Bloods draw first blood of the season

Opening defeat for the Pedlars

The season 2012/13 started timidly for Swaffham, travelling to Essex to
meet Saffron Walden Town, returning to the Eastern Counties League
after there withdrawal last season. An early mistake in the 7th minute
by Mikey Thompson, let Walden in, but the shot was poor and ended wide.
Two minutes later, David Weaver-Pope defended a cross to clear it for
a corner, the cross cleared but insufficient distance on the clearance,
a tame ball back into the box, the Walden number 10 side footing the
ball into the right hand corner. Swaffham created some forward efforts
but their pre-season promise failed to materialise. Further chances
were wasted by the home side, awarded two free kicks on the edge of the
box, the first slammed into the wall the other deflected for a corner,
well defended and cleared to safety.
Ten minutes into the second half, Saffron made it two. A free kick
awarded by the referee in the box, the cross headed home by the number
5. On the hour Swaffham had their first good chance on goal, Richard
Corwall meeting a corner with his head, the effort cleared from the
line. Six minutes later, Captain Dean Miller closed the gap, heading
in from a flicked on free kick. Walden's third and final goal resulted
from the referee allowing play to go on following a blatent shirt
pulling foul on Miller, the resultant cross met at the far post, keeper
Scott Cruickshank having no chance.
Many thanks to Club Sponsor Narford Scaffolding for their valuable
assistance in maintaining the floodlights at Shoemakers Lane. Without
the community spirit to help the Football Club and generosity in
providing that support, the Club would struggle to provide the standard
of football which we are currently able to do so.
Tuesday evening see's the first local derby of the season, the Pedlars
hosting Downham Town, kick off 7.45pm. Next Saturday Halstead Town
visit Shoemakers Lane, kick off 3pm and the Reserves start their
Anglian Combination Division 3 campaign away to North Walsham Town
Reserves.

Pedlar's Team:- 1 Scott Cruickshank, 2 David Weaver-Pope, 3 Matt Parkinson, 4 Dean Miller(c)(1), 5 Lee Woolmore, 6 Richard Cornwall, 7 Jack Redhead, 8 Mike Thompson, 9 Gary Smith, 10 Alex Vincent, 11 Joe Jackson, 12 Darren Hockton, 14 James Buhlemann, 15 David Jackson, 16 Toby Hilliard, 17 Lewis Hemeter.