Pedlars pick up second win of season

Swaffham Town strengthened their Thurlow Nunn First Division North survival hopes with a well-deserved three points at the weekend.The Pedlars picked up only their second win of the campaign against their visitors from Essex – but still find themselves several points adrift at the bottom of the table.It all seemed to start as deja vue for the Pedlars when, eight minutes in, full-back Lewis Malin picked up a groin strain and was replaced by Josh Overland.A competitive first half saw chances at both ends and both goalkeepers made to work hard.The breakthrough came five minutes into the second half, Connor Pilbeam connecting with an Ethan Lloyd-Patrick cross from the left wing, sweeping into the bottom of the left-hand corner of the net from 12 yards.The home side’s Gino Livoti was unlucky with an effort four minutes later, the Wivenhoe goalkeeper doing enough to deflect it onto the post.Two fine saves from the newly-signed Tom Jefferies between the posts earned him the man-of-the-match on his debut. The Pedlars move on next week on the road to the Millfield Autoparts Stadium, home of FC Peterborough on Saturday where Pilbeam will be looking to add to his impressive tally of now four goals in three appearances. There were no other games at the Uncle Luke’s Stadium last weekend or the coming one.The Anglian Combination and Central & South Norfolk Leagues are on a festive break until the new year.The only other game this week was the Under-18s away to Sporting 87 playing at the Mel Group Stadium, stronghold of AFC Sudbury, a 3G all-weather surface.Great facilities for the Young Pedlars to experience, and an entertaining game for the neutral, Sporting 87 registered the only goal of the evening.