Downham Town leapfrog Heacham into top spot of Thurlow Nunn First Division North title race after intense win
Heacham 0 Downham Town 2
Downham Town moved to the top of the Thurlow Nunn First Division North table for the first time this season with a huge 2-0 win at Heacham to complete a league double over their rivals.
In the biggest game of the season so far, goals from Matty Blackford on the stroke of half-time and substitute Jake Gadsden in the final minute inflicted Heacham's first defeat since the end of October and put a huge dent in their hopes of winning automatic promotion.
The defeat leaves Downham a point clear of Heacham at the summit going into the final 10 games of the campaign and it was no more than they deserved for a professional performance on their travels.
Heacham opted to tinker with their formation and Fletcher Toll – scorer of 19 goals this season – had to be content with a place on the home bench.
In-form Downham went into the game without the services of influential defender Pat Yates who was absent due to a stag due.
The Magpies went into today's match on an 11-game unbeaten run with their last defeat coming against Parson Drove at the end of October.
Downham's form coming into the clash was equally impressive with Dale Stokes' and Craig Dickson's side on a 12-game unbeaten sequence since mid-November.
The Reds had won seven successive games on the bounce and it was easy to see why as they settled into the opening few minutes really well.
Former Linnet Danny Beaumont struck an early free-kick into the arms of Aaron Watson before the same player burst into the home penalty area, only to drag his shot wide of the target a few minutes later.
Heacham began to find their feet and Ben Coe whipped a free-kick just past Duncan McAnally's right-hand post after 30 minutes.
Luke Gray also fired into the side-netting after capitalising on a poor back pass from Jack Gould.
But it was the visitors who continued to create the better openings as Jake Miller saw his toe-poke cleared off the line.
The first goal was always going to be crucial and it arrived on the stroke of half-time as Joe Jackson saw his effort well blocked Rawlings before the ball found its way to Blackford who stabbed the ball past Watson.
Heacham changed their formation at the interval by switching to a flat back four but it was Downham who almost doubled their lead a few minutes after the restart after Beaumont's corner eventually found its way to Miller who struck his effort against the post.
The home side huffed and puffed and bombarded the Downham penalty area with plenty of balls into the area but the closest they came to finding an equaliser was when birthday boy John Flanagan's effort flew across the face of goal.
Visiting goalkeeper Duncan McAnally wasn't seriously tested as Downham comfortably stood up to a spell of home pressure with midfielder Matty Franks enjoying an outstanding game in the middle of the park.
Twice in the second half, Downham caught the home side on the break and found themselves in promising positions, only for their final pass to be cut out or go astray.
But it was a case of third time lucky as Jackson threaded the ball through to Gadsden in the 90th minute he held his nerve to slot the ball past Watson and wrap up a huge victory in the context of the title race.
Although clearly delighted with a big three points, the celebrations from the visitors were rather muted on the final whistle with a Tuesday night trip to Diss Town on on the horizon.
Heacham, meanwhile, will need to regroup ahead of a home fixture against Debenham LC next weekend, knowing that there are likely to be more twists and turns in the week's ahead.
Heacham: Watson, Akers, Mitchell, Dear, R. Rawlings, G. Rawlings (Gibson), Goss, Davies, Coe (Clunan), Flanagan (Royle), Gray (Toll). Subs not used: Falcao.
Downham Town: McAnally, Miller, Reed, Watts-Sturrock, Gould, Bird, Blackford, Franks, Beaumont (Rawson), Prudence (Gadsden), Jackson. Subs not used: Butt, Conroy, White.
Attendance: 270.
