The 'second-best Swifts' were beaten by Gorleston FC in the FA Cup by 3-1, with Lee Noble shown a red card.

Swifts started with one change - Scott Kemp coming in for Rob Harvey who had been side-lined by the injury from the Ipswich Wanderers match.

Gorleston featured former Swift Jake Jessup in goal. Jessup made 15 appearances in the 2017/18 season.

The first half saw little goalmouth action for Jessup to deal with and the visitors had the best chances with Swifts keeper Callum Chafer called into action to save at least three goal-bound efforts - one he tipped past the post from close range, another he had to be alert to tip the ball over but the best was a save when the Gorleston attacker was found in space in the left hand side of the box and his first time shot looked goal-bound until Chafer made a miraculous save deflecting the ball wide for a corner.

Swifts were, however, to go in at the break a goal to the good - a pass from Ben Sartain/Sam Park (I'm not certain who exactly!) found its way to Kieran Jones and he controlled the ball before stroking the ball into the net (through the legs of the onrushing Jessup) from the edge of the box for his third goal in consecutive games.

Half Time: Heybridge Swifts 1 - Gorleston 0

Swifts' habit of conceding early after the break happened again - the ball wasn't cleared and a series of passes/missed tackles saw Swifts concede a penalty after 49 minutes with Johnson scoring comfortably from the spot.

Tyler Brampton picked up a yellow card after 52 minutes and three minutes later there was a double red-card - Deeks was shown his card first and after a brief discussion Lee Noble was also shown a red card.

Gorleston continued to play the better football and swift passing saw the ball played into Johnson who stroked the ball beyond Chafer into the far corner in the 74th minute.

Swifts made a double change within a minute - Sam Carter and Mikey Faulkner replacing Scott Kemp and Ben Sartain. With ten minutes remaining Swifts started putting some pressure onto the Gorleston defence and from one cross Sam Carter rose to head the ball towards the net - yet somehow Jessup managed to stretch out a hand to deflect the ball out for a corner.

We made our final change with Melos Ajvazi coming on for his debut for Rob Bagnall. Swifts were now needing to press forward in increasing numbers as the Match Referee indicated seven additional minutes. Ross Wall flashed a fiercely struck shot past the upright deep into injury time but Gorleston kept possession and Johnson danced through the Swifts defence in the 96th minute to secure the visitors the £2,250 prize money on offer and a date in the second Qualifying Round on Saturday 16 September (when ironically Gorleston were due to visit in the League).

Full Time: Heybridge Swifts 1 - Gorleston 3