Thetford Town slipped to a fourth consecutive league defeat in a close match at Newmarket Town.

Two goals from Ross Patterson were enough to edge the hosts to the victory, with Ben Anderson scoring for Thetford, leaving the Brecklanders with just one win in the last nine matches in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division.

The dip in form has seen Mark Scott’s side slip to 15th in the table, with 12 games remaining of the season.

Town will look to get back on track on Saturday when they return to Mundford Road for a clash with Ipswich Wanderers, who sit two places and four points better off in the table.

Ipswich have played three games less, however, and are unbeaten in three matches, so are likely to pose a stern test, having won their last away game 5-1 at FC Clacton.

Although Thetford have slipped recently, they are just three points short of the 30 points they managed last season, which ended in a 16th-place finish.

They now have 12 games to better that and prove they have progressed this campaign, with only six goals needed to better last season’s total of 48 as well.

Thetford Town Reserves are enjoying a much stronger season – but face strong competition for the Division Six title in the Almary Green Anglian Combination.

They remain top despite being in cup action on Saturday, drawing 0-0 at Division Five title challengers Hingham Athletic in the CS Morley Cup quarter-finals in normal time, only to lose 4-3 on penalties.

That allowed UEA Reserves to draw level on points at the top of the table with a 6-1 win at Freethorpe Reserves.

This Saturday, Thetford Reserves are away at Thetford Rovers Reserves, who are also only two points adrift but have played two games more.