Kirkley & Pakefield Reserves 2, Bungay Town 0THE Black Dogs struggled to find their form in this vital six-pointer top-of-the-table clash at Kirkley on Saturday and were beaten by two first-half goals.

Kirkley & Pakefield Reserves 2, Bungay Town 0

THE Black Dogs struggled to find their form in this vital six-pointer top-of-the-table clash at Kirkley on Saturday and were beaten by two first-half goals.

Bungay's play was disjointed for much of the game with too many passes going astray, and on the day they were beaten by the better side who thus maintained top spot in the Anglian Combination Division One, and kept Bungay in third, writes Terry Reeve.

With second-placed St Andrews also winning, it was a bad day all round for the Maltings Meadow outfit. But it was their first defeat of 2009 after a great run of six wins and a draw, and they should not lose heart in the promotion run-in

Keeper Nathan Einecker played despite injuring a knee in midweek. But for his efforts and the woodwork, the result could have been more emphatic for Kirkley.

As early at the seventh minute Bungay had a let-off when a header from a corner was headed off the line by Danny Wilby. And the same player was in the same position four minutes later to save his side from another goal-bound header.

A good ball from Tom Amis saw Rory French and Joe McFarlane racing through, but the keeper just beat them to it.

It was no surprise when the home side took the lead in the 22nd minute. A swift attack down the right started by Matt Taunton saw him in the right place in the six-yard box to stab the ball into an empty net when another shot was blocked.

Einecker dived to cut out another low drive, and Bungay created their best chance soon after. Amis found McFarlane racing down the right, and when he cut the ball back French mishit his shot from a great position.

Lee Henwood blocked a shot when Kirkley seemed likely to score again and Einecker made two more fine saves to keep the swift home attack at bay.

But he could do nothing about a shot from the edge of the area which flew into the corner of the net after another good build-up to make it 2-0.

The keeper was in action again early in the second half, with a reflex save with his knee from a close range header, but Bungay were more in the game and Ainsley Baynes, on as a substitute, was unlucky to see a header from a corner just clear the bar.

In the closing stages, with the visitors rarely able to create clear-cut opportunities, Kirkley twice struck the woodwork.

Team: N Einecker, M Harvey (A Baynes), C Hunting, L Henwood, D Lowe, J McFarlane, N Renaut, A Solley, D Wilby (L Field), T Amis, R French.

Tomorrow, Bungay entertain Wells Town (2.30pm ko).