FC Parson Drove triumph in Thurlow Nunn First Division North relegation clash against Swaffham Town

Swaffham Town 1 Parson Drove 2

FC Parson Drove delivered the perfect pick-me-up for hospitalised boss Arran Duke after boosting their survival hopes with victory at Swaffham Town on Friday night.

Duke, taken ill on the morning of the game, missed the huge relegation clash in Norfolk, which was won by an own goal after new signing Matteo Perkins had cancelled out Nick Davey's early opener for the hosts.

And Drove were also indebted to another recent arrival in goalkeeper Kye Gilmour who pulled off a stunning penalty save early in the second half to keep the score 2-1.

Drove had a number of ex-Pedlars in their starting line-up with Dean Miller, David Weaver-Pope, Rory Harper, Danny Setchell – who appeared for Swaffham earlier in the campaign – and Sam Garner all facing their former club.

With so much at stake for both sides, the game began at a frantic pace and there were chances at either end early on.

In the third minute, Davey headed a James Suckling cross over the woodwork before Drove broke straight up the other end and Perkins saw his turn and shot well gathered by Joe Rider between the Swaffham posts.

The opening goal arrived with less than 10 minutes on the clock as Harry Cupit's corner found the head of Davey and the ball looped over Gilmour and into the top corner.

Drove looked for an instant response as Dean Miller saw his header well blocked by Callum Madigan at the other end.

The visitors then had Gilmour to thank for an excellent stop low to his left after Oli Williams' shot had taken a wicked deflection off the boot of Miller.

Drove levelled matters in the 20th minute after Perkins – a former Wisbech St Mary youth product – used his pace to get in behind the home defence to slot past Rider after a long ball over the top from Sam Garner.

Swaffham's Luke Clemenson then made a superb tackle in the box to deny the visitors, who took the lead shortly after when Martin Tudosa got in behind the home defence and his cross was turned into his own net by Alan Burch.

Tudosa should have headed Drove further in front at the start of the second half but somehow directed his effort wide of the target.

Dan Roberts sliced a shot wide at the other end as Swaffham, playing with the slope in their favour, looked to find a way back into the contest.

The turning point undoubtedly came ten minutes into the second period as Kieran Bruce was fouled in the box by Garner and the referee pointed straight to the spot.

Bruce stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick which Gilmour brilliantly saved with his fingertips low to his right.

The penalty save seemed to suck the life out of the hosts and the game became a rather scrappy affair in the final 30 minutes.

A quickly-taken free-kick from the visitors saw Setchell fizz an excellent effort over the home woodwork.

Jacob Bogle dragged a shot wide late on – but that was the closest the hosts came to finding an equaliser in the final quarter of the match with both Callum Brown and Miller enjoying excellent games at the heart of the Drove defence.

Visiting substitute Kyle Bird saw his late effort well-saved by the body of Rider.

The win takes Drove to within three points of Swaffham at the bottom of the table with three games in hand.

On Tuesday night, Duke’s side will be looking to take another step towards safety when they host sixth-placed Whittlesey Athletic.

Swaffham Town: Rider, Clemenson, Cupit (Dack), Burch (Lambe), Madigan, Roberts (Karanikolas), Suckling (Minns), Williams, Davey, Bogle, Bruce.

Parson Drove: Gilmour, Tudosa, Taylor, Brown, Miller, Garner, Weaver-Pope, Kendrick (Bird), Perkins, Harper (Warren), Setchell.