Ridgeons League 1

08 November 2008

Ipswich Wanderers 3     Downham Town 1

Not a good day at the office for town, on the field and off it. With 11 players available after numerous call offs and 3 pensioners on the bench, we still could have got a result against the poorest side I’ve seen in the Ridgeons this season. Two set pieces undone the Town’s defence which done most of the damage but Downham did pull one back through a penalty. Matty Garrod got himself needlessly sent off, Paul Harrod got booked, along with Danny Foulsham, quite frankly I thought the Ref was over zealous with the cards considering it wasn’t a dirty game at all. So overall, not a good day and now town have got to pick themselves up for a tough encounter with Halstead at the weekend. Memorial 3.00pm K/O

First Division KO Cup Round 1

04 November 2008

Thetford Town 1     Downham Town 2

Edge of your seat stuff was produced in this first round cup clash that was drama from start to finish. Six 1^st team regulars out, three under 18s drafted in, are chances looked slim at the very least, but skipper Marcus Fendley and Matty Garrod lead the team by example throughout the 90mins. Things didn’t start well when an own goal was conceded by Dale Twaite Smith which he could do very little about but the performance from him that followed was truly outstanding. Town got the equaliser through the impressive Craig Dickson whose control and finish was eye catching for the Downham management. Let’s be honest, Downham road their luck in the second-half after Thetford missed chance after chance but Town battled for the whole game with all players putting in an outstanding shift. Considering that 4 of the under 18s were playing their 3^rd game in four days, they done exceptionally well on the night. The second goal came through Matty Calvert, playing his first game back for the club after his spell at Lynn. He rounded the keeper with pure finesse and buried his chance with great conviction. Towards the end it was all hands to the pump and with Max Snell pulling off two worldy’s in the first and second half, you just got that feeling that it was going to be Downham's night. Great to see Pat in the dugout cheering the lads on after his injury last week, a special mention to Danny Foulsham who turned up to dish out the fines as usual and encourage the lads, while he serves out his one match suspension. Thank you both for your commitment and support on the night.

MoM. Marcus Fendley. (Didn’t put a foot wrong all night)

Team: Snell, Twaite Smith, Garrod, Fendley, Burch, Doy, Forshaw, Dickson, Calvert, Coughlan, Kavanagh

Subs: Barker

Ridgeons League Division 1

01 November 2008

Downham Town 2     Stowmarket Town 1

Stowmarket must be kicking themselves as they let this match slip away in the last 5 minutes. The game was tight throughout and with Pat Yates sustaining a nasty head injury in the first half; things didn’t look good for the Town. Stowmarket did eventually take the lead midway through the second half and the game looked over and done with but Downham showed a never say die attitude and pressurised Stowmarket for the equaliser. Town’s persistence paid off in the 86^th minute when Wayne Anderson levelled things up bar a slight deflection. Again Downham applied some pressure and in the 92^nd minute the ever reliable Danny Foulsham pounced on a loose ball and powered the ball into the top of the net. Stowmarket looked dejected, and so they should have been. They had the game sewn up but took their foot off the pedal at the most vital time of the match. Did we deserve it, YES; we played with heart and passion and proved this game is over 90mins, not 86. The dressing room after was chaos, the boom box was blasting and players were triumphant, you could just tell what this victory meant to all the players and this must give them a lot of confidence when they travel to Ipswich Wanderers on Sat. 3.00pm K/O Good luck to you all.

MoM Danny Foulsham. (Must be Nightmare to mark)

Ridgeons League Division 1

28 October 2008

Downham Town 2     Fakenham Town 0

Town went into this game 3 points clear of bottom side Fakenham Town, so both teams knew it could go either way. Both teams started cagey trying not to concede early goals. As the half went on the chances started to come at both ends. Fakenham had the first chance of the game when Downham failed to clear a free kick and the ball fell for the Fakenham forward to turn and shoot which hit the bar. Tim Kavanagh was causing the visitors defence problems and started Towns best chance when he freed Sam Garner to cross in, which Paul Harrod met at the back post but was well saved by the keeper. Fakenham then had properly the best chance to score when a low cross was unchallenged and with a touch only required from the two incoming forwards Matthew Hails smothered at the last second. The second half Town came out looking to take the game to Fakenham and only poor finishing kept the score level. However Town were given the chance to break the deadlock when the referee had deemed a Fakenham player to have handled in the box and awarded the spot kick to Town which Daniel Foulsham converted coolly. The goal gave Town the confidence while Fakenham started to drop deeper and were eventually punished when Daniel Foulsham smashed home his second when he found space just inside the box. Fakenham pushed in a bid to get something out of the game and nearly pulled on back but Dale Twaite Smith blocked the shot on the line. Downham though took the points which moved them up to 16th and something to build on come Saturday.

Team: Hails, Twaite-Smith, Doy, Yates, Fendley, Proctor, Garrod, Garner, Harrod, Foulsham, Kavanagh.

Subs: Anderson, Coughlan, Snell, Burch, C.Dickson.

Ridgeons League Division 1

25 October 2008

Hadleigh United 2     Downham Town 0

Town played some good football despite going down 2-0 on the day. Fendley and Proctor were both missing and on paper the odds looked stacked against us, but the lads battled and played some good football for a lot of the game. Hadleigh took the lead when a shot came in from distance and Matthew Hails looked like he lost track of it at the last minute. To be fair to him it did swerve at the end but the Town keeper will be disappointed that he never kept it out. Hadleigh's second came when Pat Yates tried to cut out a ball across the box but the ball somehow ended up in the Town’s net. Like I said, it was an encouraging display and with the Fakenham game coming up on Tuesday night, Downham will go into this match with a lot of confidence under their belts.

Team: Hails, Twaite-Smith, Doy, Yates, Garrod, Harrod, Garner, Williamson, Goude, Foulsham, Kavanagh.

Subs: Anderson, Saddleton, Burch.

Norfolk Senior Cup Round 1 replay

14 October 2008

Downham Town 1     Diss Town 2 aet

Town welcomed Diss Town to the memorial Ground in the Norfolk Senior Cup replay after Saturdays draw. If the incentive to reach the next round wasn't enough the thought of playing at Dereham Town for the winner was. Both teams started brightly but cagy in hope of getting the early advantage. Chances were few in the first half with the best chance came from the visitors when Mathew Hails poor clearance went straight to a Diss player but Matthew redeemed himself by eventually saving the resulting shot. The second half started more brightly with the chances coming more at either end. The deadlock however was finally broken when the Diss keepers poor goal kick went straight to Daniel Foulsham who raced through to squeeze his shot past the keeper. Diss played with bit more emergency in hope of levelling the game. With time running out Diss found the goal they were after when Downham couldn't clear properly and a Diss player on the edge of the box found enough time on the ball to get a shot in, the shot was deflected past Matthew Hails into the net to level the game. With no further goals the game ended 1-1 for the second time and was forced into extra time. Both teams had their chances in extra time with Downham's best chance fell to Pat Yates who headed over from a corner just yards out after Wayne Anderson had flicked the ball on at the near post. While Diss had a thought they had scored only for Marcus Fendley to clear off the line at the last second. However Diss booked their place in next round when a long ball caused Pat Yates to stretch and his header ended up going across the goalmouth and leaving the Diss forward to tap home. Downham pushed in search to take the game in penalties but Diss held firm to progress.

Norfolk Senior Cup Round 1

11 October 2008

Diss Town 1     Downham Town 1 aet

A great performance from the lads, even though they did ride their luck at times. Things started well when Town broke away in the first minute and Danny Foulsham punished the Diss defence for some sloppy defending. Tom Doy got injured early on and had to come off so Anderson had to change things around a bit. Alan Burch was put to right back and sub Wayne Anderson filled the hole in midfield but that left only Martin Saddleton on the bench with still 75mins to go. Diss did pulled one back before half-time after a lot of pressure on the Downham defence but credit to Matthew Hails, the Town keeper, he had another impressive game between the sticks. Second half produce chances at each end and both sides should have buried some of them. Finally Alan Burch had to come off due to injury and the moment of truth had arrived. The evergreen Martin Saddleton emerged from the dug-out like Goliath and replaced Burch on the right. Within 5 mins he had got the Diss winger in his pocket and was over lapping like a gazelle down the right-hand side. The last 15mins town was living on a knife edge; Williamson, Saddleton, Fendley and Yates were under a constant onslaught and did well to keep Diss at bay. Extra time and Diss did look the likely to score and right at the end they should have done. A ball whipped in from the right that loomed across the six yard area only for the Diss forward to miss an open goal. Looking back Town deserved a reply with the amount of work all the players put in and are looking forward to getting Diss back at the memorial on Tuesday night.

Team: Hails, Twaite-Smith, Garrod, Yates, Fendley, Proctor, Garner, Forshaw, Goude, Foulsham, Kavanagh.

Subs: Anderson, Williamson, Snell, Harrod.

Ridgeons League Division 1

04 October 2008

Downham Town 1     Saffron Walden Town 1

Town entertained Saffron Walden in windy conditions which someway ruined the game. Both teams struggled with the wind and most of the play was up in the air rather down on the floor which both teams showed in small doses they could do. Chances at either end became rare with final balls misplaced. Tim Kavanagh had a chance to open the scoring when he found space in the box but couldn't keep his volley down. In one of the small patches of ground football played Saffron Walden took the lead when the winger on the left found a gap and latched onto a perfect laid through ball and smashed his shot past Matthew Hails. Town soon after should of levelled though when Tim Kavanagh caused the visitors defence problems and flicked the ball on for Ash Smith to bear down on goal but maybe took too long on the ball as the defender closed him down and Ash shot over under pressure. In the second half Downham tried more to keep the ball down and started to push Saffron Walden back. However Saffron Walden could of doubled their lead when a through ball was latched onto by the forward but his effort rebounded off the post and moments later the opposite post was left rattled. Tim Kavanagh had a half chance to level but couldn't get enough contact on the ball to beat the keeper. Just as it looked like Saffron Walden had enough to hold on they found themselves reduced to 10 when a visitor player kicked out at Sam Garner. Although there was no contact the linesman flagged and you are always asking for trouble for something like that. Downham pushed forward in search of a equaliser but didn't look like it would come. With added time now entering Downham managed to find the equaliser when Aaron Proctor whipped in a corner and somehow managed to find its way into the back of the net. He'll say he meant it while some will say the wind took it but never the less it ensured Downham snatched a point.

Team: Hails, Burch, Garrod, Yates, Fendley, Proctor, Foulsham, Harrod, Twaite-Smith, A.Smith, Kavanagh.

Subs: Doy, Williamson, Anderson, Garner.

Ridgeons League Division 1

27 September 2008

Stowmarket Town 3     Downham Town 1

Another frustrating day for the Town as they lost 3-1 to a mediocre Stowmarket side. Only 3 minutes were on the clock and town were 1-0 down. Downham failed to clear a ball and were punished straight away by a good finish. Sam Garner had to go off injured midway through the first half which was a blow early on but Town need to perform better as a unit if they are going to compete in this league. No Pat or Goudy but that was no excuse for the performance that was dished out on Saturday. A howler from Max gave Stow a 2-0 advantage after seeing the ball squirm between his legs after a poor shot initially but it just wasn’t our day all round and the third was just a matter of time coming. Ash Smith did get a consolation near the end and to be fair to him it was a cracking finish but the lads have got to take a long look at themselves as they are a lot better than the score line suggests.

Ridgeons League Division 1

20 September 2008

Downham Town 4     Swaffham Town 2

Downham finally got some points on the aboard with a good performance in this local derby. With a good crowd and the nature of this match, town could not afford to fail. It was end to end from the start and both teams were looking for an early break through but it was Downham who drew first blood. Danny Foulsham latched on to a through ball and neatly tucked it away to make it 1-0. Tim Kavanagh made it two soon after but Swaffham came back with a goal against the run of play. Danny Foulsham got his second on the stroke of half-time which was deserved after a good all round performance. Second half was pretty much the same as the first with both teams looking to go forward at every opportunity. Swaffham did pull one back but Danny Foulsham completed his hat-trick soon after, after a great run from Sam Garner down the right-hand flank. All the team played well on the day but Dale Twaite-Smith was awesome at the back and as usual Ashley Smith worked his socks off from start to finish. This could be just what Town needed to get their season started and with games against Stowmarket & Saffron Walden coming up, there is no reason why we can’t pick up maximum points over the next couple of weeks.   

Ridgeons League Division 1

13 September 2008

Downham Town 0     Debenham LC 2

Downham suffered there seventh defeat of the season after going down 2-0 to an average Debenham side. Town looked dangerous early on but again they literally gave Debenham both goals through school boy errors. Debenham should have made it three in the second half but a fantastic point blank stop from Max Snell in the town goal prevented an embarrassing score line. Town have got to pick themselves up from this and prepare for a must win match at the weekend against local rivals Swaffham at the memorial.

Ridgeons League Division 1

06 September 2008

Downham Town 2     Thetford Town 3

Town entertained Thetford Town in the first competitive game at The Memorial Ground this season. In strong windy conditions Thetford looked to use the wind behind them and put the early pressure on Town. Only 5 minutes had passed when a deep ball played into Towns box was mis-kicked by Marcus Fendley which allowed the visitors forward to nick in and slot home. The lead would only last 4 minutes though as Tim Kavanagh beat the defender and goalkeeper to the ball to level the game. Afterwards Town were restricted to half chances while Thetford could and in theory should of scored one or two to move clear but couldn't keep the efforts on target. The second half became more open and Thetford retook the lead on 58th minute when a deep cross was met unmarked at the back post. Once again though the lead only lasted a few minutes as good play down the left enabled Paul Harrod to get a good low cross in and James Goude slid in to score. Tim Kavanagh and Paul Harrod then went close for Town but Thetford scored the winner with a corner being again met unmarked and the Thetford player saw his header just creep into the top corner.

Team: Snell, Twaite-Smith, Williamson, Yates, Fendley, Anderson, Goude, Harrod, Garner, A.Smith, Kavanagh.

Subs: Chapman,  Saddleton.