Fakenham Town 3, Diss Town 2New manager, new players - new Fakenham Town!The Ghosts, under new caretaker manager Neil Jarvis and with new signings as a result of King's Lynn's demise, finally got their first Ridgeons Division One points at the 13th time of asking on Saturday against the fourth-placed Tangerines, and now hope that this will kick-start their season.

Fakenham Town 3, Diss Town 2

New manager, new players - new Fakenham Town!

The Ghosts, under new caretaker manager Neil Jarvis and with new signings as a result of King's Lynn's demise, finally got their first Ridgeons Division One points at the 13th time of asking on Saturday against the fourth-placed Tangerines, and now hope that this will kick-start their season.

Jarvis has taken over the team until the end of the season and brought in five former Linnets, four of whom played, with two scoring.

Club vice-chairman Paul Wright said: 'At last! We shouldn't really be so glad of three points but, at the end of the day, we are.

'We are very pleased. It was a good result, it just came right for us. We were able to draft in some new players - on the back of King's Lynn unfortunately - and it made that little bit of extra difference. It was a nice balance of youth and experience.'

He said the club hoped this was a turning point in the season, but was quick to praise previous managers Stuart Woodhouse and Mark King, who had stood down by mutual agreement with the club. 'This win is as much for them as the new manager Neil Jarvis,' he stressed. 'They put the basis of the team in place.

'We are quietly confident this can be the start of the season in terms of kicking it all off.

'There was a good buzz round the ground and we had our highest gate of the season (offically 95), the average has been around 50.'

Mark Shadrack fired the Tangerines ahead midway through the first half.

Four minutes into the second half substitute Jake Betts crossed low from the right for Julian Delicata to equalise. Within six minutes George Watts-Sturrock had struck for Diss but new signing and captain Stephen Harvey found the top right-hand corner of the Diss goal with a free-kick.

Then another ex-Linnet, Matthew Gilchrist headed the winner from a left-wing corner.

New keeper Tom Rix commanded a determined home defence against the Diss response.

Other former Linnets signed are Jordan Penty, who was used as a second-half substitute, and Tom McArthy, who is now available to play following suspension.

Players to come back from injury include Mark Betts, Nick Tagg and Jason Day.

Team against Diss: Rix, Richards, Alamonis (Penty 46), Felton, Jensch (Haynes 80), Gilchrist, Bamford, Harvey, Critten, Delicata, Savory (Jake Betts 46). Attendance: 95.

Fixture changes mean that Fakenham now visit Halstead on Saturday. They visit Downham on Monday, December 28 (7.45pm ko).

Fakenham Reserves had a 0-0 draw at Marlingford but remain bottom by one point of Anglian Combination Division Three. On Saturday they entertain Foulsham 2pm.

In Saturday's programme notes, vice-chairman Wright thanked Woodhouse and King for carrying out their duties 'in the face of great difficulties'.

He said: 'The budget, one of the lowest in the league, was always going to hamper their task in attracting players to Clipbush Park, and consequently they relied on home-grown talent to form the basis of their squad. They were true to their word in blooding our talented group of youngsters coming through from youth football and can take great pride in watching these youngsters progress.

'Moving forward, Neil (Jarvis) has used his large contact base to talk to several players who are needed for us to compete at this level and also act as mentors for our youngsters.

'Neil's greatest passion is his role at the club managing our under-18 side and bringing those players through. That role will continue, and I believe will give us a stability much needed at the moment in order for the club to carefully select the next manager in a permanent position.

'The response to our advert for a permanent manager has been very positive, an indication that the club is held in very high regard in local footballing circles.

'The season still has a long way to run…I am confident that 2010 will herald a new start for Fakenham Town.'

Chairman Nigel Allen underlined in his notes the importance of fundraising initiatives and invited supporters to join the 200 Club, which has monthly cash prizes, for �1 a week. Contact is Ivor Darby (01328 856618 or email 200club@fakenhamtonwnfc. co.uk

Applications for the first team manager's post should go to Paul Wright on 01328 851775.