Pedlars Within Reach - Swaffham Town vs. Stowmarket Town

Towering presence at Shoemakers Lane

For the fourth time this season, I travelled on the Fen Line for a match. Following trips to Soham, Kings Lynn and Downham I travelled to Swaffham for their home match against Stowmarket Town. The race for promotion from The Eastern Counties Division was very tight as there were only six points separating the top four with only three going up. This could prove to be a pivotal weekend with all of the top four at home. Sawffham's nickname - The Pedlars - comes from the folk legend of The Swaffham Pedlar who travelled to London after dreaming he'd hear good news there. He would eventually return to Swaffham to find his fortune following an encounter with a shopkeeper on London Bridge. I'd seen Stowmarket earlier in the season when they gave another team chasing promotion - Saffron Walden - a real run for their money. There were ten goals in the reverse fixture with Swaffham scoring eight of them.

Kick off at Shoemakers - the slope really is that severe

Stowmarket push back Swaffham straight away and have a lot of the ball in the opening stages. Swaffham's first foray forward sadly ends in the attacker falling over the ball. Stowmarket then take a deserved lead. A pinpoint corner finds the attacker at the back post who heads his side into the lead. The home side quickly have a good chance to equalise when the ball is laid off at the edge of the area but the ball is put high over the bar. The Stowmarket defender then makes a brilliant defensive header to clear a dangerous cross into the box. Stowmarket win a free kick in a good position and after it isn't fully cleared the Stowmarket forward drags his shot just wide. In the closing stages of the half, the Stowmarket has to be alert to block a well driven cross at his near post. 

A Swaffham attack in the first half

The start of the second half is very end to end and this trend continues for the duration of a breathless second half. The first chance comes when the Swaffham winger gets into a good position but he elects to shoot instead of crossing. Stowmarket's first attack follows a quick break up the slope but the final effort is a weak shot straight at the keeper. Swaffham get another sight of goal and this time the ball is lashed into the side netting. Shortly afterwards, a header from a free kick into the danger zone is headed just wide of the target. The home side then get in behind the Stowmarket defence but after receiving the squared ball, it gets stuck under his feet and the goalie is able to save the eventual effort. 

Swaffham knocking on the door.

Swaffham are getting closer and the Stowmarket keeper has to be at the very top of his game. Firstly he punches away a free kick under significant pressure and he then does well to tip over a dipping effort from the edge of the box. Stowmarket survive a very loud penalty shout when the ball strikes the Stowmarket defender on the arm but the referee is not interested. Swaffham undeterred by the unsuccessful penalty shout create their clearest chance of the chance of the game so far when after getting to the byline, the winger cuts the ball past the keeper towards the edge of the six yard box but incredibly no one is waiting there. The same winger then controls the ball well on the flank before putting another shot wide. Just when it looks like it isn't going to be the home sides day, the visitors resistance is finally broken.  The Swaffham attacker finds himself in space in the area and angles a low shot past the keeper. The home side push forward for the winner but the second half has taken it out of both sides and the game ends in a draw.

Long ball forward into front of the wooden cover

As with Wroxham the previous weekend, Swaffham takes a little time to get to from London. Firstly you have to catch a train to Kings Lynn from Kings Cross which takes the best part of two hours. You then have to take the X1 to Swaffham, taking half hour and there are two buses an hour. Swaffham is a picturesque market town with a busy market and also several decent pubs. Before the game I went to The Red Lion which had a couple of local ales on and also had Sky and BT Sports. Shoemakers Lane is then ten minutes away. The clubhouse also had the sports and served fantastic hot dogs. While I was waiting for the bus back to Kings Lynn I visited The Greyhounds which is more of a bustling, traditional pub as well as The Kings Arms which is more of a gastropub. All in all, yet another great trip into Norfolk.

Another view of the stand with a wind turbine in the background