December 2007

Gt Yarmouth Town FC 2008-2009

December 2007

Saturday 29th December 2007

Bloaters 1, Whitton United 1

With weather conditions fine and the return of a Gt Yarmouth favourite to the fold all bode well for an enjoyable afternoon, writes Tom Campbell. The club earlier in the day had driven back and forth to secure the services and register in time Yarmouth old boy Stuart Roach and after some anxious moments were successful in acquiring his services.

Kevin and Ian had to make several changes for this fixture against Whitton Utd. With Hurd, Harrison and Buckenham missing and Daniel Crane getting married (congratulations by the way from everyone at the club) it was clear that they had their work cut out against a Whitton side that currently sit sixth in the divison.

The game for the first 10 mins was played at 100 mph with both sides going close. The first chance fell to the home side when some neat work down the left produced a chance for Crawley but he unfortunately scuffed his shot and from the resulting rebound Roach just failed to connect, with the Whitton defence coming to the rescue.

No sooner had the Yarmouth chance gone begging than Whitton went straight up the other end and promptly scored with their first chance of the game. A cross from the right by the impressive Canfor was met first time by Parnell and he somehow managed to stretch and loop the ball over Elliot Pride in the Yarmouth goal. This spurred Yarmouth on and both Crawley and Roach went close without troubling Moyes in the Whitton goal too much.

With the game 15 mins old, both sides started to play some attractive football. Yarmouth won their fourth corner, and after a brief spell of panic in the Whitton defence they managed to clear their lines and the danger had gone. On the half hour, Yarmouth had what was probably their best chance of the half when playing down the middle they produced a cracking ball into the box which was met with a firm header by Crawley only for the chance to go straight at the Whitton keeper.

With half time fast approaching, Toby Gorbould was unlucky to be booked when an over-reaction by the Whitton No.9 Banya managed to convince the referee to produce the first yellow card of the game. The last chance of the first half fell to Whitton when from a corner the ball bounced around dangerously before being cleared by the Yarmouth defence.

HALF TIME 0-1

With the second half barely two minutes old Whitton, playing some neat football, caught the Yarmouth defence napping and Pride in the Yarmouth goal produced one of many fine saves when faced with a one on one. Yarmouth sensing they would need to up their game in order to salvage anything, started to assert some pressure, however Whitton always looked dangerous on the break.

Ten minutes into the second half and the ever dangerous Crawley for Yarmouth took on several Whitton defenders before slicing his shot and the opposition managed to clear the danger.

On the hour, referee Mr Bird had to be replaced after a collision left him with a bloody mouth and pulled calf. Our thanks to Andy who went from making the bacon butties to assistant referee and done a great job.

Back to the action and with twenty minutes gone Whitton looked set to put the game beyond our reach when on the counter they had their second one on one with only the keeper to beat, but as before the excellent Pride produced another terrific save. Yarmouth were now starting to get pegged back by a very useful Whitton and Manager Kevin made his first substitution of the day when, on 66 minutes, Liam Bartley replaced No.8 Gareth Palmer.

With 70 minutes gone, the excellent Marcus Godbold was booked for a bodycheck on the dangerous Sam Banya. From the resulting freekick, Banya headed just wide.

With fifteen minutes left, and Yarmouth still looking for that elusive goal, manager Kevin made his second substitution when Nathan Drake replaced the excellent Robbie Oldham. Finally with ten minutes remaining Yarmouth got a deserved equaliser. It was that man Crawley again after going on one of his many runs, scored after keeper Moyes could only parry his first shot.

Whitton to their credit never gave up and once again Pride was called upon to produce yet another excellent save. This was a well deserved point against a very good Whitton side and again a great all round team performance. A special mention for the group of kids who the club have nick-named the “ Yarmy Barmy Army” - you all looked good in your new tops and please keep coming and giving us your support your efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Yarmouth - 1-Elliot Pride 2-Johnny Watt 3-Marcus Godbold 4-Robbie Oldham 5-Tommy Gardiner 6-Toby Gorbould 7-Adam Sewell 8-Gareth Palmer 9-Stuart Roach 10-Nick Crawley 11-Mark Thompson. Subs- 12-Liam Bartley 14-Nathan Drake 15-Daniel Barnes (not used)

Wednesday 26th December 2007

BLOATERS 2, GORLESTON 4

WERE YOU THERE?

Expectant faces in the Wellesley stand before the big game

AN UNUSUAL SIGHT

Queueing to get in at kick-off time

Yarmouth and Gorleston served up a Christmas Cracker of a Boxing Day derby in front of a 390 crowd, the highest for the fixture since 2003. The fine weather, almost spring-like in its brightness and warmth, plus the improving fortunes of both sides brought the holiday crowds out and they were treated to a fine display with three goals in each half.

Ricci Butler gave the Greens a 20^th minute lead after Elliott Pride had only parried a Gary Ingram shot. Yarmouth deservedly equalised after 35 minutes: Nicky Crawley saw a centre scrape the face of the bar, Mark Thompson turned the ball back inside the area and Danny Crane thumped home his shot from 16 yards.

The Bloaters had the better of the half and went ahead just on the interval when new striker Crawley saw his chance and his speculative shot deceived Tom Marsden and entered the net via the post. It was the ex-Caister man’s fourth goal in his first three games.

Unfortunately for Town supporters, Yarmouth seemed to go off the boil in the second half and Gorleston proceeded to score three times without reply. First, Gary Todd levelled matters after being put through by Ingram in the 51^st minute.

Then on the hour Butler scored his second: receiving a pass from Peter Lambert, Butler seemed to take an age before finally beating Pride for 3-2. Five minutes later, Gorleston extended the lead when John Bell converted a Todd pass.

Although it seems strange to nominate two defenders as outstanding in this game of goals, Yarmouth’s Johnny Watt and Gorleston’s Dale Cockerill stood out.

Gorleston, under new manager this season Glen Haylett, have developed into an attractive footballing side and also seem to have solved their on-field disciplinary problems; they certainly know how to score goals, and are unbeaten in their last six league matches. Yarmouth have discovered a striker worthy of the name in Crawley and with new manager Kevin Cruickshank inspiring a new spirit amongst his players, and with the new club set-up getting organised, they too can look forward to some exciting times.

Yarmouth enjoyed some unusual support during this game: the newly-formed “Yarmy Barmy Army” cheered, sang and chanted throughout the game. Manager Cruickshank was particularly impressed by the enthusiastic youngsters: “We could hear them right down on the pitch and the players really appreciated the support. Even when we were 2-4 down they still insisted we would win 5-4! I’m just sorry we couldn’t give them what they wanted… but if only we could have that kind of support every week!”

Yarmouth – Elliott Pride, Johnathan Watt, Marcus Godbold, Robbie Oldham (Gareth Palmer 68), Jody Harrison, Toby Gorbould, Adam Sewell, Danny Crane (Jordan Buckenham 76), Nicky Crawley, Mark Thompson, Elliott Dawes (Liam Bartley 57). Unused sub: Tom Gardiner

Gorleston – Tom Marsden, Kyle Howell, Jack Marsden, Dale Cockerill, Adam Thurtle, Eddie Thompson, Ricci Butler, Peter Lambert, Gary Ingram, Gary Todd, John Bell. Subs: Luke Goreham, Louie Turner, Richie Fruin, Paul Todd, Nathan Thompson.

Referee – E Goodman (Ipswich). Attendance - 390

Saturday 22^nd December

STOWMARKET TOWN 2, BLOATERS 3

With a bout of the Winter Bug hitting the club, both the first team and Reserves were forced into changes from the anticipated line-ups, including Gareth Palmer being called up for the first team for only the fourth time in four years.

Yarmouth started brightly and Nicky Crawley, put through in the first minute by Tommy Gardiner, was beaten in the chase by home ‘keeper Ross Charters. Crawley was then the target for a Johnny Watt pass but this was intercepted with the concession of a throw to the Bloaters. The lively Crawley then forced another throw-in but when Marcus Godbold lifted the ball into the Stow area, Charters made the catch.

Buckenham then won the game’s first corner but Elliott Dawes’ seventh-minute place kick was headed away. From the clearance, Ward tried a snap-shot but hit the ball well wide. On ten minutes, Dawes initiated a threatening series of passes around the Stow area but it all came to nothing.

However, Yarmouth’s early dominance was rewarded with the opening goal in the 14^th minute. A ball from Palmer found Crawley on the left and as he made ground towards the penalty area the striker was brought down twenty yards from goal. Mark Thompson took the kick which rebounded off the face of the bar and justice was done when Crawley reacted first to prod the ball over the line.

Jody Harrison headed away a dangerous home cross but Yarmouth had asked all the early questions as they looked for their third away win. Stow battled back and did win a corner and a free kick just outside the box but neither produced any threat to Steve Cannon’s goal. Watt and Harrison, within moments of each other, produced some defensive quality to halt further Stow attacks and when Yarmouth resumed the offensive, raids down the flanks saw Crawley the focus for the movements but without any real test of the ‘keeper.

Cannon went down to collect his first serious shot after 27 minutes, and this was followed by Watt going down to ground but only as a result of a Taylor-Holt tackle for which the Stow number 11 was booked in the 30^th minute.

Four minutes later, the home side conjured up an equaliser. Taylor-Holt slung a hopeful ball to the far post and Ward rose in some generous space afforded him by the Bloaters’ defence to nod past Cannon.

As Stow began to press their case more urgently, Taylor-Holt found Smythe with a clever free kick into the area but the visitors’ defence cleared comfortably. Watts was then spoken to for a foul, and the last decent action of the half saw Cannon produce a remarkable save under the bar at the expense of a corner.

HT 1-1

A Palmer free kick was palmed away by Charters as the second half opened, then Ward was booked for a foul on Watt who, it appeared, was being singled out by the home players.

However, the second half was but three minutes old when Yarmouth regained their lead: Thompson had the ball on the right and sent in a pinpoint cross for Palmer to meet with a bullet header from 15 yards.

Crawley, with some clever footwork, featured prominently in the next two attacks: a cross from the left, after being put through by Palmer, first of all won a corner, and moments later a second cross from the right saw Robbie Oldham fouled just outside the box as he was heading inside. Thompson’s free kick produced a save equal to that of Cannon just before the break. Palmer was then substituted by Adam Sewell.

Ward then fired narrowly wide from a Deasy pass but Crawley forced Charters into another splendid save with a rasping shot that the ‘keeper turned round the post for a corner that was to lead to the Bloaters third goal of the afternoon. As the kick came over Thompson extended the Yarmouth lead with a crashing shot angled from the edge of the area that beat Charters all ends up after 60 minutes.

Oldham became the first Yarmouth booking for bringing down Rylands. Cannon claimed a Stow corner with a brave dive at foot of the near post, then his opposite number produced two remarkable saves that surely kept out certain goals, first from a header from Sewell after another Crawley cross, then from a Dawes’ centre that was tipped over the bar.

Liam Bartley then replaced Jordan Buckenham. When Crawley next attacked on the left he beat two men but in trying to get a cross in was defeated by the angle as he turned to get the ball onto his right foot and the ball flew over at the far post. Yarmouth then made their final substitution in the 73^rd minute, Danny Bartram replacing Dawes. Watt finally ran out of sympathy for his opponents' frustration and was booked for a foul himself.

Thompson spurned a great chance for a goal miscontrolling a cross, from who else but Crawley, with only Charters to beat. After 80 minutes, Bartram raided down the left and crossed for Crawley in the middle: his shot was beaten out by Charters but only as far as Bartley whose close-range effort was touched over by another superb Charters’ save.

Two minutes later, Stow won a goal back; a free kick in the edge of the Yarmouth area was taken by substitute Graham and the ball somehow crept low through the wall and past Cannon.

Stow then dominated the remaining minutes but Yarmouth were resolute with Cannon bringing off two saves from Ward and Taylor-Holt to ensure Kevin Cruickshank and Ian Griffin started their official reign with a win.

Yarmouth – Steve Cannon, Johnathan Watt, Marcus Godbold, Robbie Oldham, Jody Harrison (c), Tommy Gardiner, Jordan Buckenham (Liam Bartley 67), Gareth Palmer (Adam Sewell 50), Nicky Crawley, Mark Thompson, Elliott Dawes (Bartram 73).

Referee – James Smith (Ipswich)

Attendance - 30

Nicky Crawley

Saturday 8^th December 2007

DOWNHAM TOWN 2, BLOATERS 2

Manager Kevin Cruickshank had to make six changes from the previous week’s game which didn’t make his job any easier, writes Tom Campbell.

In atrocious conditions it was Yarmouth who created the first opening of any note. Danny Crane played a neat ball out to the right which new boy Nick Crawley ran on to and hit first time across goal narrowly going wide of the left post. Downham then had a good chance when a cross into the Yarmouth box was met with a firm header from Kavanagh which rebounded off the upright and was then cleared off the line by a relieved Yarmouth defence.

On 17 minutes, Yarmouth were awarded a free kick which was firmly hit by Liam Bartley but was straight at keeper McAnally. On the half hour, and with honours fairly even, Yarmouth lost possession in midfield, and suddenly Downham were left with a one on one situation, fortunately striker Webber put his shot wide. With 40 minutes gone and conditions getting worse, Yarmouth created a good chance, when Crawley and Bartley combined well for Bartley to see his shot go inches over the crossbar. With the midfield starting to dominate, Yarmouth were starting to create several chances although Downham were still dangerous on the break. The first half ended with Downham going close.

Half-Time 0-0.

Yarmouth made their first substitution during the break when Robbie Oldham replaced Tommy Hurd. With the second half barely two minutes old and several supporters still making their way back to the stands, Downham broke the deadlock with a somewhat fortuitous goal. Winning a free kick 35 yards out there looked no danger when Downham's Webber shot straight at Cannon in the Yarmouth goal; however with a wet ball and awful conditions, he let the ball slip from his hands onto a sticky floor and although he got down quickly to the ball, Downham somehow in the resulting melee managed to toe-poke the ball through the unlucky Cannon’s legs. The Yarmouth of old may have capitulated at this point, however with Kevin and Ian at the helm this only served to spur Yarmouth on and with heads high they continued to take the game to Downham.

It was no surprise that on the hour mark Yarmouth were back in the game, with the midfield dominating and in particular Danny Crane marshalling all around him. The combination of Bartley and Crawley conjured up a great equaliser. Bartley won the ball in midfield and was quick to spot Crawley starting a run towards goal; with still plenty to do he shrugged of several challenges before coolly slotting the ball past a helpless Mc Anally in the Downham goal. With Yarmouth now on top and the weather gradually getting worse, the impressive Bartley was starting to cause Downham several problems.

Again Yarmouth created another good chance when Bartley played a through-ball for young Robbie Oldham to run onto only for his effort to be finger-tipped round the post by Mc Anally. Time was now running out, and Downham to their credit were still trying to create openings.

However, with 15 minutes left, it was Yarmouth who took the lead. Crawley picked up a loose ball and with a quick turn and shot hooked the ball into the top corner giving the Downham keeper no chance, and it was no more than Yarmouth deserved.

Downham however were not finished, and but for an excellent save by Cannon in the Yarmouth goal would have been back in the game. On 80 minutes, manager Cruickshank made his second substitution when Tommy Gardiner replaced the excellent Marcus Godbold due to injury. Yarmouth looked to be heading for a deserved 3 points and with three minutes left made their final substitution when Tom Bevan replaced Jordan Buckenham.

However there was to be a final sting in the tail when on 90 minutes, and with virtually the last kick of the ball, Downham were awarded a somewhat dubious corner which resulted in a scrambled goal after several attempts by the Yarmouth defence to clear. This however was still an excellent performance from a revitalised Yarmouth team and although not everyone was mentioned in this report it was a great team effort with everyone playing their part.

Yarmouth – Steve Cannon, Johnathan Watt, Marcus Godbold (Tom Gardiner 80), Jordan Buckenham (Tom Bevan 87), Jody Harrison, Toby Gorbould, Liam Bartley, Danny Crane, Nick Crawley, Mark Thompson, Tommy Hurd (Robbie Oldham 46).

Referee – J W Marin (Cambridge)

Attendance - 55

December 1st 2007

BLOATERS 2, DEBENHAM LC 1

With Nick Banham now departed, Kevin Cruickshank took the team for today’s tough assignment against the team with the best defensive record in the league. 16-year old Youth player Marcus Godbold came in for his first senior game at left back, two days after his club debut against Kirkley Youth, with fellow-Youth team player Tom Gardiner coming in on the right of defence. Lee Perry and Adam Sewell both returned to the team after injury and several reserve or youth outings and Danny Crane also returned after injury. Nathan Drake took the captain’s armband in the absence of Jody Harrison, while Will Lewis and Liam Bartley were relegated to the bench alongside Mario Davids. Dominic Smith was injured in this week’s Youth game and will be out for 6-8 weeks, and there was no place for Johnathan Watts.

After some words to the team from the Chairman, and a minutes silence in respect to supporter John Dashwood who died this week, Yarmouth kicked off but the high-flying visitors immediately set about attacking the home goal. Yarmouth, however, defended confidently and Godbold did not appear overawed by the task of keeping 17-goal Stuart Jopling quiet.

Yarmouth eventually broke out through Mark Thompson in the ninth minute to win the game’s first corner. The Bloaters’ first shot came in the 12^th minute but Jordan Buckenham’s 30-yard effort did not trouble Craig Ellis in goal. Debenham replied through Glyn Roberts who forced a diving save from Elliott Pride.

Yarmouth went ahead in the 18^th minute. Danny Crane cut inside on the left and unleashed an angled shot across Ellis and into the far side of the net. Some end to end play followed but Jopling was well-guarded by the Bloaters’ defenders who were playing with great spirit and determination.

Patrick Turley shot over for Debenham as the visitors tried to change the focus of their attack but Godbold applied himself with some timely tackles and it was Yarmouth that looked the more likely to score. In the 32nd minute, a cross from Crane slipped off a defender’s foot and on to Thompson’s head but ended up just wide of the post. Two minutes, later Elliott Dawes broke through the middle and his shot just cleared the bar; in another minute, Crane played Thompson in but a defender got back to tackle.

When play switched to the other end, Yarmouth’s ‘keeper became the ‘pride’ of Yarmouth with a superb double-save from Jopling as the visitors’ leading scorer threatened to score by the foot of a post. Kevin Barker’s back-header then flew past Pride’s back post.

Godbold then lost his head and, although he was perhaps harshly adjudged to have committed a foul, he should not have kicked the ball away, and was promptly booked; Pride made a good catch from Turley’s curling free kick that followed.

However, the next free kick brought Debenham an equaliser. John Farrell sent in a beautiful curling kick from out of the right touch line which beat everybody and entered the net as it slipped through Pride’s fingers low by the back post. There was hardly time to restart before the half-time whistle blew.

HT: 1-1

The second half was less than two minutes old when Yarmouth regained the lead: Elliott Dawes silenced the visiting fans with a similar effort to Crane’s but from the right, shooting across the ‘keeper again before being surrounded by his delighted colleagues.

Yarmouth captain Drake set another attack going with a pass out wide to Thompson on the left who won a corner and when a second quickly followed Ellis made a tumbling save at the foot of the same post where Pride had produced his first half effort.

Debenham’s Gary Pratt needed lengthy treatment before being replaced by James Abbott, then after 57 minutes Robert Kemp’s shot hit the Yarmouth bar and bounced down in front of goal but Toby Gorbould cleared Yarmouth’s lines.

Yarmouth made a double substitution on the hour, Will Lewis replacing Gardiner and Liam Bartley replacing Godbold.

A break by Dawes saw him beat his man but his cross was just too short for Thompson who had moved inside. The thrills were coming thick and fast as the action went back to Yarmouth’s goal where Pride mishandled a shot but Gorbould again cleared the danger. All-action Thompson beat his marker to turn inside the visitors’ area but his cross just failed to find a colleague, but he was soon terrorising the Debenham defence again with a forceful run and a pass to Bartley but the substitute shot weakly towards Ellis at the far post.

Debenham tried to reply with Matt Norman working his way to the Yarmouth area where Gorbould looked to have got the ball but was penalised for a trip. However, the free kick was weak and from the clearance Bartley broke through the middle to pass to Dawes whose ambitious shot from 30 yards was too high.

Mario Davids then replaced Jordan Buckenham in the 75^th minute and with home supporters gaining in voice, led by “the awesome foursome”, but studying their watches the game was boiling up to an exciting conclusion. Yarmouth continued to play with great skill and commitment, showing scant respect for the opposition’s record this season, and eight and a half nail-biting minutes of added time were finally brought to a close as Yarmouth celebrated a morale-boosting and what could prove corner-turning victory.

Yarmouth – Elliott Pride, Tom Gardiner (Will Lewis 60), Marcus Godbold (Liam Bartley 60), Jordan Buckingham (Mario Davids 75), Lee Perry, Toby Gorbould, Adam Sewell, Nathan Drake (c), Danny Crane, Mark Thompson, Elliott Dawes.

Referee – Paul Quick (Ipswich)

Attendance - 73