Team Bury 0, Swaffham Town 2The Pedlars travelled the short journey to Bury, hoping to build on their improving performance and enhance their team spirit.
Team Bury 0, Swaffham Town 2
The Pedlars travelled the short journey to Bury, hoping to build on their improving performance and enhance their team spirit.
Still without centre forward Jack Webber and David Weaver-Pope, Swaffham kicked off and from the start pushed forward, close play by Will O'Brien and Joe Jackson saw Jackson narrowly missing from a tight angle.
In the sixth minute a well-judged through ball by Richard Cornwall saw Jackson clip the ball over the keeper but could not retain his balance to run onto it.
Team Bury, a youthful side, with bags of energy and stamina, established in conjunction with the College of West Suffolk, replied to the Swaffham attack, but efforts came either wide of goal or were cleared to safety by the solid Swaffham defence.
A free-kick in the 26th minute from 30 yards out, taken by Will O'Brien was met sweetly by Craig Burton, but the volley sailed over the bar.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 41st minute when Scott Voutt won two tackles in the middle of the park, played the ball to Richard Cornwall who passed through to Jackson, who executed the shot over and past the keeper into the net perfectly from 15 yards.
Joe Jackson had two further chances before the break, catching Bury on the hop but the efforts going wide or over the bar.
The hosts came out for the second half looking the hungrier. Fine keeping by Craig Titmarsh, making his season debut, kept the Pedlars in front, it taking ten minutes for them to settle and show their first half form. A break, following a Bury corner, forced a save from an O'Brien effort. The resulting kick by the keeper, was gathered by Cornwall who slotted a through ball towards the left-hand side of the Bury box for Jackson to run onto.
He was brought down from behind, leaving the referee no alternative but to award the penalty. Jackson added to his tally, sending the keeper the wrong way from the spot-kick.
Further encouraging efforts by Craig Burton, Richard Cornwall and Will O'Brien demonstrated a greater willingness to have a go at goal, which was perhaps lacking last season.
The Pedlars had to call on Craig Titmarsh to make a fine save to keep his clean sheet, pushing the ball round s post. His handling throughout the match and the way he conducted himself was excellent and bodes well for the future at Shoemakers Lane.
Next Saturday Swaffham first team travel to Whitton United, kick off 3pm.
The A team have started their season well, a convincing 4-0 win at Narborough midweek and 4-3 victory away to Hingham Athletic Saturday.
The Reserves are having a more difficult start, with just one point from three matches, but will try to change that with home ties on Tuesday and Saturday against East Harling and Easton, kick-offs 7.30pm and 2.30pm respectively.
Thursday evening, Swaffham's Ridgeons U18 Team make their home debut against Mildenhall Town, an exciting new chapter in the club's history. Kick-off is at 7.45pm, a nominal admission charge will be required.
The Veterans' team start their new season in the newly-formed, Norfolk County FA Veterans' League. They will be away to Rockland United next Sunday 2.30pm kick off.
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