Swaffham battle but exit Vase
Swaffham 0, Hadleigh 3
Swaffham welcomed their Ridgeons Premier Division visitors on Saturday with the hope of progressing in the FA Vase competition which dreams are made of.
Hadleigh opened strongly, putting pressure on the Pedlars defence from the start.
Craig Burton cleared in the 9th minute and Dean Mayes safely collecting a volley two minutes later.
Once settled opportunities arose, Will O'Brien forcing the keeper to spoon the ball over the bar from a free kick. O'Brien's placed corner, was headed clear by by Hadleigh, the ball won by Jack Webber to set Corey Shields up for the strike which went sailing over the bar.
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The actiion passed to the other end, Mayes again forced to make a save, pushing the ball over.
The resulting corner defended soundly by Matthew Parkinson.
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The deadlock was broken in the 32nd minute, a wicked volley by Hadleigh number 10, Ben Deacon, giving no chance for the keeper.
Further pressure was applied by the visitors was mopped up by the Swaffham defence and counters saw attempts by Joe Jackson and Craig Burton come to no avail.
Hadleigh made it number two in the 43rd minute, Swaffham failing to aderquately clear, the damage by centre forward, Craig Payne.
Jackson and Webber combining well just before the half time whistle, but the strike cleared the bar by a mile!
The second half started as frantically as the first finished, good end-to-end football by both sides, however it took only six minutes for the visitors to put the scoreline safe.
Hadleigh's goalscores Deacon and Payne working well together, Deacon applying the final strike to bag him a brace for the afternoon. Swaffham continued to battle, their heads never going down and had further opportunities to keep the dream alive but could not convert at the end of moves.
Club Secretary, Ray Ewart said: 'I am pleased that the club has the opportunity to offer our players the chance to play in such a high standard competition. We feel that it is so important that we play to the highest standard possible, the Ridgeons League providing that level. We have a fine sqad of players within the club who I am proud to say are enjoying their football in their respective leagues.'
Swaffham's first team are again at home next Saturday, Saffron Walden Town the visitors, kick-off 3pm.
