Swaffham Town scored a late equaliser to keep their title hopes on track as they approach the halfway point of their season.

Ninth-placed Halstead Town were the visitors to Shoemakers Lane on Saturday and took the lead against the sun of play in the 16th minute, and dug in to defend their lead.

The Pedlars played the better football but found it difficult to break down the Halstead defence, giving the visiting keeper a relatively easy afternoon.

A glimpse of hope came in the 75th minute for Swaffham, Joe Jackson heading onto the post from a Mark Allibone cross as the home side stepped up a gear.

The equaliser finally came in the third minute of added time, Mikey Thompson riding a hard challenge in order to cross for Matthew Parkinson to loop his header over the keeper and spark the celebrations.

The point kept the Pedlars in fourth place in the Thurlow Nunn First Division, just a point behind third-placed Debenham and with four games in hand on the Suffolk side.

This Saturday Paul Hunt's side travel to Great Yarmouth Town for their festive fixture (3pm kick-off), who lost 1-0 at Debenham on Saturday.

Swaffham Reserves continue to compete strongly in Division Three of the Almary Green Anglian Combination, keeping the pressure on the top two by securing a 2-1 victory away to Hemsby on Saturday.

Goals from Dylan Edge and Jamie Buhlemann were enough to get the win, keeping them in third place in the league and nine points behind leaders Mattishall Reserves, although with two games in hand.

One of those games in hand is scheduled for this Saturday, when seventh-placed Easton are due to come to Shoemakers Lane (2.30pm kick-off).

Both Swaffham's under-18 and veterans sides earned draws during last week as well. The u18s managed a respectable 1-1 draw away to Newmarket but there was more excitement for the veterans when they hosted Watton United and were held to a thrilling 5-5 draw.