Friend hits three for March and Cowie nets debut goal as Swaffham brushed aside

Swaffham Town 1, March Town 4

Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Premier Division

In all truthfulness, March were not at their best today, but a hat-trick from the prolific Jack Friend was enough for them to breeze past the division's bottom side.

And breeze was the operative word as a heavy wind, combined with a poor surface, meant the Hares were unable to play good football against the battling Pedlars.

But Ashley Taylor's men did enough to win at a canter, with 16-year-old new signing Luis Cowie marking an impressive substitute cameo by scoring with his first touch.

In front of a good contingent of travelling fans, the Hares opened the scoring in just the fourth minute, when left back Jamie Allsop whipped in a low cross and Friend nipped in to poke it past the waiting keeper.

There were no more real chances until the visitors made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time, the windy conditions putting paid to good football. But right on the break, a defence splitting ball by Sam Green put away Friend and he slotted past Pedlars keeper Phillips with ease.

The home side had their best spell at the start of the second half, Brad Yates forcing a good save from March custodian Charlie Congreve in the 53rd minute and Blake Stangroome also being denied by the keeper 10 minutes later.

And the Pedlars got the goal their determination deserved after 68 minutes when a corner from Yates created chaos in the visiting defence and Callum Madigan turned the ball home on his debut.

There was no comeback for the home team, however, as March went straight down the other end and scored, keeer Phillips only managing to palm a fierce first time Friend volley into the net after a Ben Matthews cross.

It was four in the 76th minute as Craig Gillies saw a stinging effort saved, only for young Cowie to follow up and score with his first touch.

Friend nearly had his fourth two minutes from time, but sprung the offside trap, only to thump an effort against the post.

March Town (4-4-2, r-l): Congreve; Garner, Emmington, Miller, Allsop; Burrows (Gibson 75 mins), Green, McQuaid (Saunders 67), Matthews (Cowie 75); Gillies, Friend. Sub (not used): Brumby.

Swaffham Town: Phillips, Cupit, Smith, Karanikolas, Madigan, Malin, Blackford (McCarthy 66 mins), Williams, Stangroome, Yates, Jewell. Subs (not used): Fox, Weaver-Pope, Dimsey, Minister.

Star man: Jack Friend - scored three goals and never stopped running.

Attendance: 104.