Downham suffer more frustration at home against Gorleston in the Isthmian League North
It was another afternoon of frustration for Downham Town as they slipped to a fifth successive defeat at home to Gorleston Town in the Isthmian League North.
Two costly mistakes proved decisive as Gorleston left the Memorial Field with a 2-0 victory - a scoreline that flattered the visitors and summed up Downham’s current misfortunes.
Manager Dale Stokes could only reflect on what might have been, admitting afterwards that his overriding feeling was one of frustration.
“We’ve had two players call off this morning, so already the team had to change,” said Stokes.
“The back line that played today had never played together before, but I thought they were brilliant.
"We limited Gorleston to their two goals – that’s all they really created all game.”
Downham were the better side for long spells, moving the ball well and getting into promising positions, but as has so often been the case this season, they lacked the cutting edge to turn their possession into goals.
“If you don’t score, you don’t win,” admitted Stokes.
“We’ve conceded two poor goals, both easily preventable. It feels like déjà vu. We were the better team, but we didn’t create enough. We’re just missing that clinical striker, that fox-in-the-box type who can make something happen.”
Gorleston took the lead midway through the first half through Joe Marsden’s cushioned header, despite there being a hint of offside in the build-up, before Ryan Curtis pounced on a defensive lapse to double the advantage in the 74th minute.
Stokes was quick to defend his young goalkeeper, drafted in from the club’s under-18s side for his senior debut after another round of late withdrawals.
“It’s hard for the lad, he’s never played men’s football before,” said Stokes.
“He’s been thrown in, and Gorleston knew that. They said before the game they were going to target him. Hopefully, he learns from it, because he’ll be disappointed.”
Downham’s injury crisis shows little sign of easing, though the manager hopes to have a near full squad available for next weekend.
“We’ve averaged six unavailable every week,” he revealed.
“Today it was seven. I don’t think we’ve played the same 11 twice this season, certainly not in back-to-back games. Hopefully next week we’ll have almost everyone back.”
Despite the defeat, Stokes took heart from his players’ response and attitude.
“That’s the first time after a loss I’ve seen the players not demoralised,” he said. “
They know Gorleston are fourth or fifth in the league, and they weren’t better than us.
"It’s just the fine margins, a different choice, an earlier pass, and we could’ve been in on goal.”
With goals now drying up, Downham’s boss knows exactly where the improvement must come from heading into Wednesday night's home clash against Tilbury.
“The glaring issue is we’re not putting the ball in the back of the net,” he said.
“Last season, even when we weren’t prolific, we took our chances and made sure we got results. This year, we’re not taking them, and we’re getting punished for every mistake.”
Downham remain rooted near the foot of the table but can at least take solace from a performance that, in effort and spirit, offered signs of progress.
Now, as Stokes put it, it’s about finding the missing piece.
“When you’re at the bottom, everything seems to go against you,” he said.
“But if we keep playing like that and add a bit of quality up front, the results will come.”
Downham Town: Oscar Thomas, Nathan Davies, Luke Reed (Ben Terry 75), William Moxon, Ethan Young, Samuel Tessler, Lagshan Sivakumar (Jacob White 81), Jack Gould (Dylan Kirk 82), Charlie Royle, Nick Castellan, Eoin McQuaid (Harley Murkin 75). Sub not used: Krisztian Gagyi.
Elsewhere this afternoon, Fakenham Town moved up a place to third in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division table with a 3-2 win at Stowmarket Town.
Joe Henman, Charlie Mayhew and Jake Watts were all on target for Andy Cunningham's side.
The Ghosts are next back in action on Wednesday night when they host Castle Acre Swifts in the Third Round of the Norfolk Senior Cup at the Daly Group Stadium.
Jake Poore was on target as Heacham shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw against Lakenheath.
Next up is a home Norfolk Senior Cup tie against Norwich City under-18s on Tuesday night.