John Cushion RIDGEONS LEAGUE: Fakenham Town were boosted by a stirring FA Cup win at Gorleston. The 5-3 victory at Emerald Park in the extra preliminary round came a year after a shattering 12-goal defeat at Dereham in the competition.

John Cushion

Fakenham Town were boosted by a stirring FA Cup win at Gorleston.

The 5-3 victory at Emerald Park in the extra preliminary round came a year after a shattering 12-goal defeat at Dereham in the competition.

Julian Delicata hit a hat-trick, and goals from Matty Hooks and Ben Darby ensured a home tie on August 30 against United Counties League side Boston Town.

Joint manager Mark King missed the Gorleston tie because of work in the harvest fields.

But he said: “The lads are absolutely buzzing on the back of that win. It has made them all the more galled about their 2-1 defeat in the opening league game at Long Melford.”

By co-incidence, Boston Town were at Long Melford in the FA Cup and won 5-2.

The Ghosts would have relished an opportunity to make amends for their league defeat there.

However, King felt that defeat might have been the little jolt the Ghosts needed.

Certainly they will be looking for their first league points of the season against a Cornard outfit also without a point so far.

Joint boss Stuart Woodhouse was upbeat after the Gorleston tie.

“It was a cracking result. Make no mistake, we played very well. Gorleston are a good side who like to get the ball down and play,” he said.

The Ghosts had to dig deep after conceding an early goal.

They put five across the middle with one player behind the front two and went on to take five of the six chances they created.

They equalised through Delicata after Darby had chased a lost cause as a defender tried to see the ball out of play.

Hooks made it 2-1 with a deceptive cross-cum-shot but the Greens got an equaliser when a shot spun off Adam Woodhouse's boot and then out of the hands of keeper Daniel Stockdale.

The goal of the game put the Ghosts back in front, Nick Haynes' cross curled sweetly home from 15 yards by Delicata.

A razor-sharp Darby pounced on a slip in the Greens' defence to make it 4-2 going into half-time.

Both teams tired in the second half and Hooks gave way to Liam Campbell, who made ground down the left and set up Delicata for his hat-trick goal and a 5-2 lead. Gorleston got a late third.

The Ghosts were without Danny Tanti, Mark Critten, Martin Fenwick, Carl Neal and Karl Pask. They were expecting to add to their squad with a new signing.

Squad at Gorleston: Stockdale, Whitred, Tagg, Woodhouse, Haynes, Day, Bamford, Hooks, Betts, Delicata, Darby, Campbell, Knowles, Raisbury.

Fakenham are in league action Tuesday night, at home to March (7.45).

A first team physio is required. Applications to either manager, King on 01328 855843 or Woodhouse on 01328 851736.