Bungay Town 1st Team

Scorers: James Wightman, Liam Williams, Andre Martins, Kia Wiliams and Ole Alexander.

THE Black Dogs made it three league wins in a row to go top of the Anglian Combination division one table with another encouraging performance against Fakenham Reserves on Saturday.
The visitors were a strong side, particularly in attack, but Bungay recovered from a poor start to win comfortably in the end.
“It was disappointing to concede two minutes in but our re-action was a lot better and more controlled and we were 3-1 up in 36 minutes,” said manager Travis Manning. “As a manager we look to keep clean sheets, but if we score more goals than the opposition that is all that matters.”
Andre Martens, who got the best of the five goals – all scored by different players - got the man of the match award – Manning said he was exceptional.
Fakenham showed their capabilities by opening up a retreating Bungay defence after two minutes, with Stuart Broughton applying the finishing touch. But their lead did not last long. Jordan Williams swung over a ninth minute corner and James Wightman got his first goal for the first team with a firm header at the back post.
Alex Shreeve was not too far over with a bicycle kick. Liam Williams netted with a good shot which was ruled offside, but he put his side ahead in the 30th minute, rolling the ball into an empty net from 25 yards after Shreeve had worried the stranded keeper into a mistake.
Andre Martens made it 3-1 three minutes later, firing into the bottom corner from the edge of the area after Sammy Allen nodded on a high ball. But Fakenham made it 3-2 jut two minutes later, as Brandon Ling was beaten with a chip which Wightman stretched in vain to clear.
The Black Dogs got their fourth on 54 minutes as Allen found Kye Williams moving down the right with a fine pass and he cut in to score from a narrow angle.
Danny McDonald, on for Connor Doddington, and Liam Williams both tested the keeper, but Fakenham remained dangerous on the break and Brandon Ling had to make a fine save to block a close range shot in the 68th minute.
Finally Bungay put the icing on the cake in the 83rd minute as another substitute, Callum Rudkin, got to the by line and got in a cross that was blocked to Oli Alexander, who slid it home from close range.
Team: B Ling, T Daniels, J Wightman, J Williams, A Bray, K Williams (C Rudkin)), S Allen (C Doddington), C Doddington (D McDonald), A Martens, L Williams (O Alexander), A Shreeve.
 

Scorers: Alex Shreeve 2, Jack Child

THJE Black Dogs turned in probably their best performance of the season on Saturday to comfortably beat Thorpe St Andrew and step up to second place in the Anglian Combination division one.
It was in complete contract to their poor showing at Brandon the previous week as they controlled much of the game and with more luck would have scored more goals.
“Apart from the first ten minutes I thought we were superb,” said a delighted manager Travis Manning. “We needed an early goal and from then on we completely dominated. We played really well.
“In training we worked on alert aggression and two goals came from that. Having Liam Williams back was a plus and he was superb, and Jackson Williams had his best game so far.”
Jack Child fired narrowly wide early on but Thorpe enjoyed more possession in the opening period and went close with one shot. But Alex Shreeve was unlucky to see a volley from Jackson Williams’ free-kick blocked on the line, and in the 12th minute he put his side ahead, scoring at the second attempt after taking Sam Allen’s pass in his stride.
Shortly after the keeper just beat Shreeve to a forward pass. At the other end Brandon Ling had a rare save to make, blocking a shot when a player broke clear.
It was 2-0 before half-time as Child played a free-kick to Kye Williams and Shreeve got a touch on his low cross into the six-yard box to score off a post.
Both teams skimmed the bar with efforts and Liam Williams hit a ;post with a fine shot and Shreeve was unable to get direction on his follow-up header.
Early in the second half Kye Williams had a shot blocked from Liam Williams cross, but Bungay made it 3-0 in the 58th minute with the best goal of the game. Child sent Oli Alexander away down the right and when his cross from the by-line came over Child was there to score with a firm header.
Liam Williams was again unlucky to see a goal-bound shot hit the bar, and Connor Doddington had a cross turned on to the bar and over.
Thorpe got a consolation goal a minute from time as Connor Durrant found the far corner following a goalmouth scramble.
Team : B Ling, T Daniels, J Wightman, J Williams, A Bray, J Child, C Donnington (S Allen) S Allen (D McDonald), K Williams (O Alexander), L Williams, A Shreeve (W Dossett).

Scorers: Ole Alexander and Adam Shreeve

A generally below par performance by the Black Dogs saw them bow out of the Suffolk Senior Cup at the first hurdle at Brandon on Saturday.
Two goals early in the second half put the home side in the driving seat. When Bungay pulled it back to 3-2 they enjoyed a good spell on top but were unable to find an equaliser, and Brandon clinched it with a late fourth goal.
It took Brandon just five minutes to go ahead as the nimble Shamari Francis jinked his way down the left from inside his own half, evaded Thomas Daniels' tackle and took the ball on to score across Brandon Ling and inside the far post.
But the Black Dogs were only behind for a minute. Daniel McDonald found Oli Alexander on the right and he stepped inside his marker to score with a good left foot shot inside the far post.
The visitors looked the more likely to forge ahead after that. Connor Doddington fired just wide and Jack Child brought a good save from the home keeper in the 15th minute, but the home side came back and after they put a header just wide Ling had to make a one-handed save to keep out another goal-bound header.
Brandon took the lead 20 seconds into the second half as a forward got to the byline and pulled the ball back for Lewis Tufts to beat Ling. Seven minutes later it was 3-1, thanks to another solo effort from Francis, his run finishing with a well-placed shot as Bungay backed off.
Bungay then jolted themselves into action, Child put allow shot narrowly wide before Alex Shreeve made it 3-2 in the 55th minute, moving onto a ball over the defence to lob the advancing keeper. And they went close to an equaliser when Child again fired across the six-yard box and it ran just wide of the far post with Shreeve unable to get a touch.
The busy Child played in a low corner soon after and Jackson Williams saw his shot blocked on the line. Brandon saw a shot deflected wide by the defence. In the 80th minute Bungay substitute Andre Martens was sent off for a second bookable offence. And Brandon took advantage a minute later as Tomas Kukuris rose unmarked to head home a free-kick, to clinch his side’s place in the second round.
Team: B Ling, O Alexander, J Williams, T Daniels, A Bray (C Rudkin), J Child (L Williams), D McDonald (N Thompson), C Doddington (S Allen), K Brown, K Williams (A Martens), A Shreeve.

Scorer: Connor Doddington

THE Black Dogs achieved their first home goal, and first home win, of the season on Saturday as a single strike was enough to edge past Gorleston Reserves.

The visitors came with a 100 per cent record in the Anglian Combination division one so far, but Bungay were well worth the three points and manager Travis Manning was pleased with the performance.

“For the first 35 minutes we controlled the game. We let them back in but it was our level dropping rather than their’s improving,” he said. “They went down to 10 men in the second half but I think we would still have won if they had kept at 11. Our back line was immensely strong and resilient and Brandon Ling in goal only had one serious save to make. They were an energetic side but we limited their football. We now have 11 points from seven games.”

From the start Bungay took the game to the Greens and Jack Child got in a good low cross which a defender reached as Alex Shreeve was about to pounce. In the 16th minute Kale Brown fired narrowly wide after another good build-up. Then Shreeve had a close range effort blocked.

Towards half-time Gorleston had a couple of chances, notably when a hooked shot from a corner hit the top of the bar, and Ling had to make a good save with his feet. For Bungay Daniel McDonald fire a low drive narrowly wide from 25 yards.

Four minutes into the second half Gorleston had a player sent off for a bad tackle on James Wightman and had another player sent to the sin-bin for protesting. Bungay took full advantage of playing against nine men as Connor Donnington sent in a long free-kick from the left and it eluded everyone to finish in the back of the net.

The Black Dogs continued on top and substitute Kye Williams fired narrowly over on the turn, and Thomas Daniels put a header on to the roof of the bar from Jackson Williams’ corner.

Bungay had a let off in the 80th minute when a player raced clear but completely mis-controlled his second touch for the ball to run harmlessly out of play., Kye Williams and Oli Alexander combined to set up McDonald for a shot which was blocked and Valeri da Costa had a far post chance he could not take. In a nervous finale Gorleston saw a powerful header from a corner just clear the bar.

Team: B Ling, T Daniels, J Wightman, J Williams, A Bray, D McDonald (V Da Costa), C Doddington (D McDonald), K Brown (C Doddington), J Child (K Williams), A Martens (O Alexander), A Shreeve.

 TWO second half goals undid Bungay at rainy Holt on Saturday in an otherwise evenly contested game.

For some time it looked as if it would be a second 0-0 result following the goal-less draw with Wells the previous week, with little goalmouth action. In the end the only difference was a defensive slip and a fine second goal to give the home side the Anglian Combination division one points.

Early on a good move set up Callum Rudkin for a chance but he chose to cross rather than shoot and it was lost. Holt put a good volley over the bar, before Rudkin got in a good cross from a Connor Doddington pass, but the keeper grabbed the ball at the second attempt. Brandon Ling took a long range shot low down.

Bungay looked the better side at this stage and a defender just got to another Rudkin cross ahead of Jack Child in the 24th minute. As Holt then enjoyed a spell of pressure a close range header went wide.

The Black Dogs began the second half well and Adam Bray brought a good diving save from the keeper early in, before Daniel McDonald drilled a powerful shot narrowly off targe,. Then a shot was deflected for a corner.

But against the run of play at that stage Holt took the lead in the 66th minute as a defensive mis-control gave Liam Amos a clear run at goal and he finished well past Ling.

Jackson Williams brought a diving save from the home keeper with a free-kick, but the goal had lifted the home side, and in the 76th minute they made the game safe with a fine goal, Tom Dobbie moving the ball on to his left foot on the edge of the area before firing a great drive into the far top corner beyond Ling.

Bungay kept battling, but for the fourth time in seven games failed to get on the scoresheet.

Team: B Ling, D McDonald, T Daniels, J Williams, A Bray, O Alexander (M Strak), C Doddington, S Allen (E Patrick), K Brown, J Child (V Woolnough), C Rudkin (O Alexander).

 HOME supporters are still waiting to see Bungay’s first home goal of the season following this goal-less draw at the Maltings Meadow on Saturday.

The two side at the top of the Anglian Combination division one largely cancelled themselves out, meaning there was little goalmouth action of note, and it meant the spotlight turned on the referee as he sent four Bungay players to the sin bin and booked several on both sides in a game that was hard fought but largely fair.

It rather took the focus away from two good sides who both worked hard to clinch all three points, as Bungay finished the game with nine men, but held out comfortably thanks to some solid defending.

The game opened with a minute’s silence in tribute to the death of Queen Elizabeth II. When play got under way Bungay keeper Brandon Ling made a fine 4th minute save when Wells got in behind the defence., Eight minutes later at the other end the Wells keeper made an equally fine stop from a powerful drive from Sam Allen.

Connor Doddington fired over after working himself into a shooting position, but shortly after Alex Shreeve was sin-binned for dissent,

Bungay were unfortunate and Wells were lucky when a defender deflected a shot over his keeper and the ball bounced down onto the line from the underside of the bar. Wells in their turn put a good chance over the bar in the 41st minute.

In the second half Wells put a header narrowly over the bar, and for Bungay Callum Rudkin put in a good run down the left but his shot was off target,

The home side went close in the 55thg minute with their best move of the game as Oli Alexander and Shreeve combined well down the right and the keeper did well to claw away Alexander’s shot.

The rest of the game was more about what the referee was doing as Bungay’s assistant manager Dale Oxborough was red-carded and Thomas Daniels, Jordan Williams and Doddington were sent to the sin-bin, the last two in the final ten minutes, leaving the nine-man Black Dogs to defend the point they had – they did it fairly comfortably, thanks to the efforts of James Wightman and Adam Bray in particular, though everyone left on the pitch took part in the rearguard action.. Ling dealt with a number of shots which did not test him seriously.

Team: B Ling, T Daniels, J Wightman, J Williams, A Bray, K Williams, S Allen (D McDonald), C Doddington, C McAra (O Alexander), C Rudkin (N Thompson), A Shreeve.

Scorers: Alex Shreeve and Liam Williams

ANYONE seeing just the first half of this game would have been astonished to learn the final result.
On another bone hard pitch a five or six-goal lead at half-time would not have flattered the Black Dogs as they totally controlled proceedings, constantly getting behind the home defence and creating numerous chances.
But they had only one to their credit at the interval, the home side came out with renewed determination, the Black Dogs level slipped a bit and Bradenham sneaked a point with a late equaliser. It left manager Travis Manning scarcely able to conceal his annoyance at two dropped points.
The Black Dogs put an early effort wide and were soon creating more chances, and the keeper made a fine save to thwart Kale Brown, who has returned to the club and had an impressive game in mid-field. Adam Bray had an effort taken by the keeper and Alex Shreeve had a shot on the turn which lacked power.
A goal was inevitable, and it came in the 13th minute as Shreeve had one shot blocked but slotted home the rebound. Then a fine moving involving Kye Williams and Brown saw Shreeve turn and fire wide of the far post.
God work by Kye Williams saw him retrieve the ball on the by-line but his cross was agonisingly ahead of Shreeve. The same thing happened on the other fank soon after as Liam Williams crossed from the by-line just ahead of Shreve.
There was a lengthy stoppage for an injury to a Bradenham player, but Bungay resumed their offensive and Brown was unlucky to see a goal-bound effort hit the bar, before Jack Child put a curling effort over the bar and then put a free-kick on the edge of the area in the same place, The same played worked his way clear soon after but fired well wide with only the keeper to beat.
The closest Bradenham went was an effort that was deflected wide by a defender.
Early in the second half Shreeve was thwarted by a fine save from the keeper. The home side had a couple of shots comfortably taken but it was totally against the run of play when they equalised in the 63rd minute with a fine free-kick from Rafael Joao.
Bungay introduced Valeri Costa for his debut and he soon put in a mazy solo run down the left before crossing from the by-line for Liam Williams to regain the lead for the Black Dogs. Then Costa saw a free-kick come back off the underside of the bar.
But with nine minutes left a speculative low shot from Joao crept inside the far post with Lew Riches scrambling across his line and colliding with a the post. He needed lengthy treatment to a head wound before resuming.
Team: L Riches, D McDonald, T Daniels, J Williams (V Woolnough). A Bray, K Brown, J Child (K Williams), S Allen, L Williams, K Williams (V Costa), A Shreeve (N Thompson).
 

A first half penalty was the only difference between these two well matched sides in
Bungay’s first home game of the season on Wednesday evening.
The visitors fielded a strong side, but both sides had periods on top without extending either keeper. Bungay had hoped to build on their opening day win at Stalham but found Kirkley a completely different proposition.
“The sides were evenly matched and we cancelled each other out,” was manager Travis Manning’s verdict at the end. “I thought 0-0 would have been a fair result. It was disappointing to lose this early in the season. We were better in the second half, with our three changes making a difference. Everyone played well.”
Neither keeper was seriously tested at any stage. Kirkley had the better of the opening period and two shots flew wide and another cleared the bar.
The deciding goal came in the 35th minute when Adam Bray was judged to have pushed a forward in the box and Kayden Goldspink comfortably converted the penalty. Before the interval Jackson Williams drove a powerful 25-yard free-kick over the bar.
Bungay were better after the interval and Andre Martens got in a lofted shot the keeper took comfortably, while Connor Doddington tested the keeper with a well struck shot.
The Black Dogs’ best chance of an equaliser came in the 73rd minute as Jackson Williams played a free-kick into the danger area but Martens could not get enough on his diving header to glance it in.
In the final five minutes Kirkley twice went close to closing the game out as a forward turned a low shot wide of the far post and another shot just cleared the angle of post and bar.
Team: B Ling, T Daniels, J Wightman, J Williams, A Bray, D MacDonald (S Allen), K Williams (J Child), C Doddington, A Shreeve (L Williams), A Martens, L Williams (C Rudkin).

Scorers: Alex Shreeve 3, Kai Williams, Nathan Thompson

Stalham Town 1, Bungay Town 5
A hat-trick on his debut from Alex Shreeve got the Black Dogs 2022-23 season off to the best possible start in baking conditions at Stalham on Saturday.
One of eight players making their Bungay debuts in a much-changed squad under new manager Travis Manning, he got the first three of a nap hand with each foot and his head – the perfect hat-trick on an encouraging start in the side’s quest for promotion from the Anglian Combination premier division.
Remarkably, Shreeve also made a bit of club history, becoming the first player in its 97 years to hit a debut hat-trick on opening day.
Stalham had struggled to get a squad together and too much should not be read into one opening game, but there were signs that Manning has brought an element of organisation to the set-up.
Kye Williams was only just short of reaching a cross across the six-yard box from Liam Williams in the third minute, and Liam fired wide soon afterwards. Bungay were well in control and the opening goal came in the 34th minute. Shreeve won the ball back well on the edge of the area, and weaved past thee defenders before slotting home form close range. Liam brought a diving save from the keeper as the Black Dogs prowled for a second.
That came eight minutes into the second half as the experienced Jackson Williams swung in a cross from the right which Shreeve headed firmly past the keeper from eight yards.
The striker completed a great hat-trick in the 67th minute, running clear on to a through ball to slot past the advancing keeper.
Kye Williams made it four from close range in the 70th minute after another good build-up, and it was 5-0 on 79 minutes as Jackson Williams again provided the cross for substitute Nathan Thompson to head home. Another substitute, Marcus Strak, should have made it six soon afterwards but somehow skied a chance from close in when the ball rebounded to him suddenly from a free-kick.
Keeper Lewis Riches had his only serious work to do in the 86th minute as he turned away a well struck from kick from the edge of the area. But Stalham did get a consolation goal with literally the last kick of the game with a speculative first time effort from Gordon Kenny out on the right which flew into the top far corner.
Team: Lewis Riches, Tom Daniels, Adam Bray, James Wightman, Jackson Williams (Kye Williams), Daniel McDonald (Stan Dossett), Liam Williams (Nathan Thompson), Connor Doddington, Alex Shreeve, Kye Williams (Marcus Strak) , Andre Martens.
 

Scorers: Ole Alexander and Kai Williams

The Black Dogs, with an understrength side, gave the Anglian Combination division one champions elect a good game on Saturday – and only a late goal finally clinched the home side’s victory.
Aylsham needed to avoid defeat to beat East Harling to top spot, but Bungay made them work for the honour. They went ahead early on, and after the home side had taken the lead, equalised mid-way through the second half in their final game of the season.
The opening goal came in the 6th minute as Kale Brown and Oli Alexander combined and Alexander turned his man to fire in a left foot shot which took a defection as it beat the keeper. It was his sixth goal of the season and sees him finish joint second highest scorer.
However Aylsham equalised two minutes later as Harry Gilbey-Hewitt was put clear and he took the ball round Ben Vincent to score.
And they went ahead in the 11th minute as James Oliver turned well in the b ox to fire past Vincent from 10 yards. Soon after the keeper had to come off his line to thwart another break, and another effort was put wide.
Bungay had a shot cleared off the line with the keeper beaten and Kye Williams’ follow-up was grabbed by the keeper.
Aylsham were playing the better football and stretching the Bungay defence, and before the interval Vincent had to make a reflex save from a snap shot before another fizzed narrowly wide.
In the second half Bungay were limited to occasional probes but the defence, with John Riches prominent, held firm, and the Black Dogs equalised in the 67th minute. Ollie Sadler played the ball into the box and Williams looped an impressive volley over the advancing keeper.
Bunt once again the home side struck back quickly with what the Bungay defence was convinced was a “hand of God” moment, Thomas Coe getting in front of Vincent to flick the ball over him with his hand from a free-kick in Maradona style. But the goal stood.
Vincent had to make another impressive sav with his fist, but Bungay remained in with a chance until the 87th minute as this time Jamie George was put clear to lob his shot over the keeper to send his team and the large home crowd wild.
Team: B Vincent, J Wilkinson, J Riches, V Woolnough (T Miller), K Brown, O Sadler, C Thurston, K Caley (C Taylor), K Williams, R Bishop.
 

The Black Dogs were beaten in their final home game of the season at the Maltings on Saturday, as they struggled to create chances against the resolute visitors, who won despite playing the final 34 minutes with ten men.
Manager Rob Moore made just one change to last week’s side, with Luke Spear replacing Keith Caley. Both sides were testing each other out early on, and it was 19 minutes before a chance was created, Spear’s pace taking him into the box but his cross-shot was cleared. At the other end Wells had a four on three break but the final pass was misplaced.
Stan Dossett’s pass found Rob Bishop and from his cross Kale Brown went down under pressure from a defender but the referee waved away Bungay protests. John Riches headed narrowly wide from a Brown corner, but the visitors had the best chance of the half after 31 minutes, the number 9 firing just wide after being put through on goal. Bungay went close after 40 minutes, Brown’s snap shot from the edge of the penalty area being tipped onto the post and behind for a corner. Just before the break Bishop shot wide after a good run by Spear.
Wells had the strong wind behind them in the second-half, and they looked the more threatening, with Ben Vincent in the Bungay goal reacting well to turn aside a defensive header from Vinnie Woolnough. At the other end, Bishop shot over, and then was fouled when running at goal, resulting in a second yellow card for a Wells defender. Bungay went close after 57 minutes, Adam Goodswen cutting in from the left to fire a shot that was well saved.
Vincent was forced into another fine save from the Wells number 9 as the visitors continued to look threatening on the break, and they broke the deadlock in the 67th minute, Ian Bulley converting a snap shot after Bungay had failed to clear a throw-in.
Substitute Ole Alexander fired over after a good run by Jaik Block. Bungay dominated possession but their final pass too often went astray, although Block’s cross-shot from Brown’s pass was well saved. Wells almost doubled their lead with four minutes left, Vincent again saving well before John Riches blocked the rebound, and in stoppage time Vincent was forced into another fine save after a good Wells break.
Team: B Vincent, J Block, T Miller, J Riches, V Woolnough (C Thurston), K Brown (), S Dossett, A Goodswen (O. Sadler), L Spear (O Alexander), K Williams, R Bishop.

Scorers; Kai Williams, Adam Goodswen 2

THREE goals in a six-minute spell in the first half saw Bungay to a comfortable win on Saturday as they played their first game in three weeks.
It saw them complete the double over their opponents and ended a run of four defeats in the Anglian Combination division one. Man of the match Adam Goodswen grabbed two the goals.
Manager Rob Moore, back in the dug-out after a spell of illness, called it a professional performance which saw the side get the ball down ad place nice football.
“The way we approached the game was top class and we didn’t give them a sniff on goal,” he said.
He was particularly happy with Kye Williams, John Riches (who returned to the fold after a brief spell with Yarmouth) and Goodswen.
Williams had the ball in the net in the first 20 seconds but the whistle had gone for offside. Rob Bishop got in an effort that lacked power after being fed by Keith Caley, but the opening goal came in the 13th minute as Kale Brown send Jaik Block away down the right and his fine cross saw Williams turn and fire home from eight yards.
Two minute later it was 2-0 as Goodswen fired in a free-kick from out on the right and the keeper misjudged it and it fell through his hands into the net. Two minutes later Goodswen got a third, and his sixth of the season, picking up a loose ball 30 yards out and firing a left-footed shot which dipped just under the bar.
The Black Dogs were well on top, playing some flowing football, and Bishop drove in a powerful shot which the keeper held well, before another good move involving several players ended with Stan Dossett forcing the keeper to turn his shot away for a corner.
Ben Vincent’s only serious work in the game came at the start of the second half as he dropped on to a close range header from a corner. After that Bungay remained in control and could have had more goals, Substitute Luke Spear was put clear in the 65th minute but after taking the ball round the keeper ran out of room. Goodswen set up Williams for a shot the keeper just got a hand to to turn away, and also somehow got a hand to Spear’s follow-up.
As Norwich became frustrated they had a player sent to the sin-bin, and before the end Bungay went close again as Block headed wide from Vinnie Woolnough’s 89th minute cross.
Team: B Vincent, J Block, T Miller, J Riches, V Woolnough, K Brown (L Spear), S Dossett, A Goodswen, K Caley (E Patrick), K Williams, R Bishop (W Dossett).
 

THE Black Dogs came up against an in-form Sprowston challenging for promotion on Saturday and were soundly beaten 5-0.
Apart from a couple of chances they rarely seriously threatened the home side as they suffered their ninth defeat in 13 games.
The home side took the lead in only three minutes as they broke quickly and hesitant defending gave Danny Rogers the chance to beat Ben Vincent with a low drive. Shortly after the keeper made a good save to keep out another goal-bound effort.
The second goal came in the 20th minute as Vincent punched away a corner but as the ball fell loose Cane Moore volleyed it home.
Rob Bishop drove in a free-kick which the Sprowston keeper did well to palm away at the near post and Kye Williams also tested the keeper. But the closest they came was in the 39th minute as Luke Spear got to the byline and his cut-back was turned narrowly wide by Adam Goodswen with the keeper flat-footed.
And a minute later Sprowton made it 3-0 as Jack Hurrell found space on the left and beat Vincent from a narrow angle.
Things didn’t change in the second half and after Vincent had made a good blocking save Sprowston made it 4-0 in the 58th minute as Charlie Rowe got the finishing touch at the end of a slick move.
Bishop got in a shot which was off target and Stan Dossett tested the keeper from distance. The closest they came was in the 67th minute as the ball found the impressive Williams at the far post with a half-chance which came back off a post. And Sprowton completed a nap hand in the 81st minute as Shaun Wones scored from close range.
Team: B Vincent, T Miller, J Wilkinson, O French (C Taylor, C Thurston), K Brown, S Dossett, A Goodswen, K Williams, L Spear, W Dossett, R Bishop.

A goal in each half sent the Black Dogs to their third successive defeat at Fakenham on Saturday.
In a game in which both sides struck the woodwork three times Bungay were well in it till the home side’s second goal went in five minutes from the end.
With manage Rob Moore in hospital the squad, again including seven teenagers, did their best to give him a lift, and were better in the second half, but an experienced outfield player to lead them and help them develop is clesrly needed if the squad is to kick on next season.
Fakenham were the better side in the first half and in the seventh minute Ben Vincent did well to turn away a curling corner under pressure. From the corner Fakenham put a chance at the bsck post into the side-netting.
At the other end Bungay fared similarly as Luke Spear was free at the back pot but the curl on the ball thwarted him.
Fakenham were awarded a penalty in the 19th minute, but the spot-kick struck a post and was cleared, before Vincent made a flying save to keep out a goal-bound shot. But Bungay worked a good opening as Spear found Kye Williams and the keeper just got enough on his shit to turn it wide.
Fakenham took the lead in the 30th minute when, following a free kick, the ball came back off the underside of the bar and Stuart Broughton was on hand tis score from close range. At the other end Rob Bishop had a shot blocked for a corner and in the next minute he played Williams in and he was unlucky to see his shot come back off the bar with the keeper beaten.
Early in the second half Stan Dossett tested the keeper from Spear’s cut-back, before Vincent made another impressive reflex save when Broughton was clear six yards out. The resultant corner came back off a post.
A Dossett free-kick saw Bishop get in a header which came back off the bar. Then another free-kick saw Bishop’s effort from 25 yards strike the inside of the post and come out.
Vincent had to make a couple of blocking saves, but Bungay were still in it and Spear was unable to control his shot on a bouncing ball when he was clear. And Fakenham clinched the points in the 85th minute as an intended cross from Broughton curled into the far top corner.
Team: B Vincent, J Block, T Miller (A Goodswen), C Taylor (W Dossett), V Woolnough, S Dossett, A Goodswen (C Thurston), K Brown, K Williams, R Bishop.

Scorers: Rob Bishop 2, Ole Alexander, Luke Spear

THE Anglian Combination division one leaders proved too strong for the Black Dogs on Saturday as they won by three clear goals to strengthen their lead at the top.
It was revenge for a rare home defeat Bungay inflicted on them in October, but they did not have it all their own way on Saturday and manager Rob Moore was pleased with the performance.
“We had a very young side out today and I am really happy with the way they performed out of possession,” he said. “We worked really hard to turn the game in our favour and stopped them playing football.
“We needed to be better when we had the ball, but we made them work hard for their win.”
Harling made the best possible start by taking the lead in the third minute as Joe Allen beat Ben Vincent with a first time shot at the end of a slick move down the right. Soon after the keeper made a good save low down as the visitors carved out another chance.
But Stan Dossett tested the Harling keeper with a powerful long-range free kick, and Adam Goodswen got in a cross which just eluded everyone in the box.
Harling struck the post with a free kick of their own in the 15th minute, and in a half of several free-kicks Rob Bishop was not too far wide from another set piece.
Bungay remained well in the game, and early in the second half Bishop took the ball round the keeper but was forced wide, and in the 53rd minute Harling made it 2-0 as a cross from the right was blocked by Vincent but Asa Mcgeachy was on hand to tap home the rebound. Shortly after Harling again hit the bar at the end of a swift move down the left.
Bungay had another let off in the 63rd minute as a defender cleared a goal-bound shot off the line.
But the Black Dogs persisted and Ivan Ivanov had a shot blocked by a defender, before Bishop had a better chance, inly to fire well over the top after being put clear.
But any hopes of a comer-back were snuffed out in the 85th minute as Harling got a third, Mcgeachy again getting the finishing touch from close range.
Before the end Ivanov put Bishop clear again but the striker’s lob as the keeper advanced handed on top of the netting.
Team: B Vincent, T Miller, J Wightman, V Woolnough, O Alexander, S Dossett (C Thurston) A Goodswen, K Williams, J Block, K Brown (I Ivanov) R Bishop.

Scorers: Vinnie Woolnough, Ivan Ivanov, Rob Moore and Kai Williams

THE Black Dogs made it three wins in a row as they edged home against a determined Watton side in this Anglian Combination division one battle on Saturday.
The home side went into an early 2-0 lead but in the second half,, with the wind at their backs, the visitors came back strongly and Bungay had to defend desperately in the final 20 minutes to hang on to the three points.
“It was not the most brilliant of games, but Watton had a real flair about them and came at us in the second half, and we had to defend really well,” said manager Rob Moore, who again turned out in the back four.
“It was one of those games where we had to grind out a result, and it means we have taken nine points from the last three games.”
He named midfielder Stan Dossett as man of the match.
Bungay went ahead in the sixth minute as the ball was played to Rob Bishop down the right, and when the keeper parried his shot Vinnie Woolnough celebrated his 18th birthday with his first goal, firing home with the keeper stranded.
They doubled their score in the 12th minute as Moore played a long ball forward and Ivan Ivanov raced through to slot home his fifth goal of the season.
Bishop brought a good save from the keeper in another game affected by the strong breeze, but Watton pulled one back in the 37th minute as James Wightman diverted a low cross from the left into his own net.
In the 47th minute Bungay created a great chance as Ivanov and Bishop combined to set up Kale Brown, but he somehow dragged his shot wide of the far post. Spurred by the let-off, Watton equalised in the 57tgh minute. Vincent made a good save, which led to other shots being blocked before Alex Costache finally forced the ball home.
But the Black Dogs struck back immediately as Ivanov’s free-kick caused problem in the visitors six yard box, and in the melee Moore got the final touch. He was injured n the process and was replaced by Adam Goodswen.
Brown was again played clear in the 67tgh minute but again failed to hit the target. But it was 4-2 shortly after. Kye Williams, who replaced Ivanov, had been on the pitch only two minutes when he finished confidently at the end of a combined move.
However, the visitors were not done, and pilled one back in the 72nd minute as Lewis Daniels took advantage of a long throw into the box. In a frantic climax to the game they netted again but the goal was ruled out by offside, and then they had a player sent to the sin-bin. Tommy Miller cleared another shot off the line.
Bungay had to defend a series of corners as Watton made the best of the wind at their back, and Ben Vincent made one tremendous save to turn a powerful 50-yard, wind-assisted shot over the bar.
Another chance fell to them in the 88th minute but they could not covert it, and as Bungay gained some respite Williams set up Bishop for a shot from the edge of the area which cleared the bar.
In added time Tom Daniels was sent to the sin-bin for dissent.
Team: B Vincent, T Miller, J Wightman, R Moore (A Goodswen), V Woolnough, O Alexander, S Dossett, T Daniels, I Ivanov (K Williams), K Brown, R Bishop.
 

Scorer: Rob Bishop 2

STRIKER Rob Bishop struck twice to give the Black Dogs back-to-back wins for only the second time this season as they completed an Anglian Combination division one double over Brandon at the Maltings Meadow on Saturday.
The squad again included seven teenagers, six of whom had played together in the U15s not long ago, and they did not let down manager Rob Moore, who turned out himself for the first time following a late call-off.
“It was a really open game and both sides had to defend, but we looked as if we could score at any point,” he said. “They caused us problems but we got away with it and I am happy with the three points.”
Ben Vincent made an early save from a Brandon effort, and Bishop got clear soon after only for the keeper to make a good save. Brandon were always dangerous on the break and Vincent had to make another good sav to prevent them going ahead.
Moore, up for a corner, fired a good chance wide in the 30th minute, and Bishop drove another chance wide.
But Bungay took the lead in the 40th minute as the ball was nicked through to Bishop and he finished well past the advancing keeper.
In the second half, Bungay went close in the 47th minute as a cross from Ivan Ivanov caused problems in the Brandon defence and both Bishop and Oli Alexander had shots blocked. From the corner Moore drove a chance into the side netting.
But a second soon came, in the 50th minute. Kale Brown put Ivanov away down the left and his cross found Bishop closing in to score from close range – his 15th of the season.
The visitors pulled one back in the 65th minute as James Buckmaster fired low through a crowded area into the bottom corner. ~They went close to equalising ten minutes later but a lob over Vincent also cleared the far post.
Before the end Alexander had a chance to make the points safe for Bungay, but his first touch let him down.
Team: B Vincent, J Block, J Wightman, R Moore (C Thurston), V Woolnough, T Miller, K Brown, S Dossett, I Ivanov (W Dossett), O Alexander, R Bishop (I Ivanov).
 

Scorer : Jake Block

A Jake Block goal mid-way through the second half won the points for Bungay at Watton on Saturday and brought to an end a five-game losing run.
In a game in which good football was made difficult by a stiff breeze and a bumpy pitch the Black Dogs just about deserved the victory which delighted manager Rob Moore.
“I am really happy to pick up three points. The fact we haven’t won in a few games meant it was important we won against difficult opposition and in difficult conditions,” he said.
“I think we attacked really well in numbers. It didn’t fall for us at first and the lads were getting frustrated, but we finally won it, with a little bit of luck.”
Moore was also pleased to be able to give 16-year-old Will Dossett his debut as a substitute, again demonstrating the club’s youth policy.
Kye Williams had a chance for Bungay in the sixth minute but the keeper blocked his shot, and Adam Goodswen sent another shot off target. When a Watton forward broke clear Jason Downing, in goal for Bungay for the first time in nearly six years, made a good block. At the other end Rob Bishop had a shot blocked following a corner, but play was generally fragmented.
At the start of the second half Kale Brown was crowded out when he was about to shoot before Watton missed a good chance, shooting wide from a good position. They went closer still soon afterwards, a forward hitting the bar from a free-kick on the edge of the area, with Downing just getting a touch to divert it.
The home keeper comfortably took a shot from Brown, and cleared an effort off the line with Downing beaten. But in the 77th minute Bungay got what proved to be the winner, as Block fired a powerful low shot from 25 yards and though the keeper got behind it, it squirmed through his legs into the net.
After that Bungay held on comfortably, with Bishop twice going close – once when he was put though by Brown only for the keeper to divert his shot wide, and then firing into the side netting. Three minutes from time Watton had a player sent to the sin-bin for dissent.
Team: J Downing, J Block, J Wightman, A Mackerall (T Miller), V Woolnough, K Brown, A Goodswen (W Dossett), T Daniels, S Dossett, R Bishop, K Williams (O Alexander).
 

Scorer: Jaik Block

For the fourth time in five games the Black Dogs failed to hold on to a lead as they were beaten by the odd goal of three at Emerald Park on Saturday.
With the squad hit by five Covid call-offs, and John Riches having left the club, manager Rob Moore had to field another much-changed side, but again they started well and took a deserved lead, only to concede two goals in seven minutes either side of half-time. It was their sixth defeat in seven games.
Within the first minute Bungay went close as Oli Alexander got up well to a good cross from Vinnie Woolnough, only to see the keeper dive to palm away his firm header. Then Kale Brown got away down the right, but his effort was off target.
The home side had a great chance in the 12th minute, but Ben Vincent blocked well with his feet. Bungay again had a chance as Alex Mackerall, on his debut, put a far post header from a corner narrowly wide.
Gorleston were dangerous on the break and Vincent made a fingertip save from one fierce shot. But Bungay kept probing, and went ahead in the 31st minute. Adam Goodswen challenged the keeper for a 50-50 ball and when it ran loose Jaik Block fired into the empty net – his first goal for the club.
Son after River Crowson got on to the end of Vincent’s punt upfield and was unlucky to see his lob over the keeper clear the bar.
But in the 45th minute the home side equalised as Joe Corby scored with a shot through a crowded area and just inside a post.
Seven minutes into the second half they were ahead as former Bungay player Sam Wooldridge had room in the area and squeezed his shot in off a post.
After this goalmouth action was minimal, though in the 77th minute Bungay had a chance following a free-kick, but in a flail of legs the ball finally went out for a goal kick. Kye Williams got in one good run but his shot was straight at the keeper.
Team: B Vincent, J Block (R Crowson), J Wightman, A Mackerall (J Frost), G Dormeny-Horn, V Woolnough, O Alexander, T Daniels, A Goodswen, K Williams, K Brown.
 

Scorer: Rob Bishop (pen)

THE visitors completed a league double over the Black Dogs on Saturday as the home side turned in a largely disappointing performance.
Once again Bungay started well, and took the lead with a penalty, but allowed Martham back into the game. They had chances to equalise, but could not take them.
Manager Rob Moore said he was really disappointed to lose the game.
“We were really good at winning first balls but we were always five yards short of the pace,” he said.. “We were flat as a team. We didn’t respect them and thought we were going to turn them over, but they were a strengthened team compared with the one we met away.”
Bungay won a corner in the first 30 seconds, but the visitors were first to get a shot on goal, with a forward off target from long range.
Kale Brown had a chance for Bungay but his control let him down at the last minute. However, Bungay went ahead in the 28th minute as Rob Bishop was felled in the box and he got up to convert the penalty - his 13th goal of the season. Soon after Lewis Frost landed an effort on the roof of the net.
Martham got in a shot which was straight at stand-in keeper Joe McLoughlin, but they equalised in the 34th minute as Bungay failed to clear a corner and as the ball pinged around in the six-yard box Rob Clements prodded it home.
Bishop sent a 30-yard free-kick narrowly wide and Adam Goodswen brought a fine save from the keeper with a wells trick shot.
The visitors took the lead five minutes into the second half as Brandon Charlton looped a header over McLoughlin from a left-wing cross. Shortly after the keeper did well to block a shot after some sloppy defending gave Martham a chance. Then they went close to a third with a header which came back off a post.
Bungay looked better when Ivan Ivanov and Kye Williams came on, with Ivanov just unable to take advantage of a fine ball from Goodswen, and Williams nicking a low cross past the advancing keeper only to see a defender clear his lines.
The keeper made a good save from Bishop from a shot on the turn, and clutched a low header form John Riches, but as last week at Wells, the Black Dogs could not find an equaliser.
Team: J McLoughlin, C Harding, J Wightman, O French, C Thurston, K Brown, O Alexander (K Williams), A Goodswen (S Dossett), K Riches, L Frost (I Ivanov), R Bishop.
 

Scorers: Ole Alexander, own goal

THE home side just edged home in an entertaining game in difficult conditions on the North Norfolk coast on Saturday.
The Black Dogs were undone by a seven-minute spell in the first half in which Wells scored three times, after Bungay had taken the lead, and they were just unable to pull it back after the interval in a game in which a draw would have been a fairer result in the circumstances.
“I don’t think there was much in the game,” said manager Rob Moore. “Both sides were waiting for the other to make mistakes, and we conceded from a corner, a free-kick and a mistake. The lads were pretty good and tried to play football on a difficult pitch, but in the second half we couldn’t quite get there.”
Two new signings, Kye Williams and Lewis Frost, made their debuts as substitutes and showed potential.
For the first half hour Bungay were the better side, and had an early shout for a penalty turned down when Oli Alexander seemed to be felled in the penalty area, but it was turned down. Rob Bishop, busy as ever, broke through in the 14th minute, but was forced wide and his shot was just off target.
But Bungay took the lead in the 17th minute as a good move down the left saw Ivan Ivanov crossed for Alexander to head firmly past the keeper from eight yards.
Ivanov then played Bishop in in the 26th minute but he rolled his shot past the keeper and also just wide of the post.
Wells equalised in the 30th minute as Dan Jones rose unmarked to head in a corner and four minutes alter a free-kick from out on the right from Kevin Ballett found its way into the far corner of the net with no one getting a touch. The third came in the 37th minute as a defensive error gave Jones the chance to easily beat Ben Vincent.
Frost replaced Ivanov, who had received a blow to the head in the first half, at half-time, and Bungay made a good start to the second half. The keeper did well to turn a teasing lob away for a corner, and from the flag kick a defender headed past his own keeper,
Wells put a good chance wide, and Vincent made two great saves in quick succession to keep out other efforts, before blocking an effort from two yards when it seemed the home side must score.
But towards the end Bungay forced a series of corners, and defenders cleared a couple of efforts off the line. The keeper made a flying save to keep out another goal-bound effort from Frost. But the equaliser just would not come.
Team: B Vincent, C Harding, J Wightman, J Riches, C Thurston (B Mann), K Brown, O Alexander, S Dossett, I Ivanov (L Frost), A Goodswen (K Williams), R Bishop
 

THE Black Dogs ended 2021 with a heavy defeat at Euston Park on Saturday against Thetford Rovers.
There was no hint of the debacle in the first half, which was evenly contested, both sides having chances, and Bungay unlucky to go in 1-0 down, the result of a 45th minute goal.
But 12 minutes into the second half Thetford were 4-0 up, the result of some speedy and incisive attacks, and Bungay were unable to recover.
Bungay started the game well, though Thetford had an early appeal for a penalty turned down. John Riches tested the home keeper with a powerful low shot. Thetford put a chance wide of the far post,
A good move down the left instigated by Ian Ivanov saw Jaik Blook get to the by-line but he opted to shoot rather than cross and found the side netting. Another good move in the 34th minute ended with Stan Dossett forcing a corner from the home keeper, and from the flag kick Rob Bishop had a volley well saved.
Adam Goodswen brought an even better save from the keeper with a fine shot on the turn.
But the home side took the lead when a controversial free-kick brought a corner and from it Liam Twomey glanced a header over Ben Vincent into the net.
Two minutes into the second half Twomey scored a second as the home side beat the offside trap to send him clear.
Almost immediately Ivanov won a penalty for Bungay but his cheeky chip routine this time found the keeper ready and he held the ball easily. And it was 3-0 in the 51st minute as Olly Stanley rifled home from 10 yards. The same player made it four in the 57th minute with a fine curling shot from just inside the area.
Bungay had a chance when Kale Brown pulled the ball back for Bishop, but it failed to reach the striker. Thetford were largely in control, and Vincent made several good saves. He was beaten again by Robbie Mulloy, who scored with a header diverted past the keeper by a defender.
Another Thetford effort struck the bar before Stanley completed his hat-trick and the scoring after another good build-up.
This was Bungay’s only game in December, and they will be hoping for a brighter start to 2022.
Team: B Vincent, O Alexander, G Domeny-Horn (R Evans), C Thurston, J Block, K Brown, J Riches, S Dossett (G Domeny-Horn), A Goodswen (I Ivanov), I Ivanov (M Strak), R Bishop.

Scorers: Stan Dossett, Ivan Ivanov, Jaik Block

BUNGAY were narrowly beaten in an entertaining and eventful game by free-scoring Easton in difficult conditions at the Maltings Meadow on Saturday.
They led 2-0 after only four minutes, but were pegged back, and their situation was made more difficult when George Winchester was send off after 20 minutes, committing a foul as the last man.
Manager Rob Moore said he was proud of the way his team performed and they could be proud of themselves.
“We were short of six players but everyone dug deep and I am happy with that. It was a pity not to get anything from a game when we deserved it,” he said. “For the first 20 minutes we were on the front foot, but the game changed when we got the red card and we were under the cosh a bit.”
The Black Dogs were in front in less than a minute as the keeper parried a shot from River Crowson and Stan Dossett was on hand to convert the rebound.
Three minutes later it was 2-0 as John Riches overhead cross found Ivan Ivanov and he turned on a sixpence to score into the bottom corner – his fourth goal in as many games.
The goals rocked Easton, who had beaten Bungay 8-0 earlier in the season, and as they retaliated Ben Vincent had to shovel a shot way in the sixth minute. Former Bungay player Brannan Solomon soon pulled one back after a run left him with only Vincent to beat.
Easton won a free-kick on the edge of the area as George Winchester fouled and he was dismissed as the last man, but Vincent made a good save low down from the resulting free-kick.
Bungay were further handicapped when James Wightman, again playing impressively, had to go off injured, with George Dormeny-Horn replacing him. It was Easton’s turn to dominate and they equalised in the 35th minute as Vincent made one blocking save but could not prevent another former Bungay player, Tom Amiss, converting the loose ball.
The second half saw Easton on top and they were awarded a penalty in the 62nd minute which George Crowe converted. Three minutes later it was 4-2 as Solomon got another with a shot which went in off the far post.
Bu despite their numerical disadvantage, Bungay rallied and Ivanov got in a shot on the turn which was just too high, before good work between Marcus Strak and Ivanov almost created an opening. Strak brought a sharp save from the keeper at the near pot with a snap angled shot.
And Bungay’s endeavour was rewarded in the 89th minute as the energetic Jaik Block was found unmarked on the left edge of the area and he curled a fine shot into the top far corner. But they were just unable to force an equaliser.
Team: B Vincent, G Winchester, J Wightman (G Dormeny-Horn), W Flower, J Block, R Crowson, J Riches, C Thurston (O Sadler), I Ivanov, S Dossett, A Goodswen (M Strak).
 

Scorers: Ivanov (pen), Bishop, own goal

IN a game of three penalties and two sin-binnings the Black Dogs edged home at Brandon on Saturday.
Without injured captain Thomas Daniels they won more comfortably than the score suggests, and manager Rob Moore was happy with the performance and the result.
“I knew the formation they were going to play. We set up a game plan to encourage them to play their way knowing they would not beat us going forward. These are games we need to win and it was a gutsy performance,” he said. “It could have bene more comfortable but the referee made it difficult. It is a welcome three points and a good re-action to last week (when Bungay were beaten in the Suffolk Senior Cup).”
Bungay had a chance early on but Oli Alexander could not control the ball when the ball fell awkwardly to him in front of goal But in the 10th minute they were awarded a penalty when Ivan Ivanov was brought down in the box, and he again got up to convert the spot kick with a cheeky chip.
A minute later Brandon had a player sent to the sin bin for dissent. Rob Bishop brought a diving save from the keeper, and then tested him again with a great volley from Alexander’s cross.
It was 2-0 in the 24th minute as Ivanov went on a cross-field solo run before crossing into the six-yard box to allow Bishop a tap-in, his 12th goal of the season. Opportunities for Brandon were kept to a minimum by the Black Dogs’ defence, but they did put a half-chance wide before the interval.
The home side started the second half more purposefully, and were awarded a penalty in the 54th minute which James Buckmaster converted. Bungay should have got a third six minutes later when another good move saw Alexander find the unmarked Bishop two yards out, but somehow he put the chance wide.
Ivanov set up Alexander for a shot the keeper saved, and Bishop broke clear again, but could not get power in his shot under pressure.
With 12 minutes to go the visitors got the cushion they needed as Bishop won the ball well on the left and his cross was turned past his own keeper by a defender. And with seven minutes left the keeper was sent to the sin-bin for dissent.
But they were given an anxious last few minutes as the referee awarded Brandon another penalty - all three in the game were soft decisions – and Buckmaster again converted.
Team
B Vincent, G Winchester ((B Barber), J Wightman, W Flower, J Block, O Alexander (M Strak), J Riches, S Dossett, B Mann (C Thurston), I Ivanov, R Bishop.
 

Scorers: Stan Dossett, Ivan Ivanov (pen)

THE Black Dogs bowed out of the Suffolk Senior Cup at the first hurdle in an entertaining game at Bildeston on Saturday.
It was an open game with plenty of chances and if Bungay could have handled the offside trap better the result could have been very different. But Bildeston, last season's runners up, were dangerous going forward and only a string of fine saves by Ben Vincent kept his side in it.
The home side got off to a great start, taking the lead inside 70 seconds as they won a corner which was turned into his own net by Cam Harding under pressure.
As Bungay retaliated Rob Bishop sent Ivanov away down the left but his shot didn’t test the keeper. As the game flowed from end to end Vincent made a fine save to prevent Bildeston gp0ing further ahead, but Bungay were level in the 22nd minute. Dossett played Oli Alexander in down the right and when his cross was half cleared Dossett was on hand to ram home the rebound.
Bildeston went ahead again in the 39th minute as David Bart-Lorimer was unmarked at the far post from a cross ad headed home. Soon after Thomas Daniels received a serious foot injury and was replaced by Jake Block. Bungay had another chance before half-time as Ivanov was again put clear down the left but he opted to cross rather than shoot and the chance was lost.
Bildeston started the second half even quicker than they did the first, making it 3-1 50 seconds in as another corner caused problems in the Bungay defence and Bart-Loriner rammed home from eight yards.
Block made a great goal-line clearance to prevent another goal when the ball rebounded off Tommy Miller from a save by Vincent, and the keeper made a diving save soon after as a forward was about to pull the trigger.
The home keeper made an equally fine save from a strong shot form Alexander, before Will Flower conceded a 63td minute penalty. But Vincent again made a diving save from the spot kick to prevent Bart-Lorimer getting a hat-trick
That signalled a good spell by Bungay who put the home side under some sustained pressure. Dossett brought a good save from the keeper, and Ivanov fired a free kick narrowly over before, in the 70th minute, he was brought down in the area and got up to fire home the penalty.
Kale Brown took a long ball from Vincent but his cross was turned behind as
Bishop moved in. Alexander fired another shot into the side netting and was off target with another chance set up by Ivanov.
But the home side weathered the storm and Vincent had to make more fine saves, one particularly good one from a glancing header in the 87th minute.
But in added time Bildeston secured the win as Darryll Alexander scored with another close-range header.
Team: B Vincent, T Miller, J Wightman, W Flower, T Daniels (J Block), O Alexander, J Riches (B Mann), S Dossett, C Harding (K Brown), I Ivanov, R Bishop,
 

Scorers: Ivan Ivanov, Ole Alexander and Rob Bishop

A workmanlike performance brought another three points for the Black Dogs on Saturday as they comfortably completed an Anglian Combination division one double over Kirkley and Pakefield Reserves.
They led at the interval and two goals in the first part of the second half brought the win in game manager Rob Moore said was a near-perfect performance.
“We deserved it. The lads bought into the game plan again, defended well and were quick on the counter. Sam Allen was man-of-the-match and James Wightman (in defence) was very good again. Rob Bishop is an unselfish leader up front.”
The first action came after ten minutes when Kirkley put a good chance over the bar. Ivan Ivanov tested the keeper with a well struck shot after a good ball from Stan Dossett. Then, in the 13th minute, Bishop was brought down in the box. He took the penalty himself but the keeper dived to his right to make a fine save.
Ho0wver, a minute later Bishop again caused problems in the visitors’ penalty area and this time Ivanov picked up his pass to beat the keeper from close range for his first goal of the season.
Soon after John Riches was put clear, again by Bishop, but rolled his shot narrowly wide.
Just before half time a Kirkley player was sent to the sin-bin for dissent and with Kirkley still down to ten men in the 52nd minute, Bungay made it 2-0. Ivanov crossed and Oli Alexander dashed into open space to beat the keeper.
Ten minutes later tt was 3-0 as Bishop got the goal he deserved – his 11th of the season – as Dossett put him clear and he slotted past the advancing keeper.
Kirkley had a good share of the second half play and missed a great chance when a forward fired wide with only Vincent to beat. But Alexander headed narrowly wide from Bishop’s fine cross, before captain Thomas Daniels spectacularly cleared a Kirkley effort off the line to retain the Black Dogs' third clean sheet of the season.
Team: B Vincent, T Miller C Harding), J Wi8ghtman, W Flower, T Daniels, O Alexander, I Ivanov (J Block), S Dossett (B Mann), J Riches (S Dossett), S Allen, R Bishop.
 

Scorer: Will Flower

Bungay shared the spoils in a well contested game on Saturday, coming from behind to take a point from a side that has lost only once this season.
It is the first time in 30 games the Black Dogs have figured in a drawn game and manager Rob Moore said it was probably a fair result.
“We had another changed side, given thst people were injured or unavailable, and we had three 18-year-olds who came in and played well,” he said. “That is a positive and shows the progression we want as a club. We had the better chances in the game, but they had chances too.”
Early on Ivan Ivanov got in a cross that Oli Alexander side-footed – the effort was blocked and the keeper grabbed the rebound under the bar. Soon after the keeper grabbed the ball on the line following a good run and cross by Rob Bishop., who then tested the keeper with a firm shot.
Tommy Miller did well to cut out danger when Thetford threatened, and the visitors were off target with two cross-shots.
Bungay had a let-off just before the interval, when Valta Rocha hit the post from close range and the ball rebounded off him and behind.
The visitors had a chance in the 47th minute but a player fired wide with only Ben Vincent to best. It signalled a period of possession for Thetford, and Cam Harding got in one fine tackle as a forward was about to pull the trigger. The defence, with James Wightman impressive, generally defended well
Bishop set up Kale Brown but he could not control the ball as the keeper came out.
The visitors took the lead with a firm header from Rocha from a corner in the 70th minute, but Bungay responded well, and Brown was just wide with a left foot shot from Sam Allen’s pass. The equaliser came in the 77h minute as an Ivanov corner caused problems in the Thetford defence and Will Flower finally slotted home from close range.
Bungay almost stole it in stoppage time as Bishop crossed from the by-line and two players were just unable to force the loose ball home.
Team: B Vincent, T Miller, W Flower, J Wightman, T Daniels (C Harding), O Alexander (J Block), S Allen, S Dossett, I Ivanov, R Bishop, K Brown (O Alexander).
 

Scorer: Ole Alexander

A FINE goal 14 minutes from time sunk Bungay in this Anglian Combination division one fixture on Saturday.
The goal had been coming in the second half, with the Black Dogs unable to secure enough possession after an evenly matched first half which ended level at 1-1.
Manager Rob Moore said his side did not have enough possession and was made to work hard defensively.
“We couldn’t transition. They were a beatable team,” he said.
There were just three minutes on the clock when Sprowston took the lead. The ball was played down to right to the onrushing Jack Hurrell, whose strong low drive took a deflection off Thomas Daniels to beat Ben Vincent.
But the Black Dogs were level nine minutes later as Jake Block retrieved the ball on the by-line and crossed for Oli Alexander to score comfortably from eight yards. Shortly after Adam Goodswen put a long range attempt over the bar.
Sprowston put a shot into the side netting jn an even opening half. In the 27th Bungay netted as Kale Brown took a long ball over the top to slide it past the keeper, but despite the fact that he was well onside when the ball was played the goal was disallowed.
Sprowston twice went close before half time, and in the second half had the greater share of the ball, stretching the home defence on several occasions. But they were finally beaten in the 76th minute as Jordan-Lee Buttle picked up the ball wide on the left and fired a spectacular 25-yard shot into the far top corner.
Bunny had a chance to equalise with ten minutes left but substitute Bailey Jenner put a header wide from Ivan Ivanov’s cross.
Team: B Vincent, O Alexander (B Jenner), W Flower, J Riches, T Daniels, C Harding, A Goodswen (S Allen), B Mann (O Alexander), J Block (I Ivanov), R Bishop, K Brown.
 

Scorer: Kale Brown

KALE Brown was Bungay’s hero on Saturday as he hit a dramatic 89th minute winner to bring all three Anglian Combination division one points back from second-placed East Harling.
In a game of limited real action in the penalty areas and both keepers rarely stretched it looked like a goal-less draw until the winner, greeted with elation by the team, manager and supporters.
Manager Rob Moore was ecstatic after a game in which he lost two players to injury in the first half
“That was a very good performance particularly with two injuries it the first half” he said. “James Wightman came on and was phenomenal (in defence) and Sam Allen came on (in midfield) and was brilliant. We had a game plan and everyone stuck to it. I had a feeling the game was going to go this way and we could catch them with a late break, and we did.”
Wightman came on in the 10th minute for the injured George Dormeny-Horn. In a first half of little action of note Ben Vincent comfortably took a couple of Harling efforts and for Bungay, Jake Block got to the by-line and pulled the ball back but it was just behind Brown. Then the injured Adam Goodswen made way for Allen.
Early in the second half Vincent made a good save from one Harling effort, and they put a better chance over the bar soon after. They put other half chances wide and Vincent was stretched to touch away an effort at the far post.
Bungay’s best chance came int he 80th minute as Rob Bishop did well to win a ball but his shot past the keeper was cleared by a defender and his follow-up was blocked by the keeper.
Then a quick break from defence in the 89th minute saw Allen thread the ball through for Brown to take it on and nick it over the keeper into the net and begin the celebrations for a job well done by the whole team.
Team: B Vincent, G Dormeny-Horn (J Wightman), W Flower, T Daniels, O Alexander, A Goodswen (S Allen), B Mann (I Ivanov), C Harding, J Block, K Brown, R Bishop.
 

Scorer: Kale Brown

THE Black Dogs turned in another disappointing away performance on Saturday as they were once again beaten by a team below them in the Anglian /Combination division one table.
An equaliser just before half-time should have set them up to push in in the second half – instead it was Stalham who took the initiative with two goals early on, and Bungay were not able to come back.
Manager Rob Moore said: “Disappointing. They certainly took their chances, and we had plenty of chances which we didn’t take. And if you don’t take your chances you get punished. We had three players missing and so we lose the consistency of keeping the same squad.,”
The home side got in a couple of shots early on which didn’t trouble Lew Riches in goal. Fore Bungay Adam Goodswen won the ball well to put him clear, but his short hit a post., Leading scorer Rob Bishop headed Ivan Ivanov’s corner over the bar and then pilled another chance wide after good work by Jake Block,
Stalham took the lead on 20 minutes as a player got to the byline and pulled the ball back for Thomas Crabb to finish well. Possession was fairly even, but Kale Brown had a chance, only to fire over with two unmarked colleagues waiting for a pass. Goodswen netted only to be thwarted by the offside flag.
Brown, who had a good game, made amends a minute before the interval as Ivanov clipped in a fine ball and he controlled it well before slotting past the keeper.
Early in the second half Block was off target after being set up by Cam Harding, then Goodswen’s touch let him down after Brown set him up.
But the home side were finding acres of space down the right all afternoon and they exploited it in the 55th minute as Ryan Beeson held off challenges to beat Riches. It spurred the home side on and Riches had to make two good saves in quick succession.
It only delayed the third goal, which came in the 60th minute as a slick move down the right ended with Jordan Tipple finding the bottom corner.
Bungay were still in the game and Bishop had another good chance, but his final touch let him down as he homed in on goal. Beeson showed how it should be done soon after with a fourth for Stalham.
With nine minutes left the home side was reduced to 10 men as a player was dismissed for a second yellow card for a dangerous tackle. But though Brown was unlucky to see a powerful drive turned on to the bar by the home keeper, Stalham held on comfortably despite their disadvantage.
Team: L Riches, O Alexander, G Domeny-Horn, W Flower, I Ivanov, C Harding (S Dossett), J Riches (C Harding), A Goodswen (B Mann), J Block (L Ellis), R Bishop, K Brown.
 

Scorers: Adam Goodswen, Ole Alexander, Rob Bishop 2 (1 pen)

THE Black Dogs gained revenge for an opening day defeat at Attleborough as they turned the tables at the Maltings Meadow on /Saturday.
They threw away a 2-0 early lead but Rib Bishop; scored twice in the second half to take his tally to 10 in five games and complete a win that was more comfortable than the score suggests.
“This was a really strong performance and there was a good mentality from the lads today,” said a satisfied manager Rob Moore. “We were the better side for three-quarters of the game. It is the strongest we have looked by far and it was the first time I have had to make a decision about dropping someone.”
Will Flower put a far post header from a free-kick narrowly wide in the ninth minute, but it only delayed the lead for three minutes, as Bishop set up Adam Goodswen to score from close range - his third goal in three games and fourth in all.
It was 2-0 after 20 minutes as Ivan Ivanov cut in from the left and fired in a shot the keeper could only parry upwards, leaving Oli Alexander to head in the loose ball at the far post.
More chances came and went, but in the 30th minute Bungay conceded a needless penalty, and Jack Fuller rammed home the spot kick. It rejuvenated the visitors, and they equalised seven minutes later, as a move down the right led to a cross which George Winchester could only turn into his own net as he tried to clear.
Early in the second half Ben Vincent had to make a save at the feet of an Attleborough forward as the visitors started well. For Bungay Goodswen put Jake B lock away down the left but his cross from the byline found no one available to turn it in. Soon after Alexander cut the ball back from the other byline but Goodswen someone scooped wide from close range.
Vincent had to kick away one effort from the visitors but generally Bungay were on top and. Block was unlucky to see a powerful long range effort come back off the bar. Ivanov and John Riches set up another chance for Bishop but the keeper came out to grab his intended chip.
However, they moved ahead again in the 67thy minute as a strong tackle in mid-field set Bishop clear and this time he took the ball round the keeper to score. Five minutes later came the clinching goal as Bishop was brought down in the area and he got up to convert the penalty himself.
Vincent had to make a couple of saves as Attleborough tried to respond, but before the end substitute Stan Dossett brought a fine save from the visiting keeper, and Riches was unlucky to see a far post head come back off the bar.
Team: B Vincent, G Winchester, G Domeny-Horn, W Flower, T Daniels (J Block), O Alexander (B Mann), J Riches, C Harding (S Dossett), I Ivanov, A Goodswen, R Bishop.
 

Scorers: John Riches, Rob Bishop 3 (2 pens), Thomas Daniels, Adam Goodswen

Bungay Town 6-1 Gorleston Reserves
The Black Dogs produced another emphatic home performance as they brushed aside a young Gorleston Reserves side at the Maltings on Saturday. Striker Rob Bishop got a hat-trick for the second straight home game, including converting two penalties. All of this came despite two players, Bishop himself and Tom Daniels, being sin-binned for a period in the second-half.
Bungay lined up with new signing from Kirkley & Pakefield Will Flower at centre-back, skipper John Riches back in a five-man midfield, and Bishop back to lead the line. The Black Dogs took a while to get going, and it was the visitors who enjoyed most possession early on, although their only scoring opportunity came as a forward hit the post with a header from a left-wing cross.
Ivan Ivanov and Ole Alexander swapped wings mid-way through the half, and this change brought immediate results, when Riches met Alexander’s fine long ball to head past the keeper. The goal spurred on Bungay, who dominated possession, with Adam Goodswen influential in midfield. His shot went just wide, Bishop had a shot charged down, and then Daniels headed narrowly wide from a corner. Bungay doubled their lead after 35 minutes, as Ivanov latched onto an under-hit back pass and was tripped by the keeper, and Bishop scored easily from the resultant penalty. Four minutes later Bungay could have extended their lead as Ivanov crossed for Bishop, but he delayed his shot and it was cleared.
However, the third goal came a minute after the break, as Alexander cut in from the left and was fouled – Bishop again scored from the penalty. The visitors responded well to this, and pressed themselves. Lew Riches made a fine save, and then after 50 minutes Gorleston themselves were awarded a spot-kick, after Daniels, keeper Riches and a forward collided. Daniels’ protests saw him sin-binned, but Riches made a fine diving save from the penalty. Gorleston continued to press against the ten men, and Riches made two fine saves, and George Winchester made two good blocks to stop goal-bound shots. The pressure finally told though, as Reece Tillett scored from a rebound after another fine save from Riches. Bishop was then also sin-binned, leaving Bungay with nine players for two minutes before Daniels returned. Daniels himself eased the pressure after 71 minutes, as he cut in from the left to beat a defender and shoot past the keeper. At the other end Tillett shot just wide when well placed.
Ivanov, who had a relatively quiet game by his standards, then came into his own, first setting up sub Jake Block with a fine pass, but Block’s shot was well-saved. In the 83rd minutes Ivanov’s fine pass put Bishop through, and he completed his hat-trick with a neat finish. Goodswen capped a fine performance with the last goal, finishing well after good approach play by Alexander and Bishop.
L Riches, Winchester, Flower (Sub: Bailey Jenner), Dormedy-Horn, Daniels (Sub: B Wilson), Alexander, J Riches, Harding (Sub Block), Goodswen, Ivanov, Bishop
 

Scorer: Adam Goodswen

THE Black Dogs turned in a disappointing performance at Martham on Saturday, letting a half-time lead slip to sink to defeat.
After the impressive win against the league leaders the previous week they succumbed too easily to a team below them in the Anglian Combination division one table. Without four-goal hero Rob Bishop, they had little to offer up front.
Manager Rob Moore said afterwards: “Too many players just didn’t turn up. Adam Goodswen was the only player to come out of the game with any credit. We were beaten by a poor Martham side.”
Cam Harding had a header deflected wide early on and Kale Brown was put clear by a defensive slip, but the keeper came out to block.
Long range efforts were all the side had to offer, and they had a let off when former Black Dog Tom Hunter broke clear but put his effort wide of the far post. Later Ben Vincent got down well to keep out a Hunter effort.
Goodswen was busy in mid-field and put in a number of good runs. Bungay were marginally the better side and deserved the lead Goodswen finally gave them in the 45th minute as he scored with a low shot form the edge of the area and just inside the post.
But Martham equalised in the first minute of the second half as slack defending gave Lloyd Sayer the chance to go through and beat Vincent.
For Bungay Ben Mann put a header from Goodswen’s cross straight at the keeper, and later headed a long throw from John Riches on to the top of the bar, while Riches brought a diving save from the keeper in the 65th minute.
But Bungay never looked comfortable when Martham broke, and after Vincent had made a flying save to turn over a fierce shot, one such attack brought the winner in the 70th minute. Hunter’s curling cross from the right was headed home by the unmarked Rob Clements. The black Dogs rarely looked like retrieving anything from the game after that.
Team: B Vincent, O Alexander (G Winchester), J Riches, G Dormeny-Horn, T Daniels, C Harding, I Ivanov (B Morrissey), A Goodswen (V Woolnough), G Winchester (B Jenner), B Mann, K Brown.
 

Scorers: Rob Bishop 4, Kale Brown

Bungay produced their best performance of the season as they swept aside the league leaders Norwich United Under 21s at the Maltings on Saturday. Striker Rob Bishop was unplayable as he hit four of the goals, and Ivan Ivanov was again excellent, setting up the first three goals and proving a constant threat. The five-goal margin was perhaps slightly harsh on the young visitors, who looked dangerous going forward themselves, with Ben Vincent in the Bungay goal making some good saves. But this was emphatically Bungay’s day, with the whole side gelling, to the delight of manager Rob Moore.
The Black Dogs started brightly, with Ivanov featuring promptly. In the fourth minute his low cross evaded everyone in the goal area. Three minutes later Kale Brown shot just wide as Bungay continued to press. The first goal came in the 17th minute, Ivanov’s clever pass putting Bishop in on goal and he beat the keeper low to his left. Two minutes later it was 2-0, the same two players again combining, with Bishop this time scoring from the inside left position.
At the other end Ben Vincent saved well from Evan Perry’s shot, but Bungay made it 3-0 after 26 minutes, Ivanov’s long pass initially looked overhit but a mistake by the Norwich keeper allowed Kale Brown in to score easily.
Bishop almost made it four after a fine run, but the keeper saved his shot. Ivanov them put in Brown again, but his shot was saved, and from the subsequent corner, skipper John Riches hooked the ball just over the bar.
At the start of the second-half Ivanov’s pass again put Bishop in on goal, but his shot was well blocked by the visitors’ keeper. After 57 minutes it was 4-0, Bishop completing his hat-trick with a neat chip from Sam Allen’s fine long pass. The visitors then enjoyed their best spell of the game, with Cam Harding blocking one shot, and then Vincent saving well from Perry’s shot.
Bungay finished strongly, with substitute Jake Block firing into the side netting, then Ivanov and Bishop combining to set up Brown, who shot just over. The best goal of the game came in the 89th minute, Bishop getting his fourth after a fine solo run saw him cut in from the left-wing to beat two defenders and sweep the ball across the keeper.
B Vincent, O Alexander, J Riches, G Dormeny-Horn, T Daniels (Sub Allen), C Harding, I Ivanov, K Brown (Sub S Dossett), S Allen (Sub K Caley), B Mann (Sub J Block), R Bishop.
 

FOR the third time this season a late, late goal robbed Bungay of some reward as they went down to Caister in the Anglian Combination senior knock-out cup on Saturday.
For long periods they dominated against their opponents from a higher division, only for the home side to ruin their chances with a goal in the 89th minute.
But it was also deja vu for the Black Digs as they again passed up several good chances to put the game beyond Caister before that. Again there was much to be positive about – but they must start to take the chances that come along.
Bungay caused the home side problems from the start but it was their keeper Ben Vincent who saw the first real action as he leapt to turn over a fierce 20-yard effort.in the 19th minute.. For Bungay Rob Bishop tried his luck from long range but was off target.
Casister, quick on the break, went close again in the 30th minute as a forward held off a challenge but pulled his shot wide of the far post.
Keith Caley put Bishop clear but his effort was wide of the far post as the keeper advanced. In the 41st minute Cam Harding put the striker clear again but his shot cleared the keeper and the bar. Before the interval Ben Mann bullied his way into a shooting position but the keeper was equal to his shot. Sam Allen tested the keeper with a header.
Ivan Ivanov was again impressive for Bungay and in the first minute if the second half he crossed for Harding to head wide, before setting up another chance for Bishop, who could get no power in his shot., The Bulgarian set up Allen for a shot that was wide of the mark, and then Mann, whose effort was too close to the keeper.
Bungay were dominating and Vincent had rare action when he took a Caister shot comfortably. Substitute Jake Block was the next to have a chance from George Winchester’s set up but could not take advantage, and another fine chance went begging eight minutes from time as Bishop and Brown combined for the latter to fluff his lunes.
Just when it seemed the game would go direct to penalties Caister produced the sucker punch in the 89th minute, Caister centre-half Billy Shaw racing clear to beat Vincent.
Team: B Vincent, T Miller (B Morrissey)), G Domeny-Horn, J Riches, K Caley, C Harding, G Winchester, S Allen (K Brown), I Ivanov, R Bishop, J Mann (J Block).

Scorers: Rob Bishop (pen), Sam Allen

A LATE goal cost Bungay the point they deserved from this game on Saturday, with a controversial goal from the visitors earlier being the turning point.
But the Black Dogs were left to rue some great chances which went begging in an evenly contested Anglian Combination division one game.
A frustrated manager Rob Moore said afterwards: “We were the better team. If we have taken our chances we could have won it – simple as that.
“We worked our socks off. Ivan Ivanov was our man of the match, having come in from the Reserves, and Rob Bishop had a good debut. They knew how dangerous he was.”
The busy Ivanov set up Cam Harding for a shot in the first minute but it was blocked by a defender. Home keeper Ben Vincent had to make two good saves when Fakenham attacked with speed, before more good work by Ivanov again set up Harding, whose shot crashed against the bar.
But after John Riches had gone close with a header the visitors broke to take the lead in the 20th minute as Jake Watts had room to turn in a cross from the right.
But two minutes later Bishop was brought down in the area and he got up to convert the penalty. Shortly after Bishop had a shot blocked after combining well with Sam Allen. Those two both had shots blocked in quick succession by the Fakenham defence.
In the second half Fakenham thumped a shot against the bar, while the visiting keeper did well to turn an Allen effort away for a corner. Allen then missed a golden chance with only the keeper to best.
Fakenham took the lead in the 62nd minute in controversial circumstances as the referee ignored a clear offside flag and Rickj Claxton scored from a rebound after one shot came back off the post.
The Black Dogs got the equaliser they deserved in the 82nd minute as Bishop’s long cross was controlled by Ivanov, who took it to the byline before crossing for Allen to score from close range.
But Watts broke the home hearts with a good goal in the 88th minute, firing across Vincent and into the far corner.
Team: B Vincent, L Good, F Dormeny-Horn, T Daniels, B Morrissey, I Ivanov, J Riches, C Harding, G Winchester, R Bishop, S Allen (A Goodswen).
 

AFTER their encouraging win at Kirkley in mid-week Bungay came crashed down to earth on Saturday as they were trounced 8-0 at Easton in the Anglian Combination division one.
It was their heaviest defeat for 25 years, since they went down 9-0 at Scole in a division two fixture on August 20th, 1996.
It was an afternoon to forget as they hand no answer to Easton’s slick approach play and sharp finishing. Keeper Lew Riches saved them form an even heaver defeat with some reflex saves.
The scene was set as he made two fine saves in the third minute to turn away goal bound efforts, but at the other end Jake Block brought a good save from the home keeper on one of Bungay’s few meaningful attacks, and Tom Daniels’ follow-up from the loose ball brought an even better diving save.
But the rout began in the 22nd minute as a swift break down the left and a cross saw former Bungay player Tom Amis make it 1-0. Five Minutes later G Crowe made it 2-0 when he deftly flicked in a cross from the right.
Another flick from G Crowe made it 3-0 in the 37th minute and B Butler got the fourth before half-time.
Manager Rob Moore brought on all three substitutes at the start of the second half but within four minutes another ex-Bungay player, Brannan Solomon, made it 5-0 for the home side as he took advantage of a poor back pass to beat Riches. W Kersey-Logan soon added a sixth.
For a while Bungay steadied things and it was another 26 minutes before more goals came, Butler scoring again before Amiss completed the day from the penalty spot.
Team: L Riches, T Daniels (G Block), L Good (B Wilson), G Dormeny-Horn, S Allen (L Good), G Winchester (C Harding), C Harding (L Ellis), J Riches, J Block (B Morrissey), R Evans, K Caley.

Scorers: Cameron Harding and Ben Mann

THE Black Dogs came from behind to record their first victory of the season at a damp Walmar Road on Tuesday evening.
After John Riches had seen a spectacular overhead shot turned on to the bar by the home keeper, Kirkley took the lead as a player was left free inside the six-yard box and he easily be Lew Riches.
But Bungay deservedly equalised in the 34th minute as Bailey Jenner headed a free-kick back into the danger area and Cam Harding nipped in to score at the far post. The winner came in the 54th minute as the home keeper completely missed a long ball forward and Ben Mann took the ball on to score into an empty net.
In the final minutes Kirkley twice hit the woodwork, but some determined defending saw the Black Dogs through.
 

A HARSH penalty decision three minutes into added time robbed Bungay of a share if the spoils in this Anglian Combination division one game on Saturday.
Aylsham had more possession and the better chances, but Bungay’s resilience and hard work deserved some reward and to lose in those circumstances was frustrating.
“It was one of those situations where we made the referee make a decision and it went against us,” said manager Rob Moore afterwards.
“The hard work and dedication that everyone showed were excellent. I was happy with the attitude and commitment. When we changed the formation after 30 minutes we looked better defensively.”
Thst came about as the result of two injuries, Elliott Patrick and Kale Brown having to go off, with John Riches going back into defence.
Before that Aylsham had three early attempts on goal and Lewis Riches in goal turned way another goal-bound shot. Then the Black Dogs ere lucky to survive in a flurry of shots and blocks in an 18th minute assault. Riches tested the keeper with a long range free kick, but before the interval keeper Riches made a great reflex save with his foot to keep things level at half-time.
Early in the second half Aylsham struck a post, but Bungay responded with their best move of the game which ended with the keeper clutching Ben Mann’s header. Then River Crowson was put away down the left but a defender got back to put his short aside.
Riches made a good double save as Aylsham continued to have greater possession, and they were unlucky with a free-kick which struck the top of the bar.

Bungay made things difficult for themselves as both Oli Alexander and Sam Allen were sent to the sin-bin for dissent for 10 minutes. They then survived that period with nine men. Later Patrick did well to get back to head a goalbound shot off the line, and for Bungay Mann brought a diving save from the keeper with a low shot, and Allen sent his shot straight at the keeper at the end of a good move.
But just as it seemed the Black Dogs had won their first point, they were denied by the penalty decision as Jamie George converted.

Team: L Riches, O Alexander, E Patrick (L Good), C Harding, G Dormeny-Horn, B Jenner (R Crowson), K Brown (K Caley), S Allen, B Mann J Riches, A Goodswen

Scorers: Adam Goodswen, Ben Mann, John Riches

THE Black Dogs opened their 2021-22 campaign on Tuesday evening in an entertaining encounter at Attleborough. They were finally beaten by the odd goal of seven, battling to the end after being 2-0 down at the interval. In the end defensive lapses cost them the chance of a point.
The 13-man squad included eight debutants, six of them starting, and they took time to settle, but there were positives to taken from the game which was new manager Rob Moore’s first competitive game in charge following a number of pre-season friendlies. “We were good in spells, decent going forward, and broke well, but we were a yard off the pace at the back and it cost us,” he said afterwards. “It was a new team, with a lot of new players, and we need to jell as a team. It is early days.”
Captain John Riches, playing his 222nd game for Bungay, led the side by example, but the home side was out of the blocks quickest, and took a 10th minute lead with a fine finish into the top corner from the edge of the area from Jack Fuller which gave new keeper Ben Vincent no chance. But after that Bungay quelled the early pressure and were well on top for the last 20 minutes of the half. Striker Ben Mann put a header wide from a quickly taken free-kick from Riches, and they were unlucky in the 33rd mjnute when Kale Brown’s shot from 10 yards was deflected onto the underside of the bar and cleared. Brown again broke clear but put his shot agonisingly wide as the keeper advanced.
So, it was against the run of player when Attleborough went two up just before the break as Oliver Ramsbottom was left unmarked to head home a cross in a swift break. It was the home side who got the early goal in the second half – only 90 seconds had gone when they beat the offside trap and Ernie Vilutis was able to take the ball round Vincent and score into an empty net. But Bungay struck back quickly as River Crowson set up Adam Goodswen two minutes later after a good build-up and he coolly beat the keeper. Crowson himself went close with two efforts, and with eight minutes left Bungay pulled another back, Ben Mann heading in from close range after the home defence failed to clear a concerted attack. With a minute left the home side appeared to make the game safe with a fourth, Ryan John slotting home from a well-worked free-kick. But there was still time for Bungay to make it an edgy finish for the home side as Crowson gave Riches the chance to convert his 49th goal for the club two minutes into added time.

Team: B Vincent, O Alexander, L Good, G Dormeny-Horn (K Caley), K Caley (E Patrick), R Crowson (J Block), J Riches, C Harding, A Goodswen (R Crowson) K Brown, B Mann.
 

Scorer: Ben Mann 2

Scorer: John Riches

The Black Dogs were a little unfortunate to bow out of the senior cup in the second round as senior football returned to the Maltings Meadow on Saturday for the first time for nearly five months.
Against a team from two stages higher up the pyramid (albeit a very young Sudbuty side) they led at half time, and only a harsh penalty decision saw the sides level at full time. Keeper Lewis Riches twice saved a twice taken penalty in the shoot-out, but with the visiting keeper saving two of Bungay’s penalties, it was a quick end to the curtailed season fort the Black Dogs.
Nevertheless new manager Rob Moore will have taken positives from his first look at his squad in action, with four teenagers in the side.
It was a game in which goalmouth action was sparse. Luke Ellis almost broke through early on but the keeper just got to the ball before him. But when Bungay forced the first corner in the 12th minute, captain John Riches got across the defence to Ellis’ flag kick to glance a firm header into the roof of the net.
Soon after Riches tried his luck with a 30-yad free-kick which was well over the top. Sudbury’s first effort on goal came in the 21st minute, but it rolled well wide. For Bungay Ben Wilson forced another corner which the visitors cleared with difficulty. Before the interval Riches took a low shot comfortably at the near post, and Lewis Good cut out the danger when Sudbury threatened again
Five minutes into the second half the visitors were awarded what seemed a harsh penalty after a fair tussle for the ball on the by-line, and the spot kick was duly converted. It lifted the visitors and they went close with two other efforts, though both were off target.
Riches saw a free-kick blocked by the Sudbury wall, and as both sides went for a winner in the last four minutes substitute Reece Evans pulled his shot wide of the far post and a Sudbury effort just cleared the bar. In the final minute keeper Riches made a fine reflex save to keep the scores level.
Bungay’s successful penalty takers in the shoot-out were Oli Alexander, Keith Caley and Lewis Good.
Team: L Riches, O Alexander, L Good, J Wightman, K Caley, B Morrissey, C Cox (R Evans), J Riches, B Wilson, R Crowson (J Baynes) L Ellis.
 

Scorers: Sam Olley 2, Luke Ellis, John Riches (pen), Sean Payne

A first clean sheet of the season and five goals for the second week running meant a great return to the Maltings Meadow for the Black Dogs on Saturday.
Three more Anglican Combination division one points increased the gap between them and the bottom four teams – and the victory came despite being reduced to 10 men after just 21 minutes, with the score 0-0, when new striker Ben Lewis was given his marching orders, apparently for something he said to the linesman.
Fakenham, pointless and bottom of the table, provided Bungay with few problems, and as early as the fifth minute Brannan Solomon forced the keeper into a comfortable save. Then a good move saw Callum Cox turn inside but clear the bar with his shot.
At the other ends Lewis Riches was forced into a rare save when Fakenham make a quick break in the 21st minute, but immediately Solomon netted what appeared to be a good goal, only for the linesman to flag for offside. Lewis was shown a red card under protest for venting his feelings about the decision.
Undeterred Bungay took the lead in the 32nf minute as a move down the right saw the ball crossed to the left where Sam Olley controlled the ball and fired home. Soon after Olley was just off target with an overhead kick.
The second goal came on 40th minutes as another slick move saw Luke Ellis’s first shot blocked, but he fired home at the second attempt. Before half-time the keeper did well to block another Ellis shot.
The trend continued in the second half, with the keeper making a good block from River Crowson. But the third goal soon followed as Olley was again on hand to score from four yards when Ellis crossed into the six yard box.
On the hour Bungay won a penalty as Cox was bundled over in the box and John Riches scored from the spot for the third time in two games. Late on Sean Payne replaced Crowson and in the 85th minute was on hand to complete the scoring with a close range header from Cox’s corner.
Team: L Riches, B Morrissey, S Olley, L Good, K Caley, R Crowson (S Payne), J Riches, B Solomon, L Ellis (I Ivanov), B Lewis, C Cox.
# Quirky statistic: For the first time in their history on Saturday, the Black Dogs had more paying spectators than attended the Manchester Premiership derby between United and City the same afternoon. There were none at Old Trafford because of the coronavirus pandemic.
 

Scorers: John Riches 2 (2 pens), Luke Ellis, Callum Cox, Ben Lewis.

THE Black Dogs celebrated the resumption of football by banging five goals past Thetford Rovers on Saturday.
In their second win of the season in the Anglian Combination division one they dominated from street to finish, and could easily have doubled their score. Ben Lewis made his long-awaited debut up front and showed he will be a real asset, and contributed the final goal.
The game also marked the return of Brannan Solomon, and Kevin Riches came on as substitute on his return to the club.
It took Bungay only four minutes to take the lead, as John Riches converted a penalty after Callum Cox had been felled in the penalty area. Solomon had a shot blocked soon after, but keeper Riches had to palm away a low shot when Rovers attacked. Lewis showed his capability as he brought a fine save from the home keeper with a powerful long-range shot.
Rovers equalised against the run of play in the 22nd minute as James Dean worked an opening and fired past Riches.
But Bungay regained the lead in the 38th minute as Lewis threaded the ball through to Solomon whose cross from the by-line was tapped home by Luke Ellis. Before the interval the busy keeper somehow clawed a flick from Solomon off the line.
After the interval River Crowson set up Lewis for a shot which just missed the target, but the third goal soon came as good work from substitute Ivan Ivanov gave Cox the chance to finish well from the edge of the area.
Bungay won another penalty on the hour as Solomon was brought down unceremoniously and John Riches again did the job from the spot. Before the end Bungay created several good openings without being able to convert them, but Lewis finally got his debut goal after Ivanov and Solomon had combined well to set it up.
Team: L Riches, S Olley, L Good (K Caley), T Miller (K Riches), K Caley (T Miller), R Crowson (S Bone), J Riches, B Solomon, L Ellis (I Ivanov), B Lewis, C Cox.
 

Scorers: Sam Bone, Darrell Wigger and John Riches

THE Black Dogs progressed to the third round of the Suffolk Senior Cup with an impressive win at Kirkley on Wednesday evening.
It was well deserved and was achieved by a team effort in what was the best performance of the season so far.
The home side took the lead in the 15th minute, William Flower converting a corner from almost on the line, but Bungay equalised on 32 minutes as Sam Bone headed in Darrell Wigger’s corner.
Six minutes later Wigger put Bungay ahead with a tremendous 30-yard free-kick which went in off the bar. They contained Kirkley well in the second half and John Riches made the game safe with a tap in, with Wigger again the provider with a run in from the right.
Team: L Riches, O Alexander, L Good, T Miller, K Caley, S Dossett, J Riches (S Payne), B Morrissey, D Wigger, S Bone (L Metcalfe), L Ellis.
 

Scorer: Darrell Wigger

THE visitors gained their first ever victory over the Black Dogs on Saturday with two goals in each half.
Bungay equalised in the first half after going behind and though they went in 2-1 down there was promise that they could take the game to Yelverton after the interval and take something from the game. But that hope did not materialise and the visitors moved to a comfortable victory in the end.
Without the injured River Crowson, James Wightman and Callum Cox Bungay had a challenge against one of the early in-form sides. And the first action of any note came in the 16th minute when Danny Cook latched on to a long ball and held off a challenge to put Yelverton ahead with a shot inside the far post. Another effort from the visitors flew wide shortly afterwards.
But Bungay dug in and after Darrell Wigger had gone close and Luke Ellis had had a shot blocked they equalised in the 30th minute. Sam Bone found Wigger with a good ball and he side-stepped one defender before finished well from 10 yards.
Yelverton put one 30-yard drive narrowly wide, and Lewis Riches made a fine save with his foot to keep out another shot. But the visitors regained the lead in the 40th minute as Danny Crabbe headed home a corner at the far post.
Early in the second half Riches made a marvellous one-handed save to keep out what seemed a certain goal, and Yelverton’s third was not long delayed as James Melton turned in a cross from the right.
Bungay’s fight-back never really materialised, but they did have chances, notably when Ellis crossed and substitute Jamie Broady could not get his shot away before he was closed down. The same player had a better chance soon after when Wigger set him up again, but the keeper grabbed his shot at the second attempt.
Yelverton made it 4-1 through Chris Hall in the 74th minute, and comfortably saw the game out.
Team: L Riches, B Wilson, L Good, T Miller, K Caley, S Dossett (I Ivanov), L Metcalfe, J Riches (R Went), L Ellis, D Wigger S Bone (J Broady).
 

THE Black Dogs were beaten by one of the favourites for promotion at Aylsham on Saturday – but they will rue several good chances they created in the second half which they were unable to take.
They actually scored what seemed a good goal before the home side went ahead in this well-contested Anglian Combination division one game, but after lengthy delay the referee controversially cancelled it out for a foul after consulting the home linesman.
But it was another encouraging display against a good side, with the score rather flattering Aylsham
Young keeper Charlie Cook replaced the unavailable Lewis Riches and he had a promising debut, taking an early strike confidently, and later making a fine one handed save to keep out another shot, shortly after Darrell Wigger had gone close for Bungay.
The Black Dogs thought they had taken the lead in the 17th minute as a cross from Keith Caley caused problems in the home defence and when the ball fell to Callum Cox, he lobbed the keeper from 15 yards. Players had lined up for the re-start before the referee consulted the home linesman, who said he thought his keeper had been fouled, and the goal was ruled out.
It deflated Bungay for a while and Aylsham went ahead six minutes later as Owen Collyer turned in a low cross from close range.
Cox netted again soon after but he was offside. Then he had an effort cleared off the line by a defender after his first effort had been blocked.
The home side were unlucky with a 35-yard shot that came back off the bar with Cook beaten, and put another chance wide, before making it 2-0 in the 39th minute as Jamie George lobbed Cook as he came off his line for an attempted block.
In the second half the home side put an early chance off target before making it 3-0 in the 54th minute as Collyer was again on hand for a tap in from a cross.
After that the Black Dogs created several chances. Substitute Ivan Ivanov crossed form the left to the unmarked Luke Ellis but the keeper blocked his shot. Cook made a similar safe for Bungay. Ellis got clear down the left and crossed for the unmarked Ben Wilson but again the keeper saved the day, and then just got to a cross before Wigger.
Cook made another great point-blank save as play flowed from end to end, and Ivanov again set up Wilson, whose effort was over the keeper and over the bar. then Wilson and Ellis found themselves with only the keeper to beat only for the chance to go begging again. A defender blocked another goal-bound shot from Ellis.
Aylsham hit a post in added time and then Lewis Good, on for the injured James Wightman, found Caley with a great ball, and from his cross Ivanov had an overhead strike blocked.
Team: C Cook, S Olley, T Miller, J Wightman (L Good), K Cakey, S Dossett, L Metcalfe (B Wilson), J Riches, L Ellis, D Wigger, C Cox (I Ivanov).

Scorers: River Crowson, Darrell Wigger

A goal deep into added time brought the Black Dogs a richly deserved first victory of the season at Watton on Saturday.
They had dominated the first half of this Anglian Combination division one game but a fortuitous Watton equaliser meant they went in level at the interval, and Watton were more in the game in the second half, but Bungay defended well, with the U18s partnership of James Wightman and Tommy Miller outstanding in the centre of the defence.
It was an encouraging display by the whole team, however, and will give them hope in some tough fixtures ahead in the next few weeks.
John Riches had a shot blocked following an early free kick, and Darrell Wigger, a thorn in Watton’s side all afternoon, fired a good chance wide under pressure. Bungay’s early dominance brought them the lead in the 12th minute with some slick football. Keith Caley played the ball down the line to Wigger, who got to the by-line before crossing for River Crowson to bang the ball home from four yards.
A fine tackle by Miller cut out one Watton threat, but the home defence was the busier, and Wigger forced the first of several corners when he was played clear. In the 39th minute he had a great chance to put his side further ahead, but fired wide from close range after some desperate Watton defending.
Riches drilled a powerful 30-yard shot into the keeper’s midriff, but totally against the run of play Watton equalised in the 45th minute. With Lewis Riches off his line Mark Allibone ballooned the ball into the air and it went over the keeper and into the net on its first bounce.
In the second half Stan Dossett got in a header that was comfortably taken and Wigger curled a free-kick narrowly over the bar, but Watton were more in the game and put a couple of clear chances wide of the target.
For Bungay Wigger had a fine chance in the 63rd minute, only to fire wide from close in. With the scores level Watton were always in with a chance of snatching the points, and hooked one chance wide with six minutes left.
But substitute Ivan Ivanov had a shot deflected on to a post following a corner and Riches brought a flying save from the keeper with a shot on the turn before, three minutes into added time, Bungay found the deserved winner. Substitute Luke Ellis and Callum Cox combined for Cox to release Wigger on the left and he finished coolly with a shot across the keeper into the far corner.
Team: L Riches, S Olley, T Miller, J Wightman, K Caley, R Crowson, J Riches, L Metcalfe (I Ivanov, L Metcalfe), S Dossett (I Ivanov, C Cox), D Wigger, C Cox (L Ellis).
 

THREE goals from the visitors in the first 15 minutes gave the Black Dogs a mountain to climb on Saturday – and though they improved as the game progressed, they rarely looked likely to reduce the deficit.
Two penalties added to their woes as they tried to come to terms with a new defensive line-up, while new striker Jamie Broady worked hard without being able to make his mark. More re-inforcements are still needed and they are promised in the coming weeks.
It took Attleborough just two minutes to go ahead in this Anglian Combination division one fixture, as Charlie Smith rose unchallenged to head home a left-wing corner., Six minutes later it was 2-0 as Brad Rivett sent a 25-yard swinging shot into the top corner, giving Lewis Riches no chance.
They had the ball in the net again shortly after, but this time it was ruled out for offside. For Bungay Darryl Wigger was off target with a long range attempt, before John Riches had to clear his lines to prevent another Attleborough goal. But that came in the 15th minute as a defender was penalised for handball and Jak Fuller converted the spot kick.
Wigger, who was busy all afternoon, almost broke through for the Black Dogs but the keeper just got to the ball first. Attleborough put another good chance wide when a forward broke through, and Broady put a half chance wide, before Riches made a flying sav e toi turn away another chance for the visitors. Wigger’s latest attempt from 20 yards was closer than his previous efforts but just too high.
Bungay had an even share of the play in the second half without creating any clear cut chances, and Riches had to make two blocking saves in quick succession to prevent more Attleborough goals, and they missed another good chance with 15 minutes left.
But it was a better second half showing from Bungay and the lively Callum Cox, who replaced the tiring Wigger, was unlucky to see a 25-yard shot beat the keeper but come back off the bar.
The scoring was completed in the 86th minute when James Wightman, who had a good game in an unaccustomed back four position, conceded a penalty which Fuller converted.
Team: L Riches O Alexander, J Wightman, J Riches, R Crowson, B Wilson (B Morrissey), L Metcalfe (B Wilson), S Olley, L Ellis, D Wigger (C Cox), J Broady.

A goal from Easton mid-way through the second half was all that separated these two teams in a game that never reached any great heights.
The Black Dogs, with two new signings on display, had an even share of the game and could argue they deserved something from the game, but they were unable to create any clear-cut chances, while home keeper Lewis Riches again kept his side in the game with one-on-one saves.
Craig Page mad his debut in central defence and became more confident as the game progressed, while Lee Metcalfe came into mid-field in the second half and was immediately effective. Both signings look as if they could be very useful acquisitions.
Easton put an early chance over the top, while the Black Dogs had a couple of shots blocked following a free kick. Shane Smith had a good chance in the 10th minute but the keeper made a good block from his shot.
The visitors put a header wide in the 24th minute, but a minute later hit what proved to be the winner as George Crowe scored with a far post header from a long cross.
Smith immediately put a volley wide for Bungay. Riches made a fine reflex save to prevent a second Easton goal when a shot was deflected, and then made another impressive block when Easton broke quickly from defence.
A fine ball from Ole Alexander found River Crowson and his lob over the keeper ran narrowly wide of the target. A better chance came in the 42nd minute as Sam Olley was played clear and when he was thwarted by the advancing keeper Crowson saw his shot on the turn clear off the line by a defender.
Easton put a free-kick over the bar in the 57th minute and then their keeper had to turn a swinging free-kick form Lewis Good over the bar. A fine ball down the line by Keith Caley saw Crowson pull the ball back from the byline but substitute Callum Cox was unable to turn it home.
The visitors were the more dangerous in attack, however, and twice Riches made good saves with his fist or prevent further goals. For Bungay Cox saw a shot on the turn deflected for a corner, and in added time Smith was shown a red card for dissent.
Team: L Riches, O Alexander (L Ellis), C Page, K Good, K Caley, S Olley, B Wilson (C Cox), J Riches, L Ellis (L Metcalfe), R Crowson, S Smith.

THE Black Dogs first away game of the season ended in defeat at Wtmondham on Saturday, despite another hard-working performance.
The home side were one up at the interval, but two late goals brought a scoreline that did not do justice to the efforts of Bungay, who had a number of good chances to make it much closer.
Wymondham had much the better of the early play however and failed to convert some good chances In only the third minute Lewis Riches had to make a great bocking save to thwart a forward, John Riches got in a timely tackle to prevent another shot at goal and another shot hit the bar. Riches had to come off his line twice more to thwart other raids.
But Bungay settled, and Sam Bone had a chance from Riches' pass but was crowded out before he could pull the trigger.
A Wymondham forward broke clear but skied his shot. For Bungay Luke Ellis brought a fine save from the keeper with a low drive in the 20th minute while River Crowson, Bungay’s stand-out performer on the day, glanced a header wide from a corner.
The home side took the lead in the 32nd minute as Paul Cook got on the end of a free-kick to side-foot past Riches, For Bungay Sam Olley put a header into the keeper’s arms.
Bungay defended well from a dangerous cross, and at the other end Crowson saw a header cleared off the line. Reece Evans cleared off the Bungay line at the other end.
Bungay had a great chance to equalise in the 74th minute as Crowson freed Keith Caley down the left and his cross saw Bone leaning back in the six-yard box and unable to direct his header on goal.
Four minutes later Wymondham made it 2-0 through Liam Moriati. Ellis had a good chance to pull one back after Ben Morrissey found him with a great ball but put his shot into the side netting. Shortly after he put another chance wide of the far post.
Tom Blake completed the scoring for Wymondham in added time.
Team: L Riches, O Alexander, R Evans, J Riches, K Caley, S Olley, B Wilson S Dossett (B Morrisey), R Crowson (S Dossett), L Ellis, S Bone (T Miller).

Scorer: Shane Smith

THE Black Dogs were soundly beaten by new boys Heacham on Saturday as league football returned to the Maltings Meadow.
The West Norfolk side came up from division two to taste senior football in the Anglian Combination for the first time, and on this showing will go straight through to the premier division.
The young Bungay side lacked the experience and muscle of the visitors, but worked hard throughout the afternoon. Now they need to put this one behind them in the knowledge that they will meet few opponents as tough as this for the rest of the season.
Heacham went close twice in the opening minutes and then Lewis Riches did well to clutch a close range header form a corner. But the home side had the chance to take the lead in the 14th minute as Ben Wilson found Shane Smith on the left and he cut in to drive a low shot just the wring side of the far post.
Seven minutes later Smith headed on a long ball and Darryl Wigger, from a similar position, saw his shot hit the outside of the far post.
But the visitors were generally on top and took the lead in the 24th minute as captain Ed Tann scored form close range following a corner.
Smith pout a header from Ole Alexander’s accurate cross into the side netting before Heacham made it 2-0 as Bungay gave the ball away and Nathan Daw finished a slick move well. They made it 3-0 before the interval as the home side again lost the ball in midfield and the visitors again took quick advantage, John Flannagan drilling home from the edge of tew area.
Any hopes of a Bungay come-back were extinguished in the first eight minutes of the second half as Heacham scored twice more. Tann converted a close range header before Flannagan made it 5-0 in the 53rd minute.
Sam Olley put a close range chance off target for Bungay and Wigger tried a long range shot without success before Heacham made it 6-0 in the 73rd minute as Daw again finished clinically.
Bungay got the consolation goal their efforts deserved in the 75th minute as Wigger found Smith in the six yard box and he turned well to beat the keeper. Wigger curled a free kick just over the bar, before Riches made two blocking saves in quick succession. At the other end substitute Ben Morrissey put a far post header straight at the keeper before Heacham completed the scoring in added time, Flannagan completing his hat-trick.
Team: L Riches, O Alexander, K Good, R Evans, K Caley, S Olley (B Morrissey), B Wilson (S Olley), D Wigger, J Wightman (C Cox), S Smith, L Ellis (R Crowson).
 

Scorers: Darrell Wigger 3, John Riches, Sam Olley

Scorer: 

Scorer: John Riches

Scorers: Shane Smith 2, Darrell Wigger, River Crowson

FOR the second time in three weeks Bungay beat a top three side in the Anglian Combination division one with a clear-cut victory over Stalham Town.
The four goals were all well taken, with Shane Smith weighing in with two to take his tally to six in six games. And as Stalham heads sunk in the final period, the margin of victory could have been even more.
The visitors did net early on, but the flag was up for offside, and Bungay took the lead after just nine minute. Dan Lowe sent Keith Caley away down the left and his cross to the far post was smashed home by Smith from two yards.
Stalham were always dangerous going forward and Lewis Riches made a good save to push away a free-kick. Bungay had a chance when River Crowson picked up a loose ball but his pass to Brannan Solomon carried too much weight.
The home side gifted Stalham an equaliser in the 18th minute as a misunderstanding between Riches and Lewis Good gave Daniel Broome an open goal and he accepted the chance gleefully.
Riches turned away an awkward cross in the 24th minute, but immediately Bungay regained the lead as Darrell Wigger raced onto a ball down the left from Caley and his left foot shot went in off the far post.
Stalham had a player sent to the sin bin for dissent in the 40th minute, and right on half-time Smith took the same walk for the same reason. There was still time for Bungay to score a perfectly good goal, Good’s shot from 25 yards sailing over the keeper’s head into the top corner, but the referee inexplicably disallowed the goal as another Bungay player, not interfering with the play, was in an offside position.
For the first period of the second half Stalham looked determined to get back on terms, and pushed Bungay back. But they wasted two good chances, one when Good’s attention forced a forward to fire over the bar when well placed.
Then the Black Dogs struck twice in two minutes to make the game safe. First Wigger sent Lowe away down the left and his cross to the far post was turned in by Crowson for his seventh of the season. And it was 4-1 in the 73rd minute as Solomon set up Smith to finish coolly.
Stalham heads dropped and man-of-the-match Wigger had a close-range shot smothered by the keeper, then tested him with a well struck free-kick, sent another free-kick narrowly wide, and finally was unlucky to see a fine 25-yard effort smash against the angle of post and bar.
Solomon brought a good save from the keeper just before the whistle went.
Team: L Riches, S Olley, L Good, D Lowe, K Caley, R Crowson (T Miller), B Solomon, B Wilson (J Riches), S Dossett, D Wigger, S Smith (O Wright).
 

Aylsham 1, Bungay Town 0
A GOAL two minutes into added time robbed Bungay of a deserved draw at Aylsham on Saturday.
In a game ruined as a spectacle by the strong wind both teams did their best to cope with the conditions and a share of the spoils would have been the right result. But the winning goal was a well taken opportunist effort.
Bungay had the wind in their favour in the first half, and early on River Crowson won a half chance but his cross come shot from an angle went across the goal with no one able to take advantage. John Riches tried his luck unsuccessfully from 40 yards, while Lewis Riches had to make a good save when a player got clear down the right in the 19th minute.
The keeper also took another shot comfortably, and Aylsham had another chance when a player again broke clear but fired wide of the far post as Riches narrowed the angle. Bungay had a chance when Dan Lowe’s shot was blocked and Crowson tested the keeper with a low shot.
Sam Olley, who has returned to the club, replaced the injured John Riches, and in the second half the home side showed, as Bungya had, that playing with the wind was not neccessarily an advantage. They did curl an early effort wide and Riches took another shot comfortably. Stan Dossett fired wide for Bungay and Aylsham went close again in the 65th minute.
With 15 minutes left Bungay had a great chance as Brannan Solomon got on the end of Darrell Wigger’s free-kick, but the keeper blocked his close range effort and then a follow-up from the loose ball.
Aylsham went close again as Bungay sought to see the game out for a point, but in added time the home sider attacked down the right and when Owen Collyer collected the ball just inside the area he turned well to fire an angled shot into the roof of the net.
Team: L Riches, B Wilson (J Riches), L Good, D Lowe, K Caley, R Crowson (M Strak), J Riches (S Olley), S Dossett (B Wilson), B Solomon, R Evans (O Wright), M Strak (D Wigger).

Scorer: Shane Smith 2

TWO well-taken first half goals from Shane Smith and a great rear-guard action against the wind in the second half brought Bungay a deserved three points against second-placed Gorleston Reserves on Saturday.
The home side managed the windy conditions better with an all-round focussed, determined performance which put the previous week’s setback out of mind.
There was a tense final 15 minutes after the visitors pulled one back, but everyone worked hard to see the result achieved.
The Black Dogs went close as early as the fourth minute as Brannan Solomon set up River Crowson, whose powerful left-foot drive from 20 yards hit the top of the bar with the keeper beaten. Soon after Solomon put in a good run and lay-off to Smith, but the keeper just got there first.
But the break-through came in the 25rth minute as Keith Caley crossed into the box when his corner was half-cleared., Solomon found Smith again and he turned well to fire into the far corner. In the 33rd minute Marcus Strak got on to a good ball from Crowson, but the keeper deflected his shot for a corner.
Five minutes before half-time Bungay increased their lead as Smith again finished coolly from an angle after John Riches and Dan Lowe had combined to set up the chance.
Reece Evans replaced Smith, who had a hamstring problem, at the start of the second half which saw Gorleston pressing forward regularly But the back four of Ben Wilson, Lowe, Lewis Good and Caley remained resolute, and the mid-field provided vital support.
Right at the start the visitors had a chance with a far post header but a forward put it wide when he should have hit the target. Then Lewis Riches made a fine save to turn over another goal-bound shot.
Bungay had a half-chance which Riches fired over, but it was mainly Gorleston on the offensive and another shot flew narrowly wide in the 60th minute, before Riches made another important save.
Evans was crowded out when Solomon found him in a quick break, but Gorleston reduced the arrears in the 78th minute, Jordan Stanton finishing well with the defence for once was caught napping. Riches took a swerving shot well in the 88th minute, but with Gorleston reduced to 10 men for the final nine minutes, including added time, the defence held firm for an impressive victory.
Shane Smith was Bungay’s man-of-the-match.
Team: L Riches, B Wilson, L Good, D Lowe, K Caley, S Dossett (B Morrissey), J Riches, B Solomon, M Strak, R Crowson (B Revell), S Smith (R Evans).
 

Scorers: Brannan Solomon and Reece Evans

THE Black Dogs let slip an interval lead to allow Watton to complete the double over them on Saturday.
The disappointing defeat brought to an end the side’s impressive seven-game unbeaten run, but Watton proved a well organised side and Bungay’s expected consolidation of their lead in the second half did not materialise.
It was the visitors when had the first chance when a forward broke clear in the sixth minute, but Lewis Riches just manged to get a touch on his shot to turn it round the post.
John Riches had a shot blocked when the home side attacked, but Watton had the best of the early play and went ahead in the 15th minute. Reece Evans gave the ball away in mid-field to set Watton away and Cameron Hudson raced clear to beat Riches with a low shot.
The home side began to get more into the game after that and a cross from Ben Wilson was just out of the reach of Brannan Solomon and Darrell Wigger, while Evans got in a shot that was deflected for a corner.
Riches had to comer of his line to save when Watton created another chance, but Bungay equalised in the 32nd mijnute as Wigger’s free-kick from the left was glanced over the keeper by Solomon’s head.
Riches again had to dash from his line when the visitors split the home defence too easily again, but Solomon had a great chance to put his side ahead in the 37th minute. Unmarked from a Wigger corner, he somehow put his header over the bar from six yards.
But Bungay did move ahead three minutes later as Keith Caley’s cross from the left was only half-cleared and when the ball went back in Evans found the net from eight yards.
The second have began with Riches forced into a flying save to turn away a Watton shot, and it set the pattern for much of the second half, with Bungay unable to force the visitors back enough. Watton equalised in the 52nd minute. The defence failed to clear the ball properly, Riches made a blocking save from a fierce shot from Hudson, but Sol Tarsey was on hand to net the loose ball.
A Caley cross was jut turned off Riches’ head by the keeper, but a quick break form Watton brought what proved to be the winner, Hudson firing a shot through Riches’ legs in the 64th minute. They had a chance to increased their lead soon after but a shot from an angle just cleared the bar.
Bungay substitute Brad Revell tested the Watton keeper as Bungay sought an equaliser, and they forced a number of corners. Wigger brought a fine save from the keeper, but Bungay rarely looked likely to get back on terns, even when Watton had a player sent off for a second yellow card offence in the 87th minute.
Team: L Riches, B Wilson, L Good, D Lowe, K Caley, J Howes (M Strak), B Solomon, J Riches, S Dossett, D Wigger, R Evans (B Revell).
 

Scorers: John Riches and Stan Dossett

A goal three minutes from time by teenager Stan Dossett brought Bungay another point on Saturday and extended their unbeaten run to seven games.
It was a fair result in a game in which both sides had good spells in a difficult wind, though the Black Dogs had to twice come from behind in this Anglian Combination division one fixture.
Flowing football was at a premium in the conditions. Darrell Wigger was the first to get in a shot, in the eighth minute, at the end of a mazy run and his 20-yard effort was only just wide of the target. But it was Harling who went ahead in the 15th minute. They won a free-kick on the edge of the area and Callum Bray curled a low effort around the wall and just inside the post beyond Lewis Riches’ dive.
Bungay then enjoyed a good spell which brought an equaliser in the 32nd minute. Lewis Good had a far post header from a corner blocked, but managed to play the ball back into the danger area, where player-manager John Riches converted from close range.
Almost immediately Harling went close to regaining the lead with a cross which crept just wide of the far post, and right on half-time a forward hooked a chance from a corner over the bar.
Early in the second half another Harling effort tested Riches, and soon after the keeper made a great block when a forward broke clear. For Bungay, Shane Smith broke clear on the left and his powerful drive from an angle was turned away by the keeper.
The visitors regained the lead in the 55th minute after a spell in the ascendency. A player was allowed to cross from the by-line, the home defence failed to clear and Bradley Hunt scored at the far post. Bungay carved out a chance soon after, but Smith pulled Keith Caley’s cross wide.
Veteran substitute Matt Holmes brought a blocking save from the keeper with a well struck shot as Bungay searched for an equaliser, and it came with three minutes left. Riches sent in a searching cross from the right and 16-year-old Dossett got up well to put a firm header past the keeper.
Olly Alexander was voted supporters man-of-the match.
Team: L Riches, O Alexander, L Good, D Lowe, K Caley, J Howes (R Evans), B Solomon (M Holmes), J Riches, S Dossett, D Wigger, S Smith (C Jones).
 

Scorer: River Crowson

Bungay maintained their unbeaten record under player-manager John Riches with a battling draw against a good Kirkley side. The visitors enjoyed more possession, especially in the first-half, and took the lead, but after the Black Dogs equalised just before half-time, they defended well in the second period and fully deserved the point, and might have pinched all three points in the last few minutes.
Bungay made just the one change from the previous week’s line-up, with Stan Dossett making his first start, making three of the Under 18 side in the starting eleven, alongside Ole Alexander and Lewis Good.
The Black Dogs started well, with Shane Smith a real handful up front, and he twice went close in the first ten minutes. Gradually the visitors began to enjoy more possession and they took the lead after 25 minutes, Connor Borrett beating the offside trap to fire home. Bungay were under pressure but they managed to equalise five minutes before the break, River Crowson cutting in from the inside left position to hit a powerful shot into the opposite top corner. At the other end, Kirkley’s No 9 shot wide when one on one against Lewis Riches.
The second-half was even, with goal chances at a premium. Bungay were well organised and defended well, and twice went close in the last 10 minutes - first Solomon’s shot was charged down, and then substitute Reece Evans broke clear but rather than shooting he unselfishly tried to find fellow sub Charlie Bowen but his square pass was cut out.
Crowson won the supporters’ player of the match.
Lewis, Alexander, Good, Lowe, Caley, J Riches, Dossett, Solomon, Strak (Sub: Jack Howes), Crowson (Sub: Charlie Bowen), Smith (Sub: Reece Evans)
 

Scorers: Brannan Solomon (pen), Shane Smith

THE Black Dogs produced probably their best performance of the season to come away from Sprowston with a well-deserved three points on Saturday.
All 14 players played their full part in the win, which extended their unbeaten run to five games (including four wins) and lifted them above their opponents in the Anglian Combination division one table.
They were clearly the better side for most of the game, and having established a half-time lead, they defended well in the second half as the home side enjoyed the advantage of the slope.
Both sides got in early efforts on goal, but from the start Bungay built some good moves as they tried to stretch the home defence, with Brannan Solomon and Darrell Wigger prominent. In the 15th minute Shane Smith pulled a shot narrowly wide of the far post after being set free, and Wigger fired a shot wide. At the other end Olly Alexander headed a dangerous cross wide under pressure.
But Sprowston’s defence succombed to the pressure on it in the 25th minute as Wigger was brought down in the box, and Solomon confidently converted the penalty. Six minutes later Wigger’s latest effort went inches over the bar.
But Sprowston equalised against the run of play in the 35th minute as a player got to the byline and pulled the ball back for James Wilson to convert.
But Bungay resumed their offensive and went ahead again in the 40th minute. A long throw into the box from John Riches found Smith and he turned well to fire inside the far post from the narrowest of angles.
Early in the second half Lewis Riches made a good save when a forward broke clear. Sprowston had loud appeals for a penalty when a player went down the area, but the referee ignored them. For Bungay Ben Wilson won the ball well in midfield and his shot brought a diving save from the keeper. And back in defence, the same player cleared a dangerous situation at the expense of a corner. In the 68th minute, Wigger curled another fine shot narrowly wide.
The Black Dogs repelled the Sprowston forwards fairly comfortably, but with four minute left the home side had another appeal for a penalty and this time the referee awarded it. But to the Black Dogs’ relief, the penalty taker fired the kick against the bar and over.
Brannan Solomon was named supporters’ Man of the Match.
Team: L Riches, O Alexander, L Good, D Lowe, K Caley, R Crowson (M Strak), D Wigger, B Wilson (S Dossett), B Solomon, J Riches, S Smith (C Bowen).
 

Scorers: Darrell Wigger, River Crowson and Shane Smith

THE Black Dogs got their 2020 programme off to a winning start, eventually stamping their superiority over the young Norwich side with three second half goals.
It was not all plain sailing, particularly in the first half when the side looked lethargic, and Norwich put together some good inter-passing football. But they didn’t take two simple chances, and tired after the interval.
It means Bungay are unbeaten after three games under player-manager John Riches, and the three points lifted them a further place away from the relegation position in the Anglian Combination division one.
Darrell Wigger got in the first shot of the game after four minutes, and it was only just wide. Then his cross from the left found John Riches, whose close range header brought a brilliant reflex save from the home keeper to turn the ball away. The keeper made another fine safe from the corner to keep out a leader from Dan Lowe, who was making his first first team appearance for three years as an emergency defender.
But Norwich’s play-maker twice broke clear with only Lewis Riches to beat, only to pull his shots wide each time. A fine cross from Keith Caley found Marcus Strak at the far post, but he was unable to direct his first time shot on target.
Early in the second half a Norwich forward somehow missed an open goal from two yards. But Bungay began to assert their authority and a corner from Wigger came back off the bar. The breakthrough finally came in the 64th minute as Brannan Solomon played Wigger in and he finished well with a shot across the keeper and inside the far post.
The lead was never comfortable and Norwich again missed a simple chance. But two goals in the final six minutes made sure of the points. Substitute Shane Smith, on his debut, controlled a pass well to set up River Crowson and he finished coolly for his fifth goal of the season. And with the last kick of the game, Smith raced from the half-way line, holding off a challenge, to made it 3-0 with a powerful finish.
Team: L Riches, D Riches (J Baynes, D Riches), D Lowe, L Good, K Caley, D Wigger, B Wilson, J Riches, B Solomon, R Crowson (S Smith), M Strak (R Crowson).
 

Scorer: Brannan Solomon

A single goal just after half-time on Saturday lifted the Black Dogs out of the relegation places in the Anglian Combination division one.
With the side further bolstered by the return of Brannan Solomon and Darryll Wigger after a short spell away, joining player-manager John Riches, who returned two weeks ago, the three points were a big boost.
Full back Lewis Ellis, signed from St Andrews, made his debut in a strengthened side who were rarely in trouble in a game in which there was little flowing football on a difficult pitch, and not much goalmouth incident.
Bungay have now won three and drawn one of their last six games, nd will be looking to further consolidate in the coming weeks.
There was little interest of note until the 17th minute, when a fine ball from Ivan Ivanaov found Olly Alexander in a good position on the right, but he mishit his first time shot. Wigger tried three attempts from distance which were not too far off target. On another occasion the keeper turned over a shot from Wigger which was goal-bound, but the referee awarded a goal-kick.
The Fakenham attack was generally well contained, though they had a chance in the 32nd minute in a quick break, only to put a shot wide of the target. Keeper Lewis Riches also had to make a good save at his near post when they threatened again.
Bungay finally made the break-through in the 47th minute as Solomon exchanged passes with Wigger and rifled a low short from the edge of the area which took a slight deflection to beat the keeper.
Dexter Riches headed a corner narrowly over the bar, and John Riches put a header from a Wigger corner just the wrong side of the post, while Solomon was unlucky to see a shot well saved by the keeper at the expense of a corner.
Team: L Riches, L Ellis, L Good, J Riches, J Baynes, D Wigger, B Wilson, B Solomon, I Ivanov (D Riches), R Crowson (O Alexander), O Alexander (M Strak).
 

Scorers: Ivan Ivanov, Charlie Bowen, John Riches, River Crowson

THE Black Dogs came close to getting their first away win of the season on Saturday as hosts Easton grabbed an equaliser deep into added time.
Even so their first away point in the Anglian Combination division one was a boost to the side, and marked the return of John Riches to the club as player-manager after a short spell at Beccles, and following the resignation earlier in the week of manager Jason Cook.
In an entertaining encounter Bungay fought back from two goals down to lead 4-2 midway through the second half, only to be pegged back as the team, again including four teenagers, tired.
They started well, but Easton went ahead in the 5th minute as Ben Scissell scored with a shot just inside the post with keeper Lewis riches probably unsighted.
John Riches put a volley narrowly wide for Bungay, but keeper Riches made a great blocking save to keep out another Easton effort. The Black Digs thought they had equalised after 12 minutes, but River Crowson’s neat finish at the end of a good move was ruled out for a dubious offside.
Keith Caley struck the bar for Bungay and Charlie Bowen’s volley from the rebound was well saved. Riches had to make another good save as play moved from end to end, but the home side went 2-0 up in the 33rd minute as a good move down the right saw George Crowe take an easy chance.
Shortly after the home side hit the post with a glancing header from a left-wing cross. But Bungay pulled one back in the 39th minute following a corner, Bulgarian Ivan Ivanov, slotting home the loose ball.
The fight-back blossomed in the second half as Bungay turned the game round with three goals in 12 minutes, after Easton had hit a post and seen Riches make a diving save. First, in the 55th minute, a good move set Bowen free down the left and he coolly slotted the ball inside the far post. Ten minutes later they went ahead as George Howes’ cross found John Riches on the edge of the area and he drove a low shot inside the post.
And in the 67th minute it was 4-2 as a good ball forward from Jaymel Baynes caused problems in the home defence and after two efforts were blocked River Crowson got his fourth of the season from close range.
The same player had another chance later, but his shot was blocked, and at that stage Bungay looked likely to increase their lead. But a third goal for Easton in the 77th minute gave them renewed impetus, Scissell finding space down the left to take the ball on and beat Riches. They then missed a simple chance in the 83rd minute, and then did net, only for it to be ruled out for offside.
Bungay defended well in an effort to seer the game out, but five minutes into added time they failed to clear the ball properly and Crowe banged in the equaliser.
Team: L Riches, J Baynes, L Good, D Riches, K Caley, T Baynes, I Ivanov (S Thompson-Friend), C Hewitt, C Bowen, J Riches, R Crowson (I Ivanov).
 

Scorers: Ole Alexander 2, Reece White

THE Black Dogs got their second win of the season on Saturday with a comfortable victory over Fakenham Reserves.
They are the two bottom sides in the Anglian Combination division one, and this was not a classic, but Bungay were clearly the better side, and scored three times in the first 20 minutes, with teenager Olly Alexander getting his first two goals for the first team.
The three points put them six clear of Fakenham and just a point behind East Harling.
Bungay went ahead in 90 seconds as Tyrone Baynes cross to the far post found Alexander moving in to prod home from close range. And Alexander made it 2-0 in the 8th minute, again being in the right place to score when River Crowson’s shot was parried by the keeper.
Just two minutes later Charlie Bowen was bundled over the penalty area, but Crowson put the spot kick over the bar.
It was all Bungay at this stage, and Bowen beat the keeper to a through ball but his shot at the open goal lacked power and a defender cleared.
Keith Caley almost gifted Fakenham a goal when he headed a corner just over his own bar, and home keeper Lewis Riches had to grab the ball at the feet of a forward soon after.
But in the 20th minute Bungay made it 3-0 as James Wightman’s cross to the near post was cleared only to Reece White, who banged the ball home from eight yards.
The visitors were on the ropes at this stage, but there was little incident of note for the rest of the half.
In the first minute of the second half Alexander, going for his hat-trick, brought a save form the keeper with a volley from Baynes’ cross, and then turned an effort just wide from Caley’s cross.
Riches had to make a blocking save to keep his goal intact when the visitors did create a chance. The visitors also skimmed the bar with a long range effort.
Bowen and Wightman both tried their luck without success and Alexander brought a diving save from the keeper from another Baynes’ cross, and Lewis Good headed over from a corner. After that the game petered out, and ended on a sour note for Bungay as Wightman received a harsh straight red card in added time after retaliating after being fouled by a defender.
Team: L Riches, R White, J Tipple, K Good, K Caley, T Baynes, J Wightman (I Ivanov), B Wilson, O Alexander, C Bowen, R Crowson (J Wightman).
 

ROVERS completed the double over the Black Dogs on Saturday, with the visitors failing to score for the fifth time this season.
Bungay had their chances in an evenly contested game but could not take them, and yet again gifted goals to the opposition to make their task harder.
Jack Tipple brought a save from the home keeper with an early header and Tyrone Baynes header from the rebound was saved. Rovers put a shot wide following a free kick, and as the game flowed freely form end to end Jordan Tubby tried to chip the keeper, but the effort lacked height.
In the 15th minute Lewis Riches made a fine save to prevent the home side going ahead, and Lewis Good got in a timely tackle to cut out more danger. But Rovers went ahead in the 27th minute when a cross from the left found Taylor Vickers free at the far post and he slotted home.
Bungay went close themselves immediately following a move down the left, with River Crowson’s shot narrowly missing the far post. But Thetford scored their second in three minutes as Pedro Fortes took advantage of some poor Bungay defending.
Before the interval Charlie Bowen fired wide when James Wightman set up the chance and Crowson brought a save from the keeper with a header.
Bungay needed an early goal in the second half and it almost came in the 48th minute, with Baynes unlucky to see his long-range shot hit the bar with he keeper stranded. Almost immediately Rovers attacked down the left, and when Riches failed to gather the ball at a forward’s feet the ball was played in for Paulo Martins to tap in.
Thetford put an easy chance wide in the 63rd ,minute., Bungay introduced new signing, Bulgarian Ivan Ivanov, and they created a chance as Crowson set up Wightman, but he was thwarted by a defender, and Riches had to make another good save with his feet to prevent a fourth goal for Rovers. Before the end Tipple headed wide from Wightman’s corner and Thetford failed to convert an easy chance. With five minutes left Keith Caley for sent to the sinbin for dissent.
Team: L Riches, D Riches, J Tipple, L Good, K Caley, J Wightman (C Bowen), T Baynes, B Wilson, J Tubby, R Crowson, C Bowen (I Ivanov).

 THE Black Dogs were unable to repeat their win of the previous week as they went down to Aylsham at the Maltings Meadow on Saturday.
But as in recent games, there was not too much in it – two goals gifted to the opposition and another wind assisted effort was the difference on the scoresheet, but for the first hour they gave as good as they got, with nothing to show for it.
Against the wind in the first half, with some fine saves from Lewis Riches and stout defending, Bungay held their opponents almost to the interval, and played some good football themselves.
Early on the Black Dogs had to defend stoutly, with Jack Tipple and Dexter Riches prominent in holding the line. Twice keeper Lewis Riches faced one-on-pone situations and came out on top each time with fine blocks. For Bungay, Keith Caley had a free-kick blocked by the wall.
Olly Alexander won a corner with a fine ball in the 15th minute, and River Crowson put a diving header straight sat the keeper.
Marcus Strak also went close, but Bungay had a let of in the 25th minute as a shot was deflected, leaving Riches stranded, but it wan just wide.
Just as Bungay looked to get to the interval with the goal intact, Aylsham took the lead right on half time as a cross from out on the right from Fletcher Dyson floated in the wind into the top far corner.
Early in the second half James Wightman set up a sharp chance for Crowson, but his shot lacked power. Then a fine ball put Marcus Strak clear, but the keeper just beat him to the ball.
The home side had more of the play with the wind at their backs but were unable to force an equaliser, with the best chance coming at the end of a good team move which set up substitute Charlie Bowen, but he fired wide as the keeper advanced.
Two goals in the last seven minutes flattered the visitors, though they deserved the victory. First Dexter Riches felled a forward in the area and Dyson beat brother Lewis Riches with the spot-kick. And Dyson completed his hat-trick shortly after as Bungay gave the ball away to give him an easy chance. In added time substitute Matt James brought a diving save from the keeper with low free-kick.

Scorers: River Crowson 3, Charlie Bowen

THE Black Dogs finally got their Anglian Combination division one campaign on stream on Saturday as River Crowson hit a first half hat-trick to deliver their first win of the season.
It was a comprehensive, hard-working victory against a young Norwich side who played good approach football but lacked penetration.
The result will be a big confidence boost to Bungay in their bid to climb away from the relegation area. As it was it lifted them off the bottom and just a point behind United.
They were ahead after only five minutes as Marcus Strak, in his first start, crossed to the far post where Callum Ling headed back into the danger area for Crowson to turn in from close range.
United put a speculative long range shot over the top, before Strak, who had a promising game, set up another chance for Crowson when he blocked a clearance, but this time the striker’s effort was wide..
Bungay were denied a penalty when Crowson appeared to be brought down in the box before Keith Caley, who had an impressive game, fired a powerful drive just over the bar from 25 yards.
Jack Tipple was on hand to make a timely interception when United threatened, and after Caley had struck two more long range shots just off target, Bungay went 2-0 up in the 32nd minute Crowson controlled a great ball from Caley on the edge of the areal and slotted past the advancing keeper.
The ball was turned against the United bar soon after, and Crowson completed a fine hat-trick in the 42nd minute with Strak again the provider, pulling the ball back from the byline for the striker to finish from eight yards.
Early in the second half Crowson threatened a fourth but was thwarted by a defender, and Strak was also blocked by the keeper when he had a chance. James Wightman fired narrowly wide, Ling headed wide from Caley’s free-kick, and Wightman had a shot blocked before Ling fired over as Bungay controlled the game.
Lewis Riches had to grab the ball at the feet of a forward in a now rare Norwich attack, and also made a great blocking save from close range when they looked set to grab a consolation.
But the Black Dogs were trying their luck almost at will, and finally, in added time, Strak again drove to the byline and played the ball in for substitute Charlie Bowen to glance it home from close range.
Team: L Riches, R White, J Tipple, D Riches, K Caley, T Baynes, C Ling, O Sadler (M Pywell), J Wightman, R Crowson (C Bowen), M Strak.

A SINGLE second half goal separated these two sides at Emerald Park on Saturday, in a game in which Bungay’s hard work deserved some reward.
The young home side had the lion’s share of the play but the Black Dogs’ defence was impressive in its resistance and hard work in blocking everything thrown at them. In the second half they came more into the game and in the final 20 minutes had an even share of the play – without, however, really resting the home keeper.
Two more new signing, full back Reece White and forward Charlie Bowen were in the squad, but the side was without influential midfielders Brannan Solomon and Callum Ling.
Early on Lewis Riches did well to block an effort when a forward broke clear, and for Bungay Matt James’ cross found River Crowson rushing in but he was unable to get a touch. Gorleston were off target with a number of attempts as they pressed forward regularly, while White tried his luck from distance in the 35th minute and was not too far off target.
The home side had a fine chance to move ahead just before half-time as a ball was played across the six-yard box but somehow a forward put the ball over from two yards.
The only goal came in the 52nd minutes as a player got to the byline and pulled the ball back for Danny Pinhiero to side-foot home from 15 yards.
The Black Dogs created a chance as James found Ben Wilson down the right, but the keeper comfortably blocked his angled shot. Bowen also brought a good near-post save from the keeper with another angled shot. Wilson had another shot deflected for a corner. And in the 80th minute substitute Marcus Strak’s corner went low across goal with no one there to get a touch.
With a better rub of the green Bungay could have taken a point.
Team: L Riches, R White, J Tipple, L Good, O Alexander, T Baynes, B Wilson, O Sadler, J Tubby (M Strak), M James (C Bowen), R Crowson (J Wightman).

Scorer: Matty James

THE Black Dogs lost for the seventh game in a row at East Harling on Saturday – but there were glimpses that things are improving.
The squad still needs bolstering to be in with a chance of staying on the Anglian Combination division one, but manager Jason Cook is working on that, and saw a performance which with a bit of luck could have salvaged a point.
But a slow start was again their downfall, as the home side went 2-0 up in the first four minutes. Jarel Orr scored with a simple header from a left wing cross, and in the next minute a ball over the top put him clear to beat Jimmy Bligh.
After that Bungay stabilised, with two new signings, James Goodchild at the back and River Crowson up front, in the side. And it was Goodchild, who had been out of football for 18 months, who had a chance to pull one back as Matt James’ free-kick found him unmarked at the far post, but his put his header over the top. Then a cross from Ty Baynes found James in a good position, but he was unable to get the right touch on his half-volley.
Harling were always dangerous going forward, and only a fine blocking save from veteran Bligh - the fifth keeper to play in the first 10 games - prevented them going further ahead. But just before half-time Bungay were desperately unlucky not to score as another James’ free-kick was played back in and Callum Ling’s header came back off a post, with Baynes unable to get direction in the rebound.
Bungay’s best spell came after the interval. Within a minute of the restart Brannan Solomon saw his low shot hit the post after Baynes’ pass found him, and soon afterwards a bouncing ball in the Harling area caused their defence problems, but James’ final header was cleared off the line.
The goal their pressure deserved came in the 53rd minute as Jack Tipple’s long throw was headed and James hooked a fierce volley into the roof of the net for his second goal of the season.
More good football saw Solomon test the keeper again, and at that stage an equaliser looked on the cards, but a third goal from Harling in the 59th minute, against the run of play, proved to be the clincher. Olly Tarst broke free to bang the ball past Bligh.
It gave the home side the chance to settle again, and Bligh had to make two more fine blocking saves as they opened the Black Dogs’ defence. Bungay were still in it, and the impressive Ole Alexander found James in space only for the home keeper to make a fine save to turn his effort away.
Supporters sensed Bungay’s chance had gone, though James did have the ball in the net in the last minute, but was booked for a foul on the keeper.
Team: J Bligh, O Alexander, J Tipple, J Goodchild (M Pywell), K Caley, T Baynes, B Solomon, C Ling (J Wightman), B Wilson, M James, R Crowson.
 

Scorers: Jordan Tubby and Tyrone Baynes

THE Black Dogs gave a good account of themselves against premier division Bradenham, but still went out of the Mummery Cup on Saturday.
They had chances to run their opponents closer, but they were a physically stronger side, while Bungay had five teenagers lined up against them in a game affected by a blustery wind.
But it was the home side who had the first chance, in the first minute, as Brannan Solomon put Mike Pywell clear, but his dink over the keeper was cleared by a defender. Bradenham also went close in the next minute, but two players got in each other’s way when only a tap in was needed and the ball was cleared.
However, only eight minutes had gone when the visitors took the lead as the ball was played in to the six-yard area for Mike Allibone to bang home. Two minutes later Solomon’s intended back pass was intercepted and turned into the path of the unmarked Allibone to get a second.
Bungay kept their heads up and the keeper made a fine save from Pywell as the expense of a corner in the 14 minute., A minute later Bungay pulled one back as a ball was cleared to Jordan Tubby 25 yards out, and his shot took a deflection and looped over the keeper into the top corner.
Black Dogs keeper Harvey Harris made a good block to keep out another Bradenham effort before Solomon broke clear for Bungay, but took the ball too close to the keeper, who blocked his shot.
The visitors went 3-1 up in the 30th minute as Sam Snowling turned in a cross from the right, and before half-time Harris has to make two more good saves to prevent them going further ahead.
But in the 52nd minute it was 4-1 as a speculative shot from Joel Brien seemed to bounce over Harris’s dive. But it was soon 4-2 as Solomon’s floated cross to the far post was mishandled by the keeper and Tyrone Baynes knocked in the loose ball.
Again Bradenham retaliated quickly as Harris hesitated coming for a 50-50 ball over the top and Allibone took the chance to complete his hat-trick.
The Bungay keeper made another good blocking save soon after, but Bungay had opportunities. Keith Caley fired a 25-yard shot narrowly over the top, and substitute Marcus Strak crossed for Tubby’s stooping header to be blocked by the keeper, before Strak himself got in a fine shot on the turn to bring a flying save from the keeper with two minutes to go.
Team: H Harris, O Alexander, K Good, J Tipple, K Caley, J Wightman (B Wilson), B Solomon, C Ling, T Baynes, J Tubby, M Pywell (M Strak).
 

THE Black Dogs’ interest in the Suffolk Senior Cup ended at the first hurdle on Saturday – but they can be pleased with their performance against a side two steps higher up the football ladder.
They held them for 34 minutes, but two goals in two minutes put Framlingham in charge, and Bungay’s lack of punch up front was again highlighted.
The side had much better shape, with new signings Jack Tipple and Harry Lord coming into the back four to add some solidity, and put together some good moves, too often ended by the offside flag.
Early on a long free kick from Lord floated wide, and when the visitors attacked Lewis Riches got down well to turn away a shot form the edge of the area. Matt James tested the visiting keeper with a powerful drive, before a cross form Tyrone Baynes travelled across the six-yard box with no one able to get a touch.
The young Framlingham side looked good going forward and Tipple had to make two interceptions to thwart them, before Bungay carved out a good chance in the 19th minute. James got away down the right, and when James Wightman’s shot was half cleared Jordan Tubby fired wide from 15 yards.
As in their previous game, two goals in two minutes from their opponents rocked them back. I the 34th minute Max Willett scored from a narrow angle, and two minutes later Danny Smith found space in the area to volley beyond Riches.
The Framlingham keeper took an effort from Keith Caley comfortably, and when James did finally beat the offside trap he was thwarted by the keeper.
The second half was evenly contested with both sides having efforts narrowly off target. But Riches had to make two fine save in one Framlingham attack. First he dived to turn away a low cross, and when the ball was played back in he miraculously got across to palm away a close range shot when it seemed the visitors must score.
Substitute Mike Pywell got away down the left in the 80th minute as Bungay applied a spell of pressure but the keeper was equal to his effort, They went closer soon after as a cross came back off the bar and Ole Alexander’s diving header from the rebound was also blocked by the keeper.
But Framlingham got a third on the break in the 88th minute as they stretched the defence, allowing Lewis Dyer to convert. A third flattered them.
Team: L Riches, O Alexander, H Lord, J Tipple, K Caley, J Wightman (L Good), B Solomon, C Ling, T Baynes (B Wilson), J Tubby, M James (M Pywell). 

NEW manager Jason Cook got a good idea of the task ahead as he watched his side concede half a dozen goals at Wymondham in this Anglian Combination division one encounter on Saturday.
But afterwards he was confident that he could turn things around, and is working on recruiting new players of the quality and experience needed.
Cook, who has managed Diss Town, Grundisburgh and Haughley in the recent past, said: “We have put seven days in for quite a few players we want to bring to Bungay, and I’m hopeful we will have two or three more before next Saturday. Training is going well and we had 30 players there on Wednesday. This season we want to have no worries about staying up.”
For 35 minutes the Black Dogs held their table-topping opponents – then two goals in two minutes set them back. Wymondham broke quickly from a Bungay attack and Jamie George got clear on the right to beat Lewis Riches, back with the club, as he advanced. Two minutes later Lewis Good, attempting to clear a difficult cross, saw it loop off his shin into the top corner with Riches stranded.
Paul Cook made it 3-0 in the 50th minute after an attack down the left. For Bungay Tyrone Baynes flicked a speculative effort off target, but Wymondham did most of the pressing and Riches made a fine save to keep out one effort before Brad Rivett made it 4-0 in the 71st minute from a left-wing cross.
In a short spell Matt James put a header wide for Bungay, and then was put clear only for the keep to beat the ball away as he fought to control it on the bumpy, dry pitch. He had another shot blocked soon after.
But Wymondham were soon back on the attack and made it 5-0 in the 78th minute through George, before Bryn Mullen completed the scoring in the 86th minute.
Brannan Solomon put a long-range effort over the bar in the last minute, and it meant Bungay failed to score for the first time in 38 games.
Team: L Riches, O Alexander (T Miller), L Good, H Beales, J Wilson, O Sadler, B Solomon, C Ling, J Tubby, S Clarke (T Baynes), M James.

Scorers: Lewis Stebbings 2, Richard Went

THE Black Dogs’ depleted ranks gave another creditable account of themselves at Stalham on Saturday before going down in a high-scoring game.
In fact with both sides looking likely to score each time they attacked this game could easily have been a repeat of the record 7-7 draw the two side fought out in the embryonic Anglian Combination season of 1965-66.
Probably the difference was the home side’s final ball was more effective than Bungay’s, whose young players again worked hard before succumbing to a stronger and more experienced XI.
They started well, and took the lead in the ninth minute as Lewis Stebbings was sent clear and he finished well from an angle. Brannan Solomon tried his luck from distance but was off target, while Stalham went close with a header from a corner that drifted just wide.
But they took the lead with two goals in two minutes. In the 20th minute Jordan Tipple was found in space on the right and he drove in a powerful shot that went in off the near post. A minute later the Bungay defence was opened up again, and Pat Gainsford accepted an easy finished from eight yards.
Both defences looked vulnerable and the home keeper had to come out to thwart Mike Pywell as he got on the end of a through ball, and shortly after he just beat the lively Stebbings to the ball played through by James Wightman.
Stalham bounded a header over the bar in the 30th minute, but Bungay equalised in the 33rd minute as Stebbings again finished well from an angle from Pywell’s pass.
Lewis Good got in a great tackle to thwart Stalham when they looked certain to score, but the home side went ahead again in the 43d minute as Tom Crabb slid the ball past Harvey Harris.
Bungay had a let off in the first minute of the second half as a player completely missed the ball two yards out from an open goal, but Stalham made it 4-2 in the 60th minute as Tipple volleyed home from eight yards.
Stebbings had a sharp chance to complete his hat-trick when Ole Alexander’s strong cross found him but he was unable to control it. The Black Dogs did pull one back in the 66th minute as substitute Richard Went finished well after good work from Solomon. At this stage Bungay looked in with a chance of an unlikely point, and Pywell put an angled shot agonisingly wide of the far post. But Stalham’s 5th goal in the 71st minute clinched it, Ryan Beeson firing a shot on the turn just inside the post.
Team: H Harris, O Alexander, H Severn, L Henwood (T Baynes), J Wilson, J Wightman (R Went), L Good, B Solomon, O Sadler, M Pywell, L Stebbings.
 

Scorer: Brannan Solomon

THE Back Dogs lost for the fourth time in five Anglian Combination division one games as they went down to league leaders Attleborough on Saturday.
Once again they fielded an under strength side. Long servicing captain Shaun Whiteman is the latest to leave the club to try his luck with Halesworth, bringing to ten the number of last season’s first team squad to leave. In addition record appearance maker Craig Hunting has retired.
Those players are going to be difficult to replace with others of the same quality, and on Saturday the replacements worked hard and at times played some good football, but were usually second best to the experienced visitors. In the circumstances they put in a creditable performance.
Early on Harvey Harris made a good save from a well struck Attleborough shot, before Bungay new signing Olly Sadler put a header wide from a Thomas Daniels free-kick. Brannan Solomon tried his luck for Bungay following a corner, but it was off target. Harris made two more great blocking saves within three minutes to prevent the visitors going ahead.
Eventually Attleborough scored twice in five minutes to stamp their authority on the game. In the 30th minute Olly Ramsbottom banged the loose ball in following a corner, and then made it 2-0 as a move opened up the Bungay defence for him to take the ball round Harris to score. Soon after a cross from the right came back off a post with Harris stranded.
In the first minute of the second half Attleborough sent a shot narrowly wide, before they had a player sent to the sin-bin for dissent. Ben Wilson worked a shooting chance for himself but put it straight at the keeper, before he put Jordan Tubby away. He was unlucky to see his effort over the keeper hit the bar.
It was soon 3-0 though as a mishit volley from Steve Wright still managed to bounce into the far corner of the net.
To their credit the Black Dogs did not let their heads drop, and were rewarded in the last minute as Mike Pywell put Solomon in on the left and he coolly slotted past the advancing keeper for his third goal of the season.
Team: H Harris, L Stebbings (S Campbell), H Severn, L Good, T Daniels, J Wightman, B Solomon, B Wilson, O Sadler J Tubby, M Pywell.
 

Scorers: Jordan Tubby, Brannan Solomon

THE BLACK Dogs fell to a disappointing defeat in the heat at the Maltings Meadow on Saturday as visitors Thetford Rovers showed how chances should be taken.
They deserved the points but the score flattered them, Bungay ruing the chances that came and went for them. Once again they were well below full strength, with manager Lee Henwood playing himself in the centre of defence, but they do need a proven scorer.
Darrell Wigger got in the first shot of the game from Ben Wilson’s pass but it was off target. Then Brannan Solomon played Wigger in but he miscued the good opportunity.
There was a better chance for the home side in the 20th minute as Wigger was again played in on the right, but he blazed his shot high and wide. Thetford put a long range effort wide, but at this stage Bungay looked the more likely to score, and another chance went begging in the 24th minute, this time Jordan Tubby putting his shot wide when well placed.
Rovers made them pay for the misses with two goals in five minutes. They were the quickest back in focus after a drinks break, Rocky Holt being put clear to finish well past the advancing Harvey Harris. Then, in the 31st, minute, it was 2-0 as Steve Davies was allowed to control the ball in a crowded area and fire past the keeper.
Thomas Daniels cleared another Thetford shot off the line and Harris made a fine save to thwart the visitors again as the home defence was exposed. But Bungay reduced the arrears in the 38th minute as Wigger frees Daniels down the left and when his low cross was partially cleared Tubby banged the loose ball home.
Bradon Nurse had a sharp chance to equalise following a free-kick but mishit his shot, and Thetford scored twice more before the interval to put them well in command. In the 41st minute Paulo Martins drilled the ball home form 25 yards, and in added time Holt converted a penalty after he was fouled in the box.
Matt James, Spencer Cawcutt and Jake Wilson replaced Lewis Stebbings, Wigger and Henwood at the start of the second half and in the first minute James’ free-kick was headed away from the waiting Cawcutt in the nick of time. Then the keeper grabbed the ball from Cawcutt’s feet as Bungay threatened again. In the 57th minute Cawcutt set up James for a good chance but he skied his shot, then saw the keeper block him as he went to stab the ball past him. From the corner Ben Wilson took the ball round the keeper but his finish was too weak and allowed a defender to get back to clear off the line.
But in the 65 minute the Black Dogs put themselves in with a chance as the ball came to Solomon 25 yards out and he controlled it to drill a low shot beyond the keeper’s dive. Hope was short-lived, however, as Rovers got a fifth two minutes later as Taylor Vickers curled a free-kick into the far top corner from out on the left. Vickers was later sent off for a second bookable offence.
Team: H Harris, O Alexander, H Severn, L Henwood (J Wilson), T Daniels, B Curtis, B Solomon, D Wigger (M James), B Wilson, J Tubby, L Stebbings (S Cawcutt).
 

Scorer: Matty James

THE Black Dogs got a point on the board at the third attempt as a late Matty James equaliser gave them a 1-1 draw in their first home game of the season on Tuesday evening.
It was a result they just about deserved against a strong Yelverton side who had made a good start to the season in the Anglian Combination division one. The visitors were usually more dangerous going forward, but with Shaun Whiteman back to partner Harry Severn at the back the defence weathered their attacks and in the second half Bungay gradually got a foothold in the game and looked more threatening.
Early on Tom Daniels got across well to cut out the danger from the visitors at the expense of a corner and they also put a header over the bar as they pushed forward.
For Bungay Ash Canham got in a shot on the turn but it did not carry enough power, and Yelverton took the lead in the 17th minute. Bungay failed to clear a ball in the area decisively and Harvey Kerrigan banged the ball home from 12 yards. The same player went close again soon afterwards, but somehow the home defence scrambled the ball away.
Before the interval Bungay had a chance as Darrell Wigger found Canham down the left and his cross across the six-yard box ran across goal with no one getting a touch.
James replaced Lewis Stebbings at the start of the second half, and Whiteman put a header narrowly wide early on. Home keeper Harvey Harrison, the third to take the jersey in the first three games, made two fine saves at Yelverton continued to threaten. But Bungay began to threaten more, and Canham brought a flying save from the keeper with a well struck shot from 20 yards.
Yelverton were reduced to 10 men as a player was sent to the sin-bin, but they almost scored again with a long range shot that just cleared the bar.
But Bungay had the better of the last 15 minutes, and with two minutes left James bravely went for a ball with the keeper and bundled it into the net. Four minutes into added time they almost snatched a winner, but James was judged to have fouled the keeper as both went for the ball again.
Team: H Harrison, O Alexander, H Severn, S Whiteman, T Daniels, J Wightman (B Nurse), B Solomon, D Wigger, J Tubby (M James), A Canham, L Stebbings (J Tubby).
 

Scorers: Jordan Tubby and Brannan Solomon (pen)

THE Bungay “Babes” battled well at Watton on Saturday before succumbing to three second half goals to send them home empty-handed.
With six U18s in the side they led 2-1 at the interval, but after that their lack of training was exposed, as well as naivity in defence. Unavailability of senior players meant the Black Dogs travelled with a makeshift side, but despite defeat the youngsters showed their potential.
In fact Bungay took the lead after just five minutes when Lewis Good played Jordan Tubby in and he finished well past the advancing keeper.
Watton were level seven minutes later as Matty Blackwood’s speed saws him break clear on the right and he also finished well past keeper Matty Bone. But Bungay were the better side in the first half, and after Good had brought a fine save from the home keeper they regained the lead in the 19th minute. Tubby was brought down inside the box and stand-in captain Brannan Solomon converted the spot kick.
Soon after Solomon had a shot deflected for a corner and from the flag kick James Wightman had a drive cleared off the line.
Before the interval Harry Severn made a great tackled to thwart a Watton equaliser, and at the other end Tubby had a chance but delayed his shot and was crowded out.
Early in the second half Bone made a great save on the line when it looked easier for Watton to score, but they did equalise in unfortunate circumstances in the 58th minute. Bone played the ball out to Tommy Miller who in attempting to play it back to him, put it into his own net.
The home side were in the ascendancy after that and Ole Alexander cleared an effort off the line. Severn also made a goal-line clearance with Bone beaten. Bone made a flying save to keep out a Blackwood effort, but James Beaumont finally put the home side ahead for the first time in the 70th minute as the Bungay defence was exposed. With 12 minutes left they got the clincher, Blackwood accepting an easy chance.
Team: M Bone, O Alexander, H Severn, T Miller, B Wilson, L Good, B Nurse (S Campbell), B Solomon, J Tubby (P Hudson), L Stebbings, J Wightman.
# Braidon Nurse made a little bit of club history when he became the 1000th player to pull on a Bungay short in its 94-year history. Before the game 997 players had turned out, and with four making their debuts at the start on Saturday, he was the third alphabetically, to take the honour. The other three who could possibly claim the honour were keeper Matty Bone, Jordan Tubby and Tommy Miller.