A “freak goal” conceded in stoppage time has perhaps epitomised Soham Town Rangers’ form of late. 

Soham’s visitors Kirkley & Pakefield scored the late winner when goalkeeper Alex Blowers scored directly from a free-kick in the 2-1 home defeat on Saturday [March 4]. 

That result was the Greens’ seventh Eastern Counties Premier Division reverse in 2023, and no win since the Boxing Day derby victory at Ely City. 

“It’s a freak goal; he could kick that another 100 times and it wouldn’t happen like that,” said Soham manager Lloyd Groves. 

“We didn’t deserve to lose the game, but I don’t think we deserved to win the game either.  

“We had two or three good chances, which we didn’t capitalise on and on another day, we might have scored.” 

Jamie Judge netted nine minutes before half-time for a Soham side that has scored just eight goals since the turn of the year.  

And Groves is trying to understand where his team’s cutting edge has gone. 

“I think a lot of it comes down to experience; we’ve got a lot of young lads making their first steps at this level of football,” he said. 

“It’s everybody; me, the players, and [we are] ultimately plastering over the cracks.  

“Everyone has got to stick together and believe in what we’re trying to do.” 

If Soham are to win their first game this calendar year, they will have to beat league leaders Thetford Town on March 11, 3pm, to do so. 

Soham then host second-placed Ipswich Wanderers at Julius Martin Lane on March 14, 7.45pm.

Groves added: “It’s not been a successful season, but when you’re going to play the top three sides, we’ve got to give it a go, leave nothing out there and give it 100 per cent. 

“Hopefully, we can cause some upsets.”