Saturday 27^th October 2007

BLOATERS 0, LONG MELFORD 1

With the Bloaters line-up already agreed with the referee and opposition, it had to be changed when Will Lewis fell victim to a stomach bug just minutes from kick-off during the warm-up. With the consent of all concerned, Lewis was replaced by debutant Tommy Gardiner of the Under 18s, who had been amongst the subs, with Robbie Oldham - at the match in a spectator capacity while still recovering from his recent illness - volunteering for the vacant number 15 shirt.

There were also places for the recently re-signed Nathan Drake and Mario Davids, the Namibian replacing the unavailable Mark Thompson. Johnathan Watt was switched to left-back while Jordan Hardy was recalled to the right-back berth with Olly Harrison moving up to midfield where he was joined by Toby Gorbould.

In the early minutes, a typical 30-yard shot from Danny Crane went wide, and then Liam Bartley chased an Olly Harrison ball down the middle but visiting ‘keeper Floyd Croll won the contest. Carl Daw, sporting a distinctive reverse ‘Mohican’ hairstyle, replied with a long shot that skidded past a post. The first corner went to Melford after Jody Harrison cleared a menacing effort off the line after seven minutes.

Yarmouth turned defence into attack when an Olly Harrison throw near the half-way line to Bartley was worked inside to Davids who ran on with the ball but Croll made a timely interception. Elliott Pride leapt high to catch a Tony French cross and as play swept to the other end again, Yarmouth won their first corner in the 11^th minute.

Debut-making Tommy Gardiner had had a steady start but in conceding Melford’s second corner, he unwittingly brought about the opening goal in the 14^th minute. From play following the corner, French crossed and Daw’s first shot was parried by Pride before the centre-forward slotted home the loose ball.

A Bloaters’ equaliser looked on the cards a minute later but Croll dived bravely at Bartley’s feet to claim the ball. Yarmouth’s second corner, in the 17^th minute, then nearly brought them a goal as David’s place kick saw Bartley scrapping for the ball at the near post before Croll eventually saved while grounded.

Up to this stage, apart from the all-important goal all Melford had threatened with was a fierce shot from Paul Walker that did not trouble Pride, and although Yarmouth seemed intent on giving Melford chances with some careless passing “The Villagers” could not convert them. However, Gardiner could be excused any criticism in his first game at this level, and indeed had contributed some important clearances.

A 22^nd minute run by Davids on the left presented Crane with a chance but he shot over on the angle, and after Melford’s third corner another Crane shot caused Croll no anxiety. The visitors made an early substitution, bringing on Danny Brind for Dan Statham, and won another corner off Gardiner but Daw sent it straight into the side netting.

Yarmouth’s nearest chance of a goal so far came in the 39^th minute. Watt drove forward over the halfway line and on into the Melford box before crossing, with the ball diverting off Errol Durell’s head and almost finding the net but just going round the post for a corner. As play stayed around the visitor’s goal, another chance came almost immediately, as Croll dropped a Drake free kick but with no Yarmouth player near, or alert, enough the ‘keeper dropped on the ball at the far post.

There was an even better opening for the Bloaters in the 40^th minute. Davids and Crane combined on the left to create space for a cross in to the far post: Olly Harrison rushed into the area but also rushed his shot and with only the ‘keeper to beat sent a poor effort looping over the top. He must have wished the ground would open up and swallow him as he held his head in his hands.

Yarmouth attacks kept coming, and Crane might have won a penalty but the referee awarded only a goal kick. Another chance was set up by a Drake pass to Crane but a defender nipped in to concede another corner.

HT 0-1

Gardiner produced another great clearing header from a Liam Cawtheray cross as the second half opened. Melford were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Yarmouth area after 54 minutes but Pride was equal to it. Although they had not taken advantage of it, Melford were pursuing an adventurous attacking policy with four or five players getting forward when possible whereas the Bloaters were relying on Bartley and Crane with only occasional assistance from colleagues.

Then followed a curious incident when an assistant referee called play back for an infringement by Pride – it appeared the Yarmouth ‘keeper had carried the ball beyond the confines of his area. However, the free kick was blocked and the rebound put wide.

Watt demonstrated the determination that his side needed with some forceful runs from deep but his colleagues could not maintain the momentum and Croll was having such a quiet half he might as well have been in the bar! Drake was substituted by James Underhill in the 70^th minute having just been fouled by Ashley Skeggs who was cautioned.

Melford were presented with consecutive corners around the 74^th minute, from the first of which Pride made an excellent catch with the second being headed away by Crane back in his own area. Good work by Davids opened up a pass to Bartley who then retrieved a seemingly lost situation by winning a free kick on the left: a defender headed half-clear and Gorbould back-flicked to Crane who hooked the ball over his own head from the edge of the area but Croll took time out from his reveries to make the catch.

Robbie Oldham went on for the last ten minutes before Pride conceded another free kick for carrying the ball out of the penalty area with an identical result to the previous occasion. With three minutes remaining, striker Underhill was back in his own area heading a Skeggs cross over the bar, and as a second corner came over Pride clawed the ball away from the goal-line.

Hardy then brought the ball up and Davids continued the move but the resulting cross saw Croll collect unchallenged. An Underhill attack on the right saw Yarmouth win a corner as the game entered added time and as the kick came over Gardiner went down in the box but a second penalty appeal went the same way as the first. However, a free kick was given on the corner of the area but Bartley’s effort was headed away.

In the fifth minute of added time, amazingly Melford were given another chance as Pride yet again over-stepped the penalty area with the ball: this time the ball did get through the wall but Pride clutched the ball to redeem himself.

When the final whistle blew after a further two minutes, the home supporters were left wondering if their team would ever score again this season, let alone win a game.

Yarmouth – Elliott Pride, Johnathan Watt, Jordan Hardy, Jody Harrison (c), Tommy Gardiner, Nathan Drake (James Underhill 70), Olly Harrison, Toby Gorbould, Liam Bartley, Danny Crane (Robbie Oldham 80), Mario Davids.

Referee - Euan Goodman (Ipswich)

Attendance - 45

Saturday 13^th October 2007

BLOATERS 0, ELY CITY 0

For their lunchtime kick-off, Yarmouth welcomed Elliott Pride, in goal, back to the club while also including young midfielder Jordan Buckenham who signed from Gorleston in midweek. With Tommy Hurd injured and Dominic Smith on holiday, there were recalls for Johnathan Watt and fit-again Adam Sewell.

Ely kicked off into bright sunshine but Yarmouth set up the first attack through Danny Crane but offside halted further Bloaters’ progress. Mason headed over for Ely and as the lively opening continued, Buckenham played a good ball through to Liam Bartley, then Jody Harrison just got a toe in front of Ely’s Daniels to concede a first corner.

A second Ely corner, disappointingly for the Robins’ numerous supporters, ended behind the near post. Mason fired high over from twenty yards after seizing on his own ‘keeper’s clearance. Yarmouth retaliated with a good ball from Toby Gorbould to Sewell on the left: he made ground before passing to Bartley but the Ely defence snuffed out any possible opening.

Yarmouth won a first corner on twenty minutes and from Mark Thompson’s centre Sewell’s shot took a couple of deflections before going out for a goal kick. The Bloaters then had a narrow escape when Johnston picked up on the Ely right before passing to Mason in the area but his shot from a close position went wide.

Bartley just failed to reach a through ball as ‘keeper Pacey came for it, then Flitton moved forward to shoot wide for Ely. Thompson, Crane and Buckenham combined well on the left, winning a throw which led to a shot from Watt that did not trouble Pacey.

A long throw by Sewell on the Yarmouth right saw Pacey push away and when Thompson centred the Ely ‘keeper made his catch. Thompson was involved in two consecutive moves before a second Yarmouth corner led to three more in quick succession; from the final one Crane had what looked a clear opening but scuffed his shot and Pacey kept it out. Smith shot wide for Ely after a good save by Pride, and then Yarmouth produced some moments of pressure but could not create an opening.

HT 0-0

The second half opened with both ‘keepers making good saves before a remarkable sequence of events in the home area on 50 minutes could have led to an Ely goal but some desperate defending and a yellow card for Mason gave Yarmouth breathing space. The nearest to a goal so far came when Johnston crossed and an Ely forward shot against the post in the 55^th minute. Crane was booked when he looked more sinned against than sinner, and Pride went down at full stretch to save from Smith.

Ely brought on James but Yarmouth then broke and Thompson’s cross was cleared unceremoniously for another fruitless corner. Lewis delivered an inviting cross for Crane at the back post but, leaning back, his shot went over the top. Pride had evidently overstretched in making a clearance a few minutes earlier and was replaced after 66 minutes by regular custodian Nick Banham who was soon called into action to take a close-range effort from Alsop. Sub. James then hit wide of the open goal as Banham was stranded out of position on 71 minutes.

Further substitutes were introduced by both teams before Yarmouth looked to have taken the lead after 78 minutes but Bartley’s shot from Crane’s pass was clawed down at the last second by Pacey. Yarmouth had another chance four minutes later when after a spell of pressure Thompson’s corner kick was met by sub. Lee Perry but the shot was blocked and a panicky Ely defence were grateful to concede a throw.

With five minutes to go, another Thompson close-range effort was deflected away from the line with Bartley unable to collect the loose ball. Yarmouth’s last throw of the dice saw striker James Underhill replace midfielder Sewell with three minutes remaining. Chances kept coming for both teams and another incredible sequence in the Yarmouth area saw the home goal lead a charmed life until Banham finally got the ball away.

Bartley fired wide, then Ely put the ball wide from a corner conceded by a Lewis flying header, and as the game entered added time still the chances came with Banham making two saves in the dying seconds to preserve the Bloaters’ first clean sheet for six games and end the run of five successive defeats.

Yarmouth – Elliott Pride (Nick Banham, 66), Olly Harrison, Toby Gorbould (Lee Perry, 76), Jody Harrison (c), Will Lewis, Johnathan Watt, Adam Sewell (James Underhill, 87), Jordan Buckenham, Liam Bartley, Danny Crane, Mark Thompson. Unused sub: Jacob Short.

Ely – Lee Pacey, Russell Flitton (Ben Lawrence, 69), Jamie Alsop, Brady Stone, Tony Brown, David Smith (Mark Kirby, 65), Brett Claydon, Simon Warren (c), Robbie Mason, David Daniels (Lee James, 62), Mark Johnston.

Referee – Derren Haynes (Ipswich)

Attendance - 70