Swaffham Town 0, Gorleston 1

Gorleston progressed to the semi-finals of the Ridgeons First Division Knockout Cup with a goal deep in stoppage time from Peter Lambert, writes David Hardy.

The Greens had the first chance within two minutes but Mitch Forbes lifted the ball over from within the six-yard box.

Gorleston struggled to settle and it was Swaffham, playing downhill, who had the better of the opening period, but a series of free-kicks came to nothing.

Lambert broke but his cross fell short of Forbes, and then the returning Aaron Huggins-Bowers set Forbes through. His effort beat the keeper but rolled wide of the far post.

DJ Kareche had the next chance but his shot was deflected wide and, on the stroke of half time, Thomas Daniels hit a low, hard drive which the keeper grabbed at the second attempt.

The second half began in similar style to the first with Swaffham having early pressure as Gorleston were slow out of the dressing rooms.

The Greens began to play better, although it was difficult to play passing football due to the condition of the pitch.

Reece Hunn forced the keeper into a save down low by a post and then Bradley Hough broke down the right, cut into the box but blazed wildly over the bar.

Swaffham clawed themselves back into the ascendancy but Elliot Pride in the Gorleston goal was barely troubled.

Two minutes from time Hough again broke on the right, twisting and turning and weaving his way into the penalty area. He could easily have gone down and given the referee a decision to make but stayed on his feet to lay the ball back to Darren Cockrill, who thundered a shot goalwards only for it to strike Lambert’s head and go over.

What seemed the final chance of the game came in the 90th minute when Lambert was set clean through on goal but shot straight at the keeper.

Two minutes into time added on, with extra-time looming, Daniels drilled a ball into the box and this time Lambert got a perfect connection to volley spectacularly into the top corner of the goal.

Team: Elliot Pride, Sean Blowers (Kyle Howell 68), Thomas Daniels, Aaron Huggins-Bowers (Darren Cockrill 83), Adam Thurtle, Eddie Thompson, DJ Kareche, Peter Lambert, Mitch Forbes Bradley Hough 64), Steve Taylor, Reece Hunn.