Simmons’ men had incurred a three point deduction from the Isthmian League for fielding the ineligible Robbie Linford in the win over leaders AFC Hornchurch back in October. This setback was compounded as the side again saw the concession of a late goal limit their accrual to just one point in their draw at Brentwood Town. Despite this, The Magpies still sit in 7th spot, only three points adrift of third-placed Canvey Island, and will be looking to build up a big enough points total in their last eleven games to reach the divisional play-offs.
On a positive note, winger Rhys Logan has been amongst the goals, scoring in three of the five games, whilst recent signing Sam Borrer highlighted his worth to the squad with goals in the Romford and Aveley games.
Down at the other end of the table, Norwich Utd still have a small cushion over the solitary relegation spot in the division, despite only winning one time during February. A home defeat to Potters Bar Town was followed up by a 3-1 midweek loss at Heybridge Swifts, but The Planters were more successful on their next road-trip. An Adam Hipperson hat-trick fired Steve Eastaugh’s men to a 3-1 win at Ware and sees the side finish the month in 21st position. The postponements of their two further scheduled games mean the Blofield Heath based side still have 14 games to play.
Off the field, it was announced that striker Liam Jackson had extended his current deal with the club for a further two seasons. 20yr old Jackson currently has 17 goals to his name this term, and it must be hoped that the former North Walsham Town striker can continue to improve and fire The Planters to future club success.
Eastern Counties Premier Division (sponsored by Thurlow Nunn)
The in-form Norfolk team in the Eastern Counties Premier Division are Gorleston. The Greens have won all three games to rise into 12th position, scoring eleven goals along the way. The month began with Ross Gilfedder banging in four goals in a 6-2 win at fellow Norfolk side Fakenham Town, the other two goals coming from Joel Watts. Watts was again on target, alongside Peter Lambert & Nathan Russell in a 3-1 win away to Hadleigh Utd, before Larter’s men performed their own version of The Late Show, beating Stanway Rovers 2-1 at Emerald Park. Gilfedder was again on target, equalising after 87 minutes, to set the scene for Peter Lambert to grab the winner as the clock ticked beyond 90 minutes.
Two places above The Greens are Norfolk’s top ranked Step 5 outfit, Wroxham. The club under the management of Godbold & Reynolds reached the League Challenge Cup semi finals in early February, winning 7-3 at Wisbech St.Mary, setting up a tie with Brantham Athletic at Trafford Park on March 20th. The Yachtsmen have since found goals hard to come by, with only one goal in the subsequent three games. A 4-0 reverse at Coggeshall Town, was followed by a fine 1-0 win over Ely City, before they succumbed to a solitary goal defeat at the hands of Histon to finish the month in 8th position. In a bit of bad news, the cub have lost the services of Payton Swatman. The midfielder, who grabbed the winner over Ely City, has decided to move to pastures new, with Stowmarket Town being the recipients.
Also in the semi finals of the League Challenge Cup are Thetford Town, with The Brecklanders hammering Godmanchester Rovers 5-1 at Mundford Road. Their reward is a home tie with Stanway Rovers. The league form of Danny White’s squad has been topsy-turvy, with four points from the four league games played, leaving the side in 13th position. Having lost 5-1 (Melanson) to Stowmarket Town, they bounced back with the cup win, where Valta Rocha marked his return to the club with a hat-trick, before being held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Ipswich Wanderers, with Robbie Priddle adding to his cup brace with another goal. Consecutive weekend visits to the town of Haverhill saw one big win and an agonising odd goal in five defeat. Rocha was again in the goals in the former, grabbing a second hat-trick in just over a week in the 5-0 win over Rovers, before Borough inflicted the 3-2 defeat.
Sitting a few places adrift of The Brecklanders are Great Yarmouth Town. The Bloaters sit 17th, having won one of their three games, with the weather hampering their efforts to catch up on the games they have in hand on those around them. A red card to captain Rob Andersen was the catalyst to Histon beating a young squad 5-1, but Mason & Sinclair’s men recovered to beat FC Clacton 2-0, thanks to goals from Lewis & Holmes. #NorfolkFootball were in attendance for their most recent game, a 2-0 defeat to leaders Felixstowe & Walton Utd. With a notable list of absentees, the young side fought valiantly throughout, but just couldn’t find a way to break down a well organised and resolute opposition, who themselves were cheered on by a large, vocal travelling support. The leaders had numerous players with experience of higher level football within the ranks, and this was pivotal in their victory. One of those players, ex- Lowestoft Town man, Joe Francis, claimed a goal in each half to ensure The Seasiders left The Wellesley with the points.
Languishing near the foot of the table are Fakenham Town. Four straight defeats for Andy Cunningham’s men has left The Ghosts with a real battle to avoid relegation, and a significant upturn in fortunes is going to be required to achieve an act of escapology. Having been hammered 8-0 by Histon, they were then turned over in the aforementioned Gorleston loss, before visits to Godmanchester Rovers and Saffron Walden Town resulted in defeats by 2-0 and 7-0 respectively.
Eastern Counties League Division One (sponsored by Thurlow Nunn)
The county has three sides in the top eight of the First Division, although it is highly doubtful that any can break the stranglehold of the top three in the table. Highest of the threesome, Swaffham Town, sit fourth and after achieving only one point from their first three games in the month (1-3 vs Leiston Reserves, 2-2 vs Little Oakley & 0-3 vs Framlingham Town), The Pedlars returned to winning and goalscoring form, beating Cornered Utd 7-2 with Joe Jackson plundering a hat-trick and his striker partner Alex Vincent claiming a brace. This means the battle for the club’s golden boot is still alive and well, with the former on 34, two ahead of his strike partner.
Sitting one place and three points adrift of Paul Hunt’s men are Rob Back’s King’s Lynn Town Reserves. The Linnets’ second string started the month with a convincing 4-0 win over lowly Team Bury, with Eion McQuaid hitting a treble, but have since hit the buffers, losing 4-2 at Little Oakley and 2-1 at home to neighbours Wisbech St.Mary. The side have also lost the services of Harry Whayman, who has also made the move to Stowmarket Town, on a loan deal.
Eighth place is occupied by Norwich CBS. The boys from The FDC grabbed two wins out of three in February, beating Norfolk rivals Diss Town 3-2 at Brewers Green Lane and Little Oakley by 4-0 at home. Sandwiched in between was a 3-1 home defeat to Halstead Town. The month saw both Ben Fowkes & James Baughurst claim their first goals in CBS colours, whilst Attree, Barraclough & Page bagged two apiece. These goals took Barraclough into double figures for the campaign, a great achievement for a defender.
Mid-table is occupied by Downham Town. The Norfolk Senior Cup semi-finalists started the month with a creditable 2-1 win over Braintree Town Reserves, but drew blanks in their next two encounters, a 3-0 defeat to Debenham LC and a stalemate at Halstead Town. Their scheduled semi final tie with Wymondham Town was a victim of The Beast From The East and is now set for March 13th.
In the lower echelons of Step 6 football sit Norfolk’s last two representatives, Diss Town and Norwich Utd Reserves. The Tangerines have been very active in the transfer market recently, but it doesn’t appear as though these arrivals have had a positive impact, with all three games resulting in defeat, leaving them in 17th place. Jason Hunt’s squad have lost eight out of nine, six of those consecutively.
The Planters’ second string have lost both their league games on the road, to top six sides Framingham Town (0-2) and Braintree Town Reserves (0-6), to sit in 19th, albeit seven points clear of the bottom two. Challen’s men look like they have saved their best form for cup competition, and a fine 4-1 win at March Town Utd saw them reach the semi finals of the Division One Knockout Cup. There, they face a daunting task as they travel to the team sitting 2nd in the division, Whitton Utd, on March 14th.
Anglian Combination Premier Division (sponsored by Hadley & Ottoway)
The weather affected the early part of the month, but it didn’t stop it from being a positive February for league leaders Harleston Town. The Wilderness Lane boys reached the Mummery Cup semi finals with an impressive 4-1 win over Wroxham Res, before reinforcing their Sterry Cup aspirations with wins over third placed Norwich CEYMS (2-1), Blofield Utd (4-1) and Beccles Town (5-1). This form, coupled with the recent 1-1 draw between their closest challengers, mean Gusterson’s squad have a nine point cushion over both Mulbarton Wanderers and Norwich CEYMS, although The Mulberries do have three games in hand.
At the other end of the table, both Acle Utd and Stalham Town have done their best to escape the clutches of relegation. #NorfolkFootball watched the encounter between the two sides at Rivers Park, where the visitors recorded a fully deserved 3-0 success, the game being remembered for a truly wonderful 35yd free kick in the opening two minutes by Brett Colclough. The A’s then beat Caister 3-1 at Bridewell Lane, whilst Stalham arrested their slide down the table with a big 5-1 win at doomed Reepham Town and a 2-1 home win over Waveney. With The Reds on the lookout for a new gaffer for next season, they must be hoping that the current manager, John Bell, and his squad have enough about them to ensure Premier Division football is on the agenda for his replacement.
Both sides’ upturn in form means there is only two points separating Suffolk based side Beccles Town, Blofield Utd, Mattishall and the highlighted pair. Aswell as a relegation battle, Blofield Utd have a Mummery Cup semi final to contend with. They joined Harleston Town and Norwich CEYMS as Premier Division representatives following their noteworthy 4-1 win over Mulbarton Wanderers. Their reward is a trip to Division One side Sheringham on March 17th, whilst the other two will do battle at Hilltops.
Elsewhere in the division, Hellesdon have shot up the table into 5th place with three successive wins and clean sheets in February, taking their unbeaten run to seven in the process.
Anglian Combination Division One (sponsored by Hadley & Ottaway)
The destiny of the title seems set for Kings Head Meadow, as Wymondham Town’s grip on the division has showed no signs of abating. Four straight wins, taking their winning run to eight, means they are now twelve points clear. #NorfolkFootball were on hand to witness their first win of the month, over Mundford Utd, in a game that typified their never-say-die attitude. Mundford had taken a first half lead, when the impressive Ian Fancett volleyed home from 25yds, and looked to have executed the perfect away performance, on a sticky surface that made flowing football an issue. They appeared well organised, resolute and had coped with everything the leaders had thrown at them until the 85th minute. Then, enter Jordan Rocastle. The much travelled striker had been virtually anonymous for the seventy minutes he’d been on the pitch, before he danced into the penalty area and smashed home the equaliser. The collective sighs of relief from the home faithful turned to shrieks of unbridled joy a minute later, when Ashley Mitchell poked a shot past the visiting keeper at his near post to complete a remarkable turnaround.
They’ve since gone on to wallop Suffolk side Kirkley & Pakefield Reserves 11-2, dug deep to win their local derby at Attleborough Town by 3-1, despite being down to 10 men, before seeing off bottom club Cromer Town 5-2. Since that Mundford game, Rocastle has gone on to hit ten further goals to indicate that the club made the right decision in enticing him away from Sheringham.
The Shannocks are one of four sides separated by just one point in the fight for the second promotion spot, but all have suffered inconsistencies throughout February. Chris Wigger’s men are the sole Division One representative in the Mummery Cup semi finals, having seen off Bungay Town at the start of the month, and they then dispatched Attleborough Town, but have since drawn 2-2 with promotion rivals Mundford Utd and were surprisingly put to the sword by Yelverton. Mundford Utd have played only two games during February, at Wymondham & Sheringham, adding only one point to their total.
The third club involved, UEA, were unbeaten in six and hadn’t conceded this month, before, most recently, losing 2-1 at North Walsham Town. #NorfolkFootball witnessed The Students’ stalemate with Aylsham at Colney Lane, when a side afflicted by educational ‘Reading Week’ unavailabilities just couldn’t capitalise on their territorial superiority and possession overload and had to settle for a point.
Scole Utd lost 2-0 to UEA in the opening game of the month, but have gone on to win 2-0 and 4-1, over Hindringham and Watton Utd respectively, to stay in touch. A winless month for Aylsham has seen them fall five points off the second promotion spot. Another side to suffer a poor month has been Attleborough Town. The side, now managed by Martyn Fuller, lost all three in February, and are still winless in 2018.
At the bottom of the table, both Cromer Town and Loddon Utd have claimed some points with morale boosting wins, but still lie ten and six points, respectively, below the current safety mark.
Anglian Combination Division Two (sponsored by Hadley & Ottaway)
For Wymondham Town in Division One, read Easton in this division. The longtime leaders had a crucial month of fixtures against top six sides Holt Utd, Eash Harling and Fakenham Town Res, but emerged with seven points to maintain a twelve point lead at the top.
Chris Brownbridge’s men look set to be joined in senior football next season by third placed Fakenham Town Reserves. The second string Ghosts started the month with a 5-0 away win at Poringland Wanderers in the Cyril Ballyn semi final to set up a final against Suffolk side Brandon Town and then claimed four points from a possible six. They currently sit two points behind Holt Utd, but have the comfort of five games in hand on The Owls.
A bad month has been experienced by East Harling, who slipped off the pace having only picked up one point during the month, whilst two good wins have propelled Martham into 4th spot.
A special mention this month must be extended to bottom club Horsford Utd. The club have been riddled with player shortages, but have continued to fulfil all fixtures, albeit conceding 80 times across their four February defeats. The club have, however, announced that Roy Bevis has stepped into the breach to become manager, and it must be hoped that his phone book of contacts can improve things on the field for them.
Anglian Combination Division Three (sponsored by Hadley & Ottaway)
In a month where only eighteen games have been played across the division, Buxton still lead the way. The Broadland side won twice in February but, most recently, lost at home to Swaffham Town Reserves. Second placed Gorleston Reserves took advantage of this slip-up with a 3-0 win at Blofield Utd Reserves to close the gap at the top. However, The Greens’ second string must still be ruing their sudden death penalty shoot-out defeat to Brandon Town in the Cyril Ballyn Cup semi final earlier in the month.
Freethorpe seem to have shook off the disappointment of their Junior Cup quarter final defeat, winning all three February fixtures to move up to 5th place.
At the bottom of the table, Costessey Sports grabbed an odd goal in five victory over Long Stratton Reserves to create some light in their quest to survive, whilst above them Hempnall, Hemsby and Blofield Utd Reserves are separated by just two points.
Anglian Combination Division Four (sponsored by Hadley & Ottaway)
Heacham are five points clear at the top, despite a month of near inactivity. Their cause was certainly helped by fellow North West Norfolk side Gayton Utd Reserves, who inflicted a 5-4 defeat upon 2nd placed Great Yarmouth Town Reserves. The Bloaters’ second string and 3rd placed Bradenham Wanderers Reserves can only be separated by goal difference, but The Bulldogs do have two games in hand. Just below these is a team on the charge. Aylsham Reserves have a 100% record in February and moved within three points of 2nd spot.
At the bottom, North Walsham Town Reserves are doing their best to perform a survival miracle. After beating Downham Town Reserves 1-0, they claimed a more than resettable 2-2 draw with Great Yarmouth Town Reserves. Unfortunately, with four teams set for the drop, a reprieve appears their best bet, given they are 19 points behind 11th place and safety.
Anglian Combination Division Five North (sponsored by Hadley & Ottaway)
5N only has twelve sides in it, but the promotion battle looks set to go to the wire. Leaders Castle Acre Swifts picked up four points from their two games to sit on 43 points and they hold a two point cushion over Hellesdon Reserves. They, themselves, have won all three February fixtures, whilst boosting their goal difference by +17 in the process. UEA Reserves are third, and have also had a good month. As well as winning both league fixtures, they reached the CS Morley Cup semi finals, beating the much-heralded 5S heavyweights from Suffolk, Beccles Town Reserves. Joining them in the semi finals are Dussindale Rovers, who have matched their Norfolk County FA Junior Cup efforts by reaching a second semi final. However, their league form has faltered and they have lost to Hellesdon Reserves, whilst also drawing with the fifth challenger, Mundford Utd Reserves during February. The Stags have only played thirteen games so far, but if they were to win their games in hand, they will be firmly in the mix.
Anglian Combination Division Five South (sponsored by Hadley & Ottaway)
The regional division title race in the south of the area sees four sides split by just the solitary point, although Suffolk based Beccles Town Reserves must be considered the favourites, given their remarkable winning run. Current leaders Tacolneston have been reeled back to the pack in recent weeks, losing to the title favourites and third placed Attleborough Town Reserves. Attleboro ugh themselves have gone unbeaten in February and can go above the leaders, were they to pick up points from either of their games in hand. Fourth place is occupied by Gorleston based side AC Mill Lane. Two wins from three during the month keeps them firmly in the hunt for honours.
Looking forward, March looks like an exciting month, with cup semi finals at all levels in both County and League competitions, whilst Norfolk U18s have their FA County Youth Cup against Gloucestershire to look forward to at The FDC.
#NorfolkFootball
Norfolk Football 