Darby's double

DAVID THORPE Ben Darby maintained his rich vein of form to help Fakenham Town edge past a brave challenge from Cromer Town in the Norfolk Senior Cup. The teenager whose hat-trick seven days earlier spearheaded the Ghosts' 5-0 FA Vase win over Gorleston, this time scored twice as they came from behind to win 2-1 to book a third round visit to Diss Town.

DAVID THORPE

Ben Darby maintained his rich vein of form to help Fakenham Town edge past a brave challenge from Cromer Town in the Norfolk Senior Cup.

The teenager whose hat-trick seven days earlier spearheaded the Ghosts' 5-0 FA Vase win over Gorleston, this time scored twice as they came from behind to win 2-1 to book a third round visit to Diss Town.

But their Anglian Combination visitors provided much tougher opposition than the Greens and for a long time looked well capable of pulling off a shock.

After Karl Horton put the Crabs in front it took a great full length save from Steve Lewis to keep out a header from Tom Davey which looked certain to double the score.

Darby equalised midway through the second half after being put through by James McMannus and scored the winner from the spot ten minutes later after being brought down by Sean Cameron, who received a second yellow card for the foul.

That left Hempnall to record the shock of the day with a 3-1 win at Thetford, thanks to goals from Shaun Flint, Samuel Wenham and Tom Halliwell, which earned them a trip to Sheringham. Kenny Brooks scored for Thetford, who were being brought back to earth following the previous week's FA Vase success.

Gorleston bounced back from their Vase thrashing by advancing almost as emphatically in the Senior Cup with a 4-0 win over Loddon.

After captain Richie Freeman put them in front player-manager Gary Ingram scored twice and Peter Lambert weighed in with his first senior goal.

Ingram admitted, however, that the scoreline was flattering, telling Radio Norfolk: "We went 4-4-2 first half and for the first ten minutes knocked the ball around pretty well, but after that we went to pieces a little bit and started just diverting to the long ball.

"At half-time I had a chat with the lads and made a tactical change with just three at the back and put five in the middle and that worked quite well.

"The last 10/15 minutes we turned it on a little bit and I think fitness told in the end."

Third round draw: Sheringham v Hempnall, Blofield Utd v Norwich Utd, Dersingham Rvrs v Mattishall, Diss Tn v Fakenham Tn, Swaffham Tn v St Andrew's, Dereham Tn v Gorleston, Wroxham v King's Lynn Res, Yarmouth v Sprowston Ath. Ties to be played Saturday, November 25.