Gorleston 1 Swaffham 0SWAFFHAM came to Emerald Park looking to avenge a 5-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of Gorleston ten days earlier writes David Hardy.

Gorleston 1 Swaffham 0

SWAFFHAM came to Emerald Park looking to avenge a 5-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of Gorleston ten days earlier writes David Hardy.

Mitch Forbes was out injured so Liam Bartley got a starting place whilst Luke Goreham returned to the squad with a place on the bench.

The Greens dominated the early stages and after 12 minutes looked to be denied a penalty after a clear handball from a Swaffham defender was missed by the referee and linesman.

Bartley was holding the ball up well but finding it difficult to break down a stubborn Swaffham and it was the Pedlars who had the first shot of the game after 20 minutes from David Spalding but it was well over the bar.

Four minutes later Steve Taylor broke through, but keeper Jon Cockerill raced out to block at his feet.

Kyle Howell and Jamie Stockeld worked a quick free kick but couldn't get a shot away.

Bartley almost broke through and also had the ball in the net after coolly lifting over the keeper, but was flagged offside and Stockeld had another long range effort blocked.

The second half continued in the same vein with Gorleston dominating possession, putting together some nice passing patterns, although at times overplaying.

The visitors were making it very difficult, getting men behind the ball then breaking fast with a long ball to their outlet Kyle Plumb.

As the pressure increased Reece Hunn beat several players before being fouled as he fed Chris Sandford, who in turn was flagged offside.

Sandford's shot was cleared off the line with the referee awarding Gorleston a corner.

Two minutes later keeper Cockerill flapped a corner down to Bartley whose effort was deflected over then, three minutes later, came the breakthrough.

A deep cross from Aaron Bowers towards the back post saw the keeper once more unable to deal with it and, under pressure, he palmed the ball down to Bartley who fired it into the net for his first Gorleston goal.

Swaffham managed to apply some pressure as the half wore on with Gary Williams blocking a Plumb shot before dragging a shot of his own just wide.

After cruelly being denied any points with possibly their best performance of the season at Clacton, it was imperative the Greens got back to winning ways, and they managed to hold on to grind out the points.

Its six points and six goals earned from Swaffham this season.