KIRKLEY & PAKEFIELD 3 SOHAM TOWN RANGERS 1

A very strong wind was a massive factor at Walmer Road last Saturday when Kirkley & Pakefield's first team entertained league newcomers Soham Town Rangers.

The Royals welcomed back Lewis Flower into the starting line-up after suspension, with Kaiden Goldspink on the subs bench after a lengthy injury.

K&P had the advantage of the strong wind in the first half and took control with constant attacking.

Cameron Russell missed three glorious chances in a nine minute spell, but on 13 minutes a brilliant shot from 25 yards out on the right side by Alex Meeken flew into the top left corner of the goal to make it 1-0.

Russell then hit another good chance over before Lopez's header went wide.

But on 24 minutes Miguel Lopez struck the second goal with a powerful free-kick from 20 yards that gave the keeper no chance.

A rare Soham chance came on 33 minutes when poor defending presented Jordan Chipps with a good chance that he drilled wide.

A fine cross by George Barber two minutes later found Connor Swan who headed home for the third.

A fine first half performance from the Royals saw them lead 3-0, but with better finishing it could have been much greater.

The second half saw Soham with the wind advantage and they nearly reduced the arrears with a fine hit shot on 47 minutes striking the bar.

Blowers made a fine save before Soham’s Jordan Gent was shown the red card following an incident on 67 minutes which sent Lewis Flower to the ground with an apparent elbow in the face for which he received lengthy treatment.

Substitutions flowed from both teams, with 10-man Soham pulling a goal back on 76 minutes when Oliver Ward lobbed the advancing keeper.

Overall a well earned 3-1 win and three vital points to move them clearer of the bottom two.

K&P: A Blowers, A Meeken, H Creamer, B George (M Kirkby 82), K Underdown, L Flower, J Barbor, M Lopez, C Russell (D Conroy 75), C Swan (K Goldspink 75), G Barber (M Holt 82).

On Saturday Kirkley & Pakefield's first team visit second placed Harleston Town, 3pm kick off.

Coming up next Tuesday evening, January 17, at Walmer Road, K&P entertain Mulbarton Wanderers in the Thurlow Nunn Challenge Cup fourth round match, 7.45pm ko.

The Royals Reserves went down 5-2 at top of the table Gorleston Reserves last Saturday with Joshua Williams and Ryan Howes scoring for the ‘Royals’.

This coming Saturday they are at Walmer Road with Stalham Town the visitors, 1.30pm ko.

K&P U23s were at home on Saturday against top of the table Loddon United FC Reserves winning 4-3 to inflict Loddon's first league defeat of the season.

This coming weekend the U23s take on AFC Oulton at Dip Farm, 1.30pm ko.

The Thurlow Nunn U18s Youth section restarts next week with top of the table AFC Royals away at Bungay Town on Tuesday, 7.45pm ko.

K&PFC U18s, who are bottom of the table, play second bottom Beccles Town at Walmer Road on the Thursday evening, 7.45pm ko.