Great Yarmouth Town v Cambridge City.
FA cup preliminary round, Saturday 17th August 2024. Report by Martin Baxter.
On a very warm and muggy Saturday afternoon FA cup fever returned to the Wellesley where the Bloaters faced higher league opposition in Cambridge City.
On paper this looked a real David against Goliath clash, given the financial gap between the 2 clubs, however in form Yarmouth were looking to raise their game on the day and possibly cause a major upset.
The home side made only one change from last time out with Ling returning between the sticks after missing the previous match against Soham.
The match started and Yarmouth immediately took the game to their opponents as they won a succession of early corners, but were unable to carve out a goal scoring opportunity of any note.
However this changed in the 5th minute when Belmar attempted to lob the keeper from fully 30 yards out and the ball struck the bar after keeper Middleton got a touch on the way through to turn it over for a corner. The home side were looking the better of the 2 teams for the first 15 minutes or so, however in the 23rd minute an exquisite pass by Thompson played in Smith who hit a volley from close range that was superbly saved by Ling in the Yarmouth goal and Cambridge were now starting to get more possession with Temple at the heart of everything with his excellent passing and movement in midfield.
We then had a period of play where both defences were on top, however in the 42nd minute Couzens attempted an audacious lob from fully 40 yards out that went high over the bar and in the closing stages of the first half the Bloaters once again won a succession of corners without being able to break through a resolute Lillywhites rearguard.
Half-Time: Great Yarmouth Town 0 Cambridge City 0.
The 2nd half started and in the first minute City won a corner which Yarmouth failed to clear properly and and the ball was then re-cycled back into the box by Warman and danger man Temple was waiting unmarked at the near post to head it into the net to make it 1-0.
It should really have been 2-0 just a couple of minutes later when a low cross sailed straight across the 6 yard box missing the outstretched foot of Warman by a matter of inches and it looked as if Cambridge had responded to a stern first half team talk from their manager, ex Canary Jamie Cureton. However once again this young Bloaters side responded from being behind and in the 55th minute a surging run down the left flank by Jacobs ended with him putting in a perfect cross for Couzens, who made no mistake side footing the ball home to make it 1-1.
This goal seemed to give the home side a new lease of life and much needed fresh energy and in the 62nd minute Fenn played in Couzens with a perfectly timed through ball and the latter was adjudged to have been tripped on the edge of the box and the referee pointed to the spot for a penalty. Couzens stepped up to take the spot kick, however City keeper Middleton guessed right diving to his left making a crucial save.
Cambridge then had an opportunity to re-take the lead in the 65th minute from a free kick taken by Temple, however his effort went straight into the arms of Ling.
On 80 minutes Sacremento and Jake Spooner were introduced for the closing stages of this cup tie and 5 minutes later Adams also came on as Yarmouth went looking for a late winner and in the 90th minute Fenn played in Barber who then smashed an unstoppable volley into the net from 10 yards out to spark wild celebrations amongst the watching 326 spectators at the famous old Wellesley ground.
The referee then played a very long period of injury time that seemed to go on for ever and in the 96th minute a free kick on the edge of the box by substitute Phillips whistled just past the post, to leave nerves jangling amongst the Bloaters faithful.
However finally the whistle was blown and the Bloaters march on in the FA cup into Monday’s draw!
Full Time: Great Yarmouth Town 2 Cambridge City 1. Attendance: 326.
GYTFC: Ling, Halliday, Belmar, Wilson-Towns, Deeks, Barnes, Duffield, Jacobs, Couzens, Barber, Fenn. Subs: Adams, L. Spooner, Sacramento, Perry, J.Spooner, Riches.
Man of the Match: Ryan Jacobs. (Has matured as a player and put in a real shift to get his team over the line)
