Fakenham flounder at Shoemakers

Swaffham Town 4 Fakenham Town 1

Swaffham deservedly took all three points in this return derby. Early pressure in the opening minutes saw Craig Burton test the keeper and then provide a cross met by Richard Cornwall's head but only into the keeper's arms. A free kick in the 13th minute was defended by the Ghosts and cleared for a corner, taken by Jack Redhead and knocked into the net by a Fakenham defender. It was not all one way, good defending by Captain David Spalding and Ben Durrant was required to keep the advantage, keeper Dean Mayes was also required to make his presence known, pushing a Fakenham shot wide in the 26th minute. Craig Burton and Joe Jackson combining and a well timed tackle blocked Jackson's attempt. Redhead's precision free kick providing an opportunity for Spalding, but the attempt went straight into the keeper's arms. The Pedlars second came in the 41st minute, a corner whipped across goal, chipped back in by Burton,finding skipper Spalding, to head home for his first of the season.
Fakenham got one back into the game in the first minute of the second half, catching Swaffham napping but the two goal lead was restored when Jackson converted a penalty, Matthew Parkinson being brought down in the box, from behind, following a superb solo ginking' run forward. Further chances fell to Will O'Brien and Craig Burton, but their shots were wide of the target, one past the post the other over the bar. The final goal came in the 78th minute, great football between O'Brien, Jackson and Burton saw Burton released to score a well taken effort on the volley. Jackson was unlucky not to claim a second in the last minute, his shot clipping the post to go wide.
A 4-0 win for the Reserves away at Anglian Windows and a 5-2 victory at Cranworth for the 'A' Team completed a very satisfactory weekend at the Club.
Next Saturday the First Team travel to Halstead Town (3pm k/o) the Reserves (3pm k/o) and 'A' Team (2pm k/o) are both at home to Martham and Gressenhall respectively.