Swifts left shell-shocked after shipping eight goals at home (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Swifts left shell-shocked after shipping eight goals at home

10:29pm Saturday 1st December 2012 in Local Sport By Matt Plummer

HEYBRIDGE Swifts were left in shock this afternoon after crashing to an 8-2 defeat at home to Soham Town Rangers.

Mark Hawkes' side had started the day second in Ryman One North but saw their promotion hopes suffer a major blow after conceding five goals in ten minutes, during an extraordinary first half at Scraley Road.

Soham had taken the lead on eight minutes but Swifts were soon on level terms when Ben Newson bundled home a cross from Danny Barber.

However, the visitors had a field day in the latter stages of the opening period, scoring five goals without reply to build a 6-1 lead.

Heybridge had little to lose after the break and scored again thanks to a well-taken goal from Solomon Ofori.

But that simply spurred the visitors into life again and they scored twice more to put the gloss on an extraordinary victory.

Swifts are now fourth, having been leapfrogged by both Aveley and Grays Athletic.