Leiston 0 Swaffham Town 4 – Pedlars go top of the table
Jamie Buhlemann and Ben Harris first to the ball for Swaffham Town Reserves during their 3-0 victory over Brandon Town at Shoemakers Lane. Picture: Eddie Deane - Credit: Eddie Deane
An emphatic victory on a bitterly cold afternoon in Leiston sent Swaffham Town to the top of the Thurlow Nunn First Division table.
With the pitch showing signs of a heavy season and the wind blowing straight down the ground to make conditions difficult for both sides, the deadlock was broken after 20 minutes when Dylan Edge played through to slip the ball wide of the keeper from 10 yards. The Pedlars' leading goal-scorer Alex Vincent made it two just two minutes later, meeting a whipped cross from Edge on the half-volley, the keeper having no chance.
Vincent should have bagged his second in the 33rd minute, a penalty awarded for a clumsy challenge, Vincent's spot-kick rattling the post and fizzing out of play for a goal-kick. The home side then regrouped and dug in to see the half out.
Leiston were reduced to 10 men 15 minutes into the second half, Virgilio Leitao seeing red for violent conduct and abusive language.
Swaffham worked hard to further break down the Leiston defence, their third goal and best of the day came from Aaron Porter, played through on the left wing past the right-back, one touch and then calmly passing into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.
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Leiston's best chance came with 10 minutes to go, Lee Brooks pulling off a great save to deny the goal, wrong-footed and then corrected to push the ball high and wide of his near post.
There was concern in the dying minutes, Mikey Thompson clattered by a high challenge across his knee.
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The final goal came late on, Liam Reed making a probing run to the touchline and pulling his cross back hard and low, a Leiston defender swinging wildly to clear and swiping the ball into his own net.
The Pedlars hosted King's Lynn Town Reserves tonight and head to Debenham LC on Saturday.
