Wednesday 19^th November 2008

BLOATERS YOUTH 3, DEREHAM YOUTH 1

The under 18's weren't at their best but did enough to comfortably beat Dereham 3-1 with goals from Charlie McAra, Jake Reed and Richard Brett. This was the Bloaters’ first game in three weeks since the unfortunate abandonment against Cromer on the 29th October. So with tough games coming up it was good to get back playing again and to blow away any cobwebs.

Yarmouth got off to the best possible start as with only four minutes on the clock McAra scored a terrific volley from just inside the box following a good cross by Dominic Smith and a flick on from Reed. Reed, on the back of signing a contract with the Bloaters at the weekend, then added to his good goalscoring form by firing in after 14 minutes. The game petered out a bit thereafter but the Dereham ‘keeper did produce a number of good saves to keep his team in it. And Dereham got themselves right back into the game with a goal on the stroke of half time. Although it was a good strike the disappointing thing was that it was a defensive error that gave Dereham the opportunity to go in at half time on a high.

Yarmouth started the second half just as they did the first and soon increased their lead, this time Brett finishing off the move of the game. Tom Gardiner took a touch and passed to Smith who played the ball through the centre half and right back for Joe Bell to take the ball to the by line and pull it back for Brett who then had the easiest of tap-ins. Yarmouth had the lion’s share of possession and with better finishing and a lesser-able opposition ‘keeper could have won by a greater margin.

Joint manager Mark Scales commented: "It was just good to play; we had a match on  29th October and that was for only 40 minutes. We then had a free week, and then hearing Harford had called last week’s game off was disappointing.

“We have an important month coming up which sees us play a double header against Lowestoft in the league and cup respectively, and both at home. We then have North Walsham away which is a very important top of the table clash and then Wroxham.

“Going into the Lowestoft game without having played for a month would not have been ideal. The lay off certainly showed as we weren't at our best and we will have to perform a lot better if we want to find ourselves in a month’s time still challenging at the top of the league and with a quarter final place in the cup."

Thursday 23^rd October 2008

BUNGAY YOUTH 1, BLOATERS YOUTH 2

“The conditions will be a leveller”. How often have we heard those words before a game when the weather is less than favourable? Ian Griffin’s warning before this game was never more apt. In conditions in which you would hesitate to send a Black Dog out, never mind a Bloater – strong, squally wind and rain - Yarmouth produced a below-par performance against the second-worst defence in the Division.

They had to thank Jake Reed for a last-ditch winner which secured all three points when at one time even one point looked in doubt. Having dominated the attacking possession, Yarmouth had gone ahead near the interval, but conceded what would have been a comical goal had it not been so vital to Bungay’s cause. On chances, Yarmouth should have been well ahead by then but the home ‘keeper was having a brilliant game.

Bungay, who had suffered heavy home defeats by Gorleston and Kirkley, two teams that Yarmouth have beaten heavily recently, threatened first with a shot that beat Tommy Brice but was cleared off the line by Tom Gardiner. Richard Brett worked hard up front and won a corner after 15 minutes that lead to two quick goal-line clearances at the other end.

With the wind and rain on their backs, Yarmouth won numerous corners but the Bungay ‘keeper was in excellent form, even holding on to a strong Ross Catchpole shot from 30 yards. Reed was also thwarted when the ‘keeper brought down his clever lobbed effort.

With the rain temporarily absent, Yarmouth finally took the lead after 37 minutes when Reed’s shot was beaten out by the home stopper but Charlie McAra was onto it in a flash and sent the ball to the far corner. That should have opened the floodgates (appropriate given the rain) but when Sam Watts and Kieran Bartley set up Reed the shot went wide. Reed then had a goal disallowed for offside and Yarmouth went into the half-time respite with a lot to do in the second half.

Bungay missed a great chance to equalise on 50 minutes, then the home ‘keeper was at it again, going down at the near post to save at the feet of Lee Roscoe. Chances came and went for both sides as the weather resumed its worst, but on 80 minutes disaster befell the Yarmouth defence as Brice tried to cut out a weak back pass but a Bungay forward beat him to the ball and scored with his shot from the edge of the area.

The home side were spurred by this turn of fortune and attacked with gusto, the number seven shooting into the side netting. But Yarmouth, too, desperately sought the winner and Watts headed wide form a free kick before Reed finally found the target in the second minute of added time, lashing home a high volley.

With North Walsham also having trouble in beating Wroxham 4-3, it’s as-you-were at the top.

Team – Tommy Brice, Sam Watts, Jo Bell, Tommy Gardiner, Simeon Lee, Lee Roscoe, Charlie McAra, Ross Catchpole, Jake Reed, Richard Brett, Kieran Bartley. Subs: Carl Hatton (for Bell, 51), Cherno Bari (for Roscoe, 65), Joaquim Sisse (for Brett, 75).

Attendance - 25

Wednesday 7^th October 2008

BLOATERS 7, KIRKLEY & PAKEFIELD 0

The Bloaters entertained Kirkley & Pakefield at the Wellesley in a top of the table clash between two of the three teams with a 100% league record.

Yarmouth started off with great urgency and a purpose in their play. What transpired was the Bloaters best performance of the season and a resounding 7-0 victory against a usually very good side.

Kirkley had no answer to Yarmouth's play and had to endure attack after attack before conceding the first of a magnificent seven in the 16th minute when Jake Reed headed home a wonderful Kieran Bartley cross at the back post.

Yarmouth welcomed back Dominic Smith after injury and in the 24th minute he scored a delightful free kick, firing over the wall and off a post to leave the keeper with no chance.

On 30 minutes Richard Brett scored arguably the goal of the game: after collecting a pass from Marcus Godbold on the chest, Brett turned to hit a volley into the top corner from distance.

The second half didn't get much better for Kirkley and they got off to the worst possible start, conceding straight from kick off: Jake Reed won the ball and passed to Kieran who in turn lifted the ball over the Kirkley ‘keeper into the opposite corner.

Yarmouth were now rampant and it was clear Kirkley heads had dropped. Yarmouth pressure continued and they sensed more goals as Kirkley were there for the taking. It was great to see youngster Joaquim Sisse get on the score sheet, scoring his first competitive goal for the club, again with Kieran the provider.

Shortly after, Jake Reed got his second after rounding the keeper to tap in, before Charlie McAra rounded off proceedings with a goal that would have been harder to miss. Great credit went to Jake as he was on a hat-trick and could have scored himself, but he unselfishly put McAra in. Further goals could have followed but the over worked keeper managed to save Kirkley further embarrassment.

Joint manager Mark Scales commented: "That was a truly great performance which saw the team start to play to its potential; we were fully deserving of the score line, in fact it could have been more. It seemed as though every cross was a good one, every pass found a Yarmouth player and everything we hit went in. It doesn't always go like that but when it does it's very pleasing, especially against such good opponents. The team performance was outstanding and it was good to see Dom return from injury with no ill effect. However, of the many good performances one stood out and that was Lee Roscoe's. I thought he had a fantastic game."

Yarmouth – Tommy Brice, Carl Hatton, Joe Bell, Tommy Gardiner (c), Marcus Godbold, Lee Roscoe, Charlie McAra, Dominic Smith, Jake Reed, Richard Brett, Kieran Bartley. Subs. used: Joachim Sisse, Ross Catchpole, Simeon Lee. Subs. Not used: Cherno Bari, Sam Watts.

Attendance - 35

Wednesday 3rd September

BLOATERS 2, NORWICH UNITED 1

Real chances were at a premium in a disappointing first half. Yarmouth had the best of the half and Jake Reed had a couple of openings but failed to convert them while a United free kick outside the box was blocked by the Yarmouth wall. The United defence somehow survived a goalmouth melee just before the break.

All the goal action was reserved for the second half when Marcus Godbold netted twice to seal the Bloaters’ second win of the season. The first, a tap-in after the Norwich ‘keeper had kept a near-post header out, came in the 72^nd minute. A United equaliser came from Adam Blanch six minutes later: the Norwich number ten ran at the home defence, rode two challenges and calmly beat Harry Stanley in the Bloaters’ goal. Godbold then headed his second from a Sam Watts free kick in the 82^nd minute to wrap up the points for the home side.

Team – Harry Stanley, Carl Hatton, Marcus Godbold, Tommy Gardiner, Sam Watts (c), Jacob Maitland, Lee Roscoe, Lewis Popham, Jake Reed, Richard Brett, Joe Bell. Subs: Declan Harvey, Ross Catchpole (for Roscoe, 56), Kieran Bartley (for Maitland 46), Simeon Lee (for Bell 58), Joaquim Sisse.

Wednesday 27th August

LOWESTOFT TOWN 1, BLOATERS 3

An end-to end game opened with chances at both ends, Yarmouth ‘keeper Harry Stanley taking a high catch and striker Jacob Maitland firing wide of the back post. As the game settled down, Yarmouth showed more composure on the ball and their greater experience shone through.

The Bloaters took the lead just after the half-hour mark when a Lowestoft handball led to a penalty being awarded, and Joe Bell struck the spot kick emphatically into the roof of the net. Two minutes later and it was 2-0: a delightful spell of one-touch football down the left-hand side ended with a foul on Dominic Smith. Smith himself took the kick which was dropped by home ‘keeper Craig Longford but seized upon instantly by Jake Reed who flashed the ball home.

The Blues’ Jon Lovelock made it 2-1 at the far post after a free kick was angled towards him after 37 minutes.

Yarmouth captain Adam Sewell, who had earlier suffered a painful finger injury, was booked for a foul soon after the interval and was then replaced by Lewis Popham. Yarmouth used their substitutes well, and Lee Roscoe went on for Joe Bell and scored with his first touch from a Maitland free kick in the 71^st minute.

Further saves followed at both ends and Lowestoft substitute Connor Barrett hit a post in time added on, when Yarmouth could have made it 4-1 but for a miss by Kieran Bartley who had replaced Ross Catchpole.

A good start by Yarmouth whose defeat in the final fixture here last season robbed them of the title.

Yarmouth – Harry Stanley, Carl Hatton, Marcus Godbold, Sam Watts, Tom Gardiner, Adam Sewell (c), Ross Catchpole, Dominic Smith, Jake Reed, Jacob Maitland, Joe Bell. Subs: Declan Harvey (n/u), Joe Hill (n/u), Lewis Popham, Lee Roscoe, Kieran Bartley.