Saturday 10^th November 2007

BLOATERS 2, GODMANCHESTER ROVERS 1

Manager Nick Banham retained the same side that lost to Thetford in midweek; Godmanchester included former Bloaters centre-back Seb Cameron at right back.

Before the game, a minute's silence was observed in remembrance of supporter Jimmy Stubbs who passed away earlier in the week. With rain falling and the floodlights on from the start, the visitors kicked off in front of a sparse crowd and immediately had a shot charged down on the edge of Elliott Pride’s area but a free kick to Yarmouth relieved the situation. Another free kick went to the Bloaters after a foul on Jordan Buckenham in the centre circle but the early minutes were largely played out in the home half.

Yarmouth broke away after seven minutes through Mark Thompson who then passed to Danny Crane who jinked into the area for the first direct shot of the game but ‘keeper Ryan Hunt took it well. Pride then got down well to hang on to a ball made greasy by the conditions.

When Thompson again forced his way forward, he was stopped illegally 25 yards out. Taking the free kick himself, his shot was deflected for a corner; the busy Thompson then took the corner kick but Hunt was there again to push clear.

Players of both sides were having difficulty turning on the slick surface and many spent time on their backsides while tackles became of the (unintentional) sliding variety. Toby Gorbould cleared a potentially dangerous situation with a grand tackle, and when Liam Bartley advanced with the ball his cross to the far post was taken by Hunt with no Yarmouth player in a position to challenge.

Next shot came after 25 minutes as Thompson took advantage of a Godmanchester slip but the ‘keeper got down to gather. Three minutes later, there was action at the other end as Pride went for a free kick amongst a crowd of players and missed it; the ball went out for a throw which Will Lewis cleared comfortably.

Pride then saved well from Lee Boon at the expense of a corner in the 32^nd minute. A promising Yarmouth attack was initiated by Thompson with several players in advanced positions but offside against Buckenham halted the move. Yarmouth soon attacked again in numbers but could not create a shot.

Godmanchester went ahead after 39 minutes through Stephen Thompson who thumped home the loose ball after Pride had parried a shot. The same player then shot narrowly wide after the ball broke to him from midfield. Seb Cameron, who had been policing Bartley again cut out a ball intended for Yarmouth’s young striker.

HT 0-1

Three minutes into the second half, Dominic Smith fired wide of the back post but Yarmouth equalised seven minutes later. Man of the Match Mark Thompson received a lovely through ball from Gorbould beating the offside trap and, cutting inside, he turned and guided a left-foot shot past Hunt. He had promised a goal before the game – and he delivered!

Mario Davids replaced Smith. A long ball saw Bartley escape the attentions of Cameron but Hunt was first to it. Then a Lewis clearance rebounded off a Godmanchester player into Pride’s arms. Gorbould cleared off the line as the visitors pressed and in a crazy five minutes won numerous corners as Yarmouth clearances were returned with monotonous regularity as all seemed to find a defender’s leg on the way through.

When the Bloaters finally got away into the opposition half, Bartley’s header looked destined for the net but Hunt collected on the line. However, Yarmouth moved ahead after 82 minutes to complete the second half comeback. Crane and Bartley saw efforts blocked, Thompson then shot and Buckenham finished off past Hunt for his second goal of the week.

Godmanchester, who had inflicted Debenham LC’s first defeat last Saturday, attacked with renewed vigour and again won corners as Yarmouth brought on Tommy Gardiner and then Jordan Hardy in an attempt to close out the game in the remaining minutes. Hardy had a late chance to seal up the game but, taking a return pass from Davids, could only shoot over on the angle as a defender desperately tried to put him off.

Yarmouth - Elliott Pride, Johnathan Watt, Will Lewis, Jody Harrison (c), Toby Gorbould, Nathan Drake, Dominic Smith (Mario Davids 60), Jordan Buckenham (Jordan Hardy 87), Liam Bartley (Tommy Gardiner 85), Danny Crane, Mark Thompson.

Referee - Jon Mitchell (Ipswich)

Attendance - 45

Tuesday 6th November 2007 

Great Yarmouth Town 3, Thetford Town 4

Ridgeons Division One Knockout Cup, Preliminary Round

A rip-roaring game played out before new chairman Steve Brierley saw Yarmouth score three times, a positive flood of goals for the Bloaters supporters, but unfortunately Thetford had already notched up four of their own to go through to the next round.

The visitors scored all their goals within the first 25 minutes as they ran riot through a hesitant Yarmouth defence. Karl Pask opened the floodgates in the 12^th minute then followed that with two more in the 19^th and 25^th minutes to complete a remarkably swift hat-trick. In-between, Andrew Cusack  had scored the second goal after 17 minutes. The pace of the Thetford midfield and strikers allowed them to break through at will and Elliott Pride was left cruelly exposed on at least two occasions when the visitors just walked the ball into the net.

However, as has been remarked before, Yarmouth is not a team of quitters and with patient application they began to get back into the game. Liam Bartley broke his barren first team spell with the first of Yarmouth’s three after 36 minutes, and right on the interval Jordan Buckenham finished for 2-4, his first for the Bloaters, after great play by Danny Crane and Bartley created the opening.

Nick Banham’s half-time team talk was made a lot easier by those strikes, and Yarmouth scored again after 63 minutes when Crane fired a fierce low shot past Lee Hulyer from the edge of the box; this was a well-deserved first goal for the lanky striker who earlier saw other good efforts unrewarded. Thetford now had the jitters and several fouls on Yarmouth players went by before the referee’s book came out for a foul on Pride after he and Thetford substitute Kyle Parish had clashed. Mark Thompson was particularly picked out for treatment but he kept going with typical enthusiasm and commitment.

So, not a win for new chairman Steve Brierley to celebrate but he must have been impressed with the way the team fought back after all seemed utterly lost. A special mention for youngster Damon Wise who went on for his senior debut in the last ten minutes.

Yarmouth - Elliott Pride, Johnathan Watt (Jordan Hardy 75), Will Lewis (Tommy Gardiner 86), Jody Harrison (c), Toby Gorbould, Nathan Drake, Dominic Smith (Damon Wise 81), Jordan Buckenham, Liam Bartley, Danny Crane, Mark Thompson.

Referee - J Gibbons (Colchester)

Attendance - 35

Saturday 3^rd November 2007

CORNARD UNITED 1, BLOATERS 1

Jordan Buckenham, back from holiday, took up a midfield spot alongside Nathan Drake, Mark Thompson returned on the left and Nick Banham was in goal in place of Elliott Pride who was on Reserves duty.

Offside halted the first two Cornard attacks and when Yarmouth got forward Drake tried an ambitious shot from 30 yards. Crane then fired high and wide after a midfield free kick.

Buckenham showed some neat touches but Watt produced an inventive back-heel to prevent a shot though he conceded the game’s first corner after nine minutes. Long passes from Toby Gorbould, then Drake, were chased by first Mario Davids then Liam Bartley but the game’s first shot on target came from Thompson in the 14^th minute after good work by Will Lewis and Davids who crossed. Thompson got in another shot four minutes later after a Danny Crane knock-on but this was charged down.

As the Bloaters continued on the offensive, a long shot from Watt was collected by Athey before Crane was denied by the ‘keeper’s take under the bar. The visiting defence were playing a high line and with the home strikers seemingly unable to stay onside Banham was left collecting crosses, hopeful punts forward and the occasional corner with ease.

The home side made an early substitution, Corder replacing Campbell, but Yarmouth continued to impress with Thompson and Davids lively on the flanks.

Thompson and Bartley combined well only for Bartley’s attempt to be snuffed out by the post; then Bartley was felled on the edge of the area and Drake’s free kick went to Davids on the right but he could not retain possession.

A rare Cornard attempt landed on the roof of the net before Yarmouth finally took the lead in the 45^th minute. Thompson and Crane attacked on the left and a return ball to Thompson just on the edge of the home area saw the leading scorer crack a low shot to the far corner of the net.

HT 0-1

The second half saw a much more determined Cornard and their first attack saw a shot from Whybrow, who looked offside, whistle past the post. Yarmouth replied with another Drake free kick but Thompson made a hash of it. A shot from Davids and a Thompson free kick kept the home defence on its toes.

Davids came in for some harsh treatment and the referee eventually booked Joseph. Another Davids run on the right caused panic in the home area and a hasty clearance ensued.

A low swerving Bartley shot went very close after 61 minutes; then Banham was finally forced into a save – with his feet. A header from Bacon next demanded Banham’s attention and as the home pressure continued Banham missed a catch then caught Alani’s shot.

Cornard now attacked relentlessly and equalised in the 67^th minute when Alani’s shot went in under the bar with Banham’s valiant attempt to keep it out all in vain.

Cornard continued to press with a free kick on the edge of the area that was deflected for a corner; from this, Alani’s shot was missed by Banham but Thompson was on hand to clear.

Watt was then taken off with blistered feet, with Jordan Hardy substituting, and a few minutes later Buckenham, tiring after a lively display, was replaced by Dominic Smith.

Despite their poor run of late, Yarmouth were showing great spirit but another Bartley attack ran out of steam after a great pass by Smith.

Smith and Davids then combined and the latter’s low shot was heading for the corner of the goal but was somehow touched round the post by Athey. Both teams won corners as the game entered added time but a share of the spoils was scant reward for an enterprising display by the Bloaters against the second-bottom team.

Yarmouth – Nick Banham, Johnathan Watt (Jordan Hardy 75), Will Lewis, Jody Harrison (c), Toby Gorbould, Nathan Drake, Mario Davids, Jordan Buckenham (Dominic Smith 82), Liam Bartley, Danny Crane, Mark Thompson. Unused sub: Tommy Gardiner

Referee – P Ward (Colchester)

Attendance - 52