Swaffham no match for high-flying March
Swaffham Town 1, March Town 4
Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Premier Division
The lowly Pedlars were no match for the high-flying Hares when the two met at Shoemakers Lane on Saturday.
Swaffham went into the game 13 points adrift at the bottom of the table, whereas seventh place March were on a nine game unbeaten streak – and the gulf in class was there for all to see.
If the home side hoped a bumpy pitch and strong winds would be a leveller, their hopes were undone after just four minutes, when March – who included former Pedlars Dean Miller and Sam Garner in their starting line-up – scored.
Two former King's Lynn Town players combined for the goal, left back Jamie Allsop crossing for Jack Friend to poke home.
In truth the wind did then become a factor as both sides struggled to string passes together, but the home side seemed more intent on barking complaints at the referee rather than really try to press the visitors.
They did create a decent chance in the 38th minute but midfielder Oli Williams scuffed his effort from 20 yards, presenting an easy save for Charlie Congreve, another former Linnet.
A second goal came for March right on the break when Sam Green's slide rule pass saw the prolific Friend one-on-one with home keeper Charlie Phillips and he coolly slid the ball into the back of the net.
Swaffham manager Greg Dimsey obviously made the most of his time with the players at the break and his team came out fighting. They started to gain more possession and created a good chance on 53 minutes, Brad Yates running through only to see his fierce shot produce a great save from Congreve.
But March were growing complacent and the Pedlars reduced the arrears on 68 minutes when Congreve missed a Yates corner and debutant Callum Madigan turned in at the far post.
Any thoughts of a comeback were immediately scuppered, however, as March switched through the gears. On 70 minutes Ben Matthews whipped in a lovely cross from the left and Friend completed his hat-trick with a volley so hard that Phillips could only help it into the back of the net.
Six minute later and it was 4-1 as another ex-Lynn player, the powerful striker Craig Gillies, saw his shot parried into the path of 16-year-old substitute Luis Cowie, who crowned his March debut by scoring with his first touch.
March went close again when Friend smacked a post seconds from the end.
Swaffham Town: Phillips, Cupit, Smith, Karanikolas, Madigan, Malin, Blackford, Williams, Stangroome, Yates, Jewell. Subs (used): McCarthy, Fox. Not used: Weaver-Pope, Dimsey, Minister.
March Town: Congreve, Garner, Allsop, Miller, Emmington, Green, Burrows, McQuaid, Friend, Gillies, Matthews. Subs (used): Gibson, Saunders, Cowie. Not used: Brumby.
Attendance: 104.
