Swaffham Town 6, Debenham LC 1

Paul Hunt believes his Swaffham Town side have a real chance of winning promotion this season – as long as they get a break.

Hunt has seen his side decimated by unavoidable absences – a look at their results is clear evidence of when the bad luck kicks in.

The Pedlars suffered followed a four-game winning run with a four-game losing run in September and since then have been unbeaten in three, winning the last two.

They thumped Debenham LC 6-1 at Shoemakers Lane on Saturday to move up to eighth in the Thurlow Nunn First Division table – a dozen points behind leaders Cambridge University Press, leaving Hunt to rue what might have been.

Town were without Lee Woolmore and Toby Hilliard, who were on county duty, striker Rory Harper, who had work commitments, the suspended Dean Miller – while Matt Parkinson left his sick bed to help out.

“It’s not our fault that we keep losing players and, yes, I think promotion is something we can aim for.

”If we can get our squad fit and playing there wouldn’t be anyone we would worry about in our league – and some in the league above as well.”

Debenham were perhaps more resilient than the scoreline suggests.

The deadlock was broken after just nine minutes, Jamie Buhlemann powering in to meet a perfectly weighted Alex Vincent corner with his head.

Vincent made it 2-0 in the 26th minute, Jack Redhead providing the through ball, a touch by the defender taking the pace out of the pass before Vincent clipped over the keeper.

Richard Cornwall headed home after a goalmouth scramble before the visitors pulled one back on the stroke of half-time.

Debenham started the second half strongly, but had the wind taken from their sails when Joe Jackson scored in the 54th minute.

Swaffham keeper Scott Cruickshank made a string of top-drawer saves as the visitors rallied, but Jackson bagged his second in the 69th minute.

Jackson collected another match ball with eight minutes to go, Redhead providing a great through ball.

The Pedlars are away to March Town on Saturday (kick off 3pm), while the Reserves host Costessy Sports at Shoemakers Lane.

Swaffham A are at Mulbarton Wanderers A in the Ben Smith Memorial Cup (both 2pm).

The Under 18s are in action on Thursday evening, hosting Newmarket Town (kick off 7.45pm).

Thetford Town lost 4-1 at Wisbech on Saturday.