Felixstowe & Walton United 4 Swaffham Town 0 – Tough loss for Pedlars

Swaffham Town's search for a return to winning ways goes on, after the Pedlars went a 10th successive match without victory.

Losing 4-0 at high-flying Felixstowe and Walton United was felt to be a score-line that did not reflect the character and determination of the Pedlars, following good performances throughout the side.

The match was played in difficult conditions and on a pitch that was only just fit for play. Swaffham were without Joe Jackson and Jack Defty through work commitments and injury, so experimented with shape and formation.

They were beaten twice in the first half by good finishes but equally could have been on a par, if not ahead, if opportunities had been executed.

A better second-half performance was assisted more so by the wind, with gutsy performances by Pedlar stalwarts Mikey Thompson and Dean Miller.

The best play saw team debutant Matthew Blackford playing through Alex Vincent, to cross to player-manager Matthew Parkinson, whose first time strike was too clean to make the keeper's save look easy.

A further two goals for the Seasiders in the last five minutes made the scoreline look more impressive than a true reflection on the game.

The Pedlars finished with relief that the 140-mile round trip was over and done, despite suffering an eighth defeat in 10 matches.

Swaffham have two home fixtures coming up to try and bring an end to that run, against bottom-of-the-table Whitton United on Saturday, ahead of the Boxing Day meeting at Shoemakers Lane against another struggling side, Walsham le Willows, which will kick-off at 11am.

Swaffham Under-18s earned a great result away to Horsford in the North Division of the Thurlow Nunn Youth League last Thursday, winning 1-0 thanks to a goal scored by Matthew Blackford. That was followed by another win on Monday, 2-1 at Fakenham, thanks to goals from Blackford and A Rhaouti.