Thurlow Nunn League: Payton Swatman brace for Fakenham; Swaffham lose at Long Melford; leaders Downham held

Thurlow Nunn Premier Division: Long Melford 3 Swaffham Town 0

The Pedlars, still missing some of the squad through injury and family commitments, had a disappointing result away to Long Melford on Saturday.

A fine performance came from goalkeeper Tommy Rix, who denied Melford in the tenth minute, diving to his right and diverting the ball onto the post.

There was little other goalmouth action at either end throughout the first half until seconds to go, with Melford opening their account to go into the break with the advantage.

The Pedlars played the better-looking football but lacked that final touch or pass to threaten. A further great stop from Rix in a one-on-one kept the second half interesting, with the Pedlars unable to test the keeper at the other end.

Melford hit the net again in the 74th minute and in added time. On a positive for Swaffham, some good performances from a young side and second half substitutions giving manager Paul Hunt the opportunity to blood two under-18’s in their first team debuts.

This puts Swaffham in 12th position.

Attendance: 52.

Tonight (Tuesday) Swaffham are away to Wroxham.

Thurlow Nunn League

First Division North

Payton Swatman notched a brace to ensure 13th-place Fakenham Town won 2-0 at eighth-spot Lakenheath (attendance: 70), while leaders Downham Town were held to a goalless draw at third-spot Ipswich Wanderers (attendance: 92).

Lynn Reserves did not have a fixture: they host Felixstowe & Walton United Res (at Wisbech) on Saturday, 3pm.

Downham entertain Fakenham Town tonight.

n A well-matched game last Monday for Swaffham U18's away to Cambridge City in the FA Youth Cup. In a fantastic game for the neutral, Cambridge bagged the only goal of the match in the 62nd minute.

This week the ‘young Pedlars’ travel to Aldiss Park for a local derby at Dereham.

Better fortune for the Swaffham Reserves in the First Round of the Cyril Ballyn Cup with a 3-1 victory away to Long Stratton Reserves. Goals from Kieran Bruce, Callum McDermid and Sary Rahma progressed the Pedlars to the next round. Further Cup action next weekend for the Reserves, this time in the Norfolk Junior Cup First Round. Swaffham are away to East Harling Reserves.