Ghosts Spooked By Canaries - Fakenham Town vs. Norwich City U21s

The Fakenham full back squares up the Norwich winger

I had a leaving thing on Friday night and so I had a variety of choices which covered for various levels of hangover on Saturday morning. I didn't feel too bad on Saturday and so I went for my best case scenario choice of Fakenham Town against Norwich City U21s. Fakenham had hosted Leicester City's youth side on Wednesday night and both these fixtures were organised by Nigel Worthington who helps out around the club. Fakenham finished fourth from bottom in The Premier Division of The Eastern Counties League last season and were looking to improve on that this season.

Kick off at Clipbush Park

The game has an even opening and it is the visitors have the first effort on goal when the winger is allowed to cut and he puts his shot well over the bar. They take the lead following a lofted through ball which is then lashed past the Fakenham keeper. Norwich are then awarded a very soft looking penalty which the Fakenham keeper is able to save low to his right. The rest-bite is only temporary as Norwich head home a second from a corner shortly afterwards. Fakenham's first chance comes when a ball in is controlled by the forward but his shot is straight at the goal keeper. Norwich come close to a third when the winger finds space out left and his cross in just eludes the forward. The visitors do get a third before half time when Fakenham give the ball away in midfield and after the first shot is saved the rebound is headed in past the keeper.

Fakenham look to build up some pressure in the first half

Fakenham go on the attack at the start of the second half and a header from a free kick goes just wide. Then come closer when they drive on from midfield and the Norwich keeper has to make a good low save. Unfortunately for The Ghosts, Norwich make it four nil when they break out after a Fakenham attack and the ball is slotted home. Then for the first time this season, I missed a goal while in the bar which turns out to be a fifth for Norwich. Despite the deficit, Fakenham continue to try and play and get at Norwich but the academy side see out the rest of the game to win 5-0.

Fakenham played is taken down outside the clubhouse

So as I suggested earlier, it takes a little while to get to Fakenham from London. Firstly you have to catch a train to Kings Lynn from Kings Cross which takes the best part of two hours. Then from Kings Lynn bus station you catch the X8 to Fakenham with this section of the journey taking about half an hour if the traffic in Kings Lynn isn't too bad. Fakenham is an attractive market town and The Wensum Lodge Hotel is a good spot for a drink by the river. Then just up the road is The Bull which had a really selection of beers. The ground is then around a twenty five minute walk to the ground from the town centre. The clubhouse had the usual selection of drinks and the club in general was very welcoming.

There was a good crowd for this friendly match