Yarmouth set off into the warm sunshine and had three chances in the opening few minutes but Jacob Short shot over the bar, Mark Thompson had his effort blocked and Liam Bartley’s shot was saved by ‘keeper Matthew Sayer.

Fakenham, without a point so far and having shipped 17 goals in their four league games (plus the twelve in the FA Cup at Dereham) were first to win a corner in the fifth minute and young Yarmouth full back Adam Sewell was in the right place to head off the line. Moments later Fakenham had another chance but Nick Banham saved the header from Daniel Gates cross.

Back on the attack, Yarmouth saw Bartley’s angled shot go over, then Thompson beat two men on the byeline but his cross was met by Chris Owen with no tangible outcome for the Bloaters. For all these efforts, the game seemed somewhat laboured in the unaccustomed heat and play was generally lackadaisical, Bartley’s runs excepted.

Jordan Hardy, Short and Thompson combined well in the 13^th minute only to win a throw-in. On the quarter-hour, Yarmouth mounted a relatively sustained attack on the Fakenham penalty area but the final outcome was an off-balance shot by Short that caused no problem for Sayer, who then did well to claim the ball from Thompson’s head as they both went up in the visitors’ area.

A shot from Joseph Wilkes that narrowly missed Banham’s far post was all Fakenham could muster in reply in the 16^th minute. Johnathan Watt then completely missed his kick at a Bartley pass in front of the Fakenham area but the Bloaters won their first corner after 18 minutes with Thompson’s kick being headed away by Jamie Broady.

Banham raced out of his area to kick away a through ball just before Fakenham subbed Troy Leeder for Luke Goss after 19 minutes. Yarmouth then won a second corner and Thompson’s kick rebounded off two heads in the area and when it fell for Short he lifted his attempt over the bar.

Leeder should have scored in the 27^th minute after a bad pass left him in possession in midfield but having taken the ball through the Fakenham substitute saw the advancing Banham block the shot on the edge of the area. Sayer was the forced out of his goal by Short’s advance after receiving from Bartley and the ball was put out for a throw by the ‘keeper.

Bartley steered a shot wide after 33 minutes, then Wilkes was the next to miss as Fakenham began to see more of the ball. Yet another Yarmouth corner kick went unconverted in the 37^th minute, but the Bloaters went close after 41 when  Sayer saved a Bartley shot at the second attempt with Short just not quick enough to collect the momentary spill by the ‘keeper.

In the next minute, Banham saved his side by diverting a low shot round the post for a corner which was soon followed by three more, which took the game to half time

HT 0-0.

Yarmouth would need to sharpen up their finishing in the second half as in the first 45 they had not had one convincing direct shot at Sayer. In the first ten minutes, Yarmouth had at least three openings but failed to convert. Firstly, Bartley and Short combined with the former taking the return out to near the corner flag from where he sent in a lovely flighted cross to the far post but this was missed by attackers and defenders alike; then, another Thompson corner to the near post was headed away without serious challenge, and finally from a Hardy free kick Short had two attempts to score, Sayer half-saving the first and the striker putting the second wide of the open goal.

Adam Sewell came up to support the attack and blasted one effort wide after a return ball from Bartley in the Fakenham area on the hour, and staying up he then miskicked an intended cross which sailed over the bar. Damian Didwell was put on in the 62nd minute in an effort to perk things up but it was Sewell who again caught the eye with three crosses, then a long throw which was gobbled up by Sayer with no Yarmouth player seeming to have an appetite for it.

Didwell, who was injecting a bit of urgency into Yarmouth, and Owen worked the ball to the byeline but the cross to Bartley was met by yet another weak shot and there was another chance gone. A 74^th minute corner finally found a Yarmouth head but Toby Gorbould’s effort was saved by the diving Sayer who was having a busy afternoon. Yarmouth then brought on Daniel Barnes for Olly Harrison in another attempt to pep the home attack but it was Short who came closest of anybody to scoring all afternoon when he put a shot against the bar in the 77^th minute.

Fakenham players were now going down for physio attention frequently, and the pauses at least allowed players of both sides to take on some water as the hot conditions took their toll. Fakenham then mounted two attacks of note, Kevin Clipston and Steven Hill shooting but not causing Banham to overexert himself.

A long ball from Hardy found Short who shot wide in the 87^th minute, and two minutes later Owen did likewise. The last notable action of the game saw Short booked for allegedly bringing down Hill out on the Fakenham left. Shortly after, the referee brought a tedious game to a welcome close but with Yarmouth’s players and supporters wondering how they failed to win this match given all their possession and chances.

Yarmouth – Nick Banham, Adam Sewell, Jordan Hardy, Toby Gorbould, Will Lewis, Chris Owen, Olly Harrison (Daniel Barnes 75), Johnathan Watt, Liam Bartley, Jacob Short, Mark Thompson (Damian Didwell 62). Unused sub: Paul Gartland

Referee – N Jacques (Gorleston)

Att - 69