Fakenham Town will be hoping to put one of the darkest days in the club's 133-year history behind them today – by playing a game of football.

The Ghosts hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons on Tuesday night when they were forced to call off their scheduled home fixture with Great Yarmouth Town at short notice when their disgruntled players refuse to turn out.

Fakenham are scheduled to return to action this afternoon in the second round of the Norfolk Senior Cup, with village side Yelverton providing the opposition at Clipbush Park.

The Anglian Combination Division One outfit would usually be big underdogs against a side from the top flight of the Thurlow Nunn League. But with uncertainty about just who will be representing the home team they might just fancy their chances of causing an upset.

Most of Fakenham's senior players are said to be unhappy at the club's decision not to reappoint Wayne Anderson as manager after parting company with Robbie Harris, and are unlikely to make themselves available for selection again.

The club's reserves, who have an Anglian Combination fixture at Thetford Rovers, might also baulk at the idea of playing in the Senior Cup, as it would make them ineligible to play in the big Junior Cup derby clash coming up at Holt later in the month.

It appears Fakenham will field a side made up of youth coaches and some supporters with football experiences, as well as two first team players.

The match at Clipbush Park is one of five ties pitting Thurlow Nunn sides against lower league opposition. With home advantage, Mulbarton Wanderers – third in the Anglian Combination Premier Division – might fancy their chances of causing an upset when they host Gorleston while Caister travel to a higher-ranked Diss Town side, who were beaten 8-0 at home in league last Saturday.

Harleston Town are another potential giant-killer, with a trip this afternoon to a Thetford Town side who have just lost six games on the trot, but Aylsham will be big underdogs at Great Yarmouth Town, eager to get going after their wasted midweek journey.