Thetford Town were punished for making a poor start to the game as they suffered a disappointing home defeat in their first match of 2018.

Danny White’s side were beaten 2-0 by Stanway Rovers at Mundford Road after going into the game in good spirits following successive wins in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division.

Stanway took the game by the scruff of the neck in the earlier stages, with Jordan Blackwell finding the back of the net after just two minutes with a scuffed shot that found its way past keeper Will Viner.

The same player doubled the visitors’ advantage on 12 minutes following some poor defending and that’s the way it stayed, despite Town have a number of good chances to get back into the match.

Town are back in action on Saturday when they travel to face Felixstowe and Walton. The league leaders won the reverse fixture at Mundford Road 5-0 back in September.

Meanwhile Bridgham United got 2018 off to a good start with a fine 3-1 win at home to Hockering.

The first half was an even affair with no clear chances until the 36th minute when Hockering hit the post with Bridgham doing the same soon after through a Steve Wycherley free-kick.

The away side saw a good free-kick well saved and another effort go just past the post while Connor McCartney saw his long range shot also just go wide as the half ended goalless.

Bridgham started the second half well with Wycherley heading past the post and Jack Green seeing his shot well saved. Green was not to be denied and from a McCartney pass he fired home for 1-0 on 49 minutes.

Hockering then hit the bar with a superb long range effort but on the hour mark it was 2-0 when centre forward Tom Wood finished well from another McCartney pass. The away side then hit the post again as it appeared it was not to be their day while Bridgham went close again when Green shot past the post.

On 85 minutes Bridgham made it 3-0 when Wood ran onto a Ben Mannion pass and finished well. Despite Hockering pulling one back in stoppage time when they scored from a header after a free- kick for 3-1 it was to be the home side’s day as they secured the points with a good performance.

Man-of-the-match was Simon Sutcliffe who continues to do a great job at left back.