Downham Town are no easy touch, says joint boss ahead of top-of-the-table clash against Mulbarton

Joint Downham Town boss Dale Stokes believes the side have a much stronger resolve this season and are no longer an easy touch.

The early Thurlow Nunn Division One leaders have taken the league by storm going into tomorrow’s top-of-the-table clash against Mulbarton at the Memorial Field.

Downham have won seven of their opening nine fixtures and Stokes said: “There have been times in the past where people have looked at Downham as an easy three points.

“We’re in a position now where sides will be a bit cautious of us because of where we are sitting in the league table.

“The majority of our squad has stuck together over the last few seasons and everyone knows each other really well as a lot of the lads went to school together.

“We’ve had good squads in the past but age was probably against us a little bit as we had so many young players.

"Now there’s a good balance and I think that is showing on the pitch."

Stokes believes that fifth-placed Mulbarton, who have three games in hand on Town, will provide the team with their toughest assignment so far.

“Craig (Dickson) and myself both think that Mulbarton are favourites to win the league,” admitted Stokes.

“They made some very good signings over the summer by bringing in players like Jamie Forshaw and Adam Plumstead and they’ve strengthened again in the last couple of weeks.

“They have a set way of playing and work very hard as a team.

"We know it's going to be a very hard game but we will be backing ourselves to win with the way we are playing."

Elsewhere in Division One North tomorrow, King’s Lynn Town Reserves travel to high-flying Sheringham while Fakenham Town are without a fixture.

In the Premier Division, Swaffham travel to the New Croft for a league encounter against Haverhill Rovers.

n On Monday night, King’s Lynn Town under-18s continued their fine start to the new campaign by making further progress in the FA Youth Cup.

The young Linnets defeated Brantham Athletic 6-2 at The Walks where Owen Gilbert (2), Finley Howe (3) and Joe Taylor all found the back of the net.

n Swaffham Reserves were in Norfolk County Junior Cup action last Saturday and had a convincing 7-1 away win to East Harling Reserves.

There was a hat-trick for Thomas Wagg, two for Kieran Bruce and one apiece for brothers Sary and Samer Rahma.

Tomorrow, Beccles Caxton visit Shoemakers Lane to take on Swaffham’s second string, who also defeated Reepham Town 5-1 on Wednesday evening.

Swaffham under-18s, who were in midweek action against local rivals Fakenham Town, were unlucky to go down to a 3-2 defeat at Dereham Town last week where Jack Royal and Thomas Wagg were on target for the Young Pedlars.