Bungay Town suffer home defeat against Sprowston Athletic

A single goal midway through the second half was enough to send the Black Dogs to another Anglian Combination division one defeat on Saturday.

The visitors deserved the win.

Bungay did not manage a serious attempt on goal while home keeper Brandon Ling kept the margin of victory down with a series of fine saves.

The defence were generally sound, with Tommy Miller, standing in for the suspended James Wightman, having his best game in a Bungay shirt alongside the dependable Jackson Williams.

Ling’s first save came in only the second minute as he made a firm block to keep out a shot when a forward broke through.

Then Miller covered well to clear his lines following another raid.

Ling made a leaping save to turn over a well-struck free kick in the ninth minute and Jackson Williams cleared a corner with a firm header as Sprowston showed why they are serious challengers for promotion.

Charlie McAra chases a ball into the box during Saturday's game at Bungay. (Image: Shaun Cole)

Andre Martens volleyed a half chance over the bar from Connor Doddington’s cross in the 21st minute, and Charlie McAra got in a header but it was straight at the keeper and carried no power.

Bungay got to the interval still level and early in the second half won a free kick which came to nothing.

But Ling was soon in action again, making a great double save to keep out two goalbound shots in quick succession.

For Bungay, Thomas Daniels’ cross into the six-yard box found no takers, and Sprowston fired a strike wide.

But the visitors got what proved to be the winner in the 61st minute as Luke Priestley fired in a shot which was deflected past the stranded Ling.

Shortly after Tom Salmon put a golden chance wide when he should have doubled the visitors’ lead.

Two further Sprowston efforts went close, with Bungay’s raids sporadic.

Sammy Allen tried one shot from 20 yards which went narrowly over, but they rarely stretched the visitors’ defence, and Ling again came to Bungay’s rescue with another diving save from a header.

Deep into added time, on a day when Bungay’s discipline was much improved, Daniels was shown a red card after pushing the visitors' linesman.

Team: B Ling, T Daniels T Miller, J Williams, A Bray, K Brown, T Leuenberger (C Rudkin), S Allen, C Doddington, C McAra (O Alexander), A Martens (K Williams).

On Saturday Bungay are at home again, entertaining Easton (2.30pm).