Woodbridge Town ended their 2023/24 away campaign with a narrow 2-1 defeat against Fakenham Town.
Goals from Jayden Wright and Jay Myhill saw the Ghosts ahead at the break which proved to be enough despite Ben Monteith-Weed pulling a goal back in the second half.
The hosts opened the scoring after just two minutes when Myhill’s deep corner was headed in at the back post by the unchallenged Wright.
They almost doubled their advantage in stunning fashion ten minutes later when Jake Watts found space out on the left, cut inside and tried a curler from a tight angle which looked destined for the far top corner but clipped the top of the crossbar.
Fakenham extended their lead in the 16th minute when Lewis Bonner broke in behind down the left from a flick on and crossed to the penalty spot for Myhill who chested the ball down and finished into the bottom right corner.
The Ghosts had another chance in the 27th minute when the Peckers lost the ball at the back allowing Alex Walpole to break forward and pull back for Myhill to shoot but he fired over the top.
The Peckers almost pulled one back 10 minutes later when Ben Monteith-Weed and Andrew Crowe combined from a long ball resulting in the latter lashing a powerful shot goalwards from just inside the box which parried as far as Monteith-Weed who fired over under pressure.
Woodbridge started the second half brightly and went close in the 49th minute when a well-worked attacking move resulting in Jack Finlinson having space to shoot just inside the box but his effort sailed over.
The hosts had an opportunity three minutes later when they produced a clever short free kick routine which gave Watts a chance to shoot on the turn. He kept his effort low but Alfie Stronge saved well with his feet.
The Peckers halved the deficit in the 55th minute when some great high press meant Fakenham couldn’t play out. Dan Leggett collected the ball on the left and went inside Monteith-Weed who smashed a shot across the keeper and into the far side netting.
The Ghosts went close in the 70th minute when substitute Jack Robinson broke in behind the defence and bared down on goal. Stronge was out quickly to meet him and made himself big to make the save and hold the ball.
The Peckers had the ball in the net in the 83rd minute through Crowe but the referee inexplicably pulled back it for a free kick. Crowe stayed on his feet after he was fouled, kept possession and had a clear sight of goal but that wasn’t a clear enough advantage in the eyes of the referee.
That proved a costly decision as Woodbridge were unable to find an equaliser and fell to defeat. Another positive performance overall but a sloppy first 15 minutes was where the game was lost.
The Peckers take to the pitch for a final time this season on Tuesday night when they welcome Soham Town Rangers to the Homestyle Ground.
Fakenham: Pearson, Walpole (Field 65), Page (Keeley 77), Rasberry, Youngs, Wright, Bonner (Terry 65), Frostick (Robinson 65), Watts, Whiteley, Myhill (Malenguka 87)
Woodbridge: Stronge, Keeble, Leggett, Southgate, Allen, Rea, Finlinson, Kussan, Crowe, Wiggins, Monteith-Weed Unused: Dodman, Morrison
Report by Rob Binns