Swaffham take a breather

Swaffham Town, after battling against high-flying FC Clacton, have to cool their heels this weekend as they don't have a fixture.However the reserves host Bungay Town Reserves with a 2pm kick-off and the A-team are also at home to Dickleburgh, 2pm.

Swaffham Town, after battling against high-flying FC Clacton, have to cool their heels this weekend as they don't have a fixture.

However the reserves host Bungay Town Reserves with a 2pm kick-off and the A-team are also at home to Dickleburgh, 2pm.

Swaffham Town 1, FC Clacton 4

THE Pedlars played host to second-in-the-table Clacton - the first Ridgeons League football at Shoemakers Lane this year.

The home side kicked off downhill and started the game with confidence. Twice in the first ten minutes Clacton struggled to defend a long ball over their back four but they managed to clear the resultant crosses.

Clacton's first opportunity came in the ninth minute, a free-kick 30 yards out and to the right of the box, headed wide by the centre-forward.

The resulting goal-kick saw a breakaway by Matthew Kenny, the cross to Kyle Plumb cleared as he struggled to bring it under control.

Swaffham's luck changed in the 16th minute, Andrew Hunter taking a free-kick which was cleared by the Clacton defence, knocked back in by Richard Cornwall, Hunter breaking clear and chipping the approaching keeper from

14 yards. A minute later it could have been two, Matthew Parkinson's chipped shot narrowly missing the back post.

Clacton squared the score in the 20th minute, a free-kick hit low past Lee Brooks' far post.

Five minutes later Swaffham were caught napping, failing to clear from a long throw and the Clacton number five volleyed into the net.

The half finished with Swaffham attacking, Plumb putting Kenny through with the keeper just beating him to the ball.

Plumb broke clear early into the second half crossing into the box, Parkinson mis-hitting the shot, collected by the keeper.

A long punt from the Clacton keeper nearly beat the home defence, good recovery work by Tom Rainford and Ben Russell calming the situation.

Clacton's third came in the 51st minute, poor marking allowed the number seven to break through and slide the ball past Brooks. Three minutes later nearly a repeat, only for David Spalding to clear off the line.

In the 68th minute a double substitution saw Keith Polski and Ian Simmons replace Daniel Paynter and Matthew Parkinson respectively to mix the play with a further change, Chris Sainty for Matthew Kenny in the 80th.

Brooks pulled off a fine save from a 20-yard volley in the 81st minute.

Swaffham only came close in the remaining time when Keith Polski shot wide after being put through by Plumb.

To add to Swaffham's woes in the 88th minute, a ball was not cleared and was pushed across the goal area, which left a simple header for the Clacton number seven.