Great Yarmouth Town v Soham Town Rangers. Friday 23rd August 2024. FA Vase. Report by Martin Baxter.
On a glorious summers evening Yarmouth hosted Soham Town Rangers for the 2nd time in less than 2 weeks in this FA Vase tie. The previous league game ended in a 1-0 win for the the Bloaters, therefore Rangers arrived at the Wellesley very keen for revenge.
The home side made 2 changes from last weeks dramatic FA win cup win against Cambridge City with Adams and Jake Spooner both making starts and Deeks who was not 100% fit only made it onto the bench.
The match kicked off and after a rather cagey opening first 10 minutes or so the first sight at goal fell to Rangers winger Varela, however he put his effort high over the bar and 2 minutes later Yarmouth responded when Duffiled tried his luck with a free kick from fully 35 yards out that Rangers keeper Iron managed to palm away to safety.
The home side were now starting to pass the ball forward a lot more quickly, but the first real chance of this encounter fell to Soham striker Aguilar in the 17th minute, however he seemed to snatch at his strike which allowed Bloaters keeper Ling to turn the ball around the post for a corner and just before the half hour mark a superb run down the left wing by Belmar ended with him cutting in and placing his shot just past the right hand post.
On the half-hour mark itself Fenn was scythed down right on the 18 yard line and after originally awarding a free kick, the referee consulted with his linesman and reversed his decision and gave Yarmouth a penalty. The spot kick was taken by the skipper Couzens and the ball crept under the body of keeper Iron and just went over the line to put the Bloaters 1-0 up.
Just a minute later Iron was tested again when Barber tried his luck with a shot from 15 yards out which the keeper did well to stop and then seconds later a slide splitting pass from Fenn found Halliday on the right hand side of the box and he unleashed an unstoppable volley which smashed into the net to make it 2-0 , putting the home side firmly in control.
Rangers were starting to get a little frustrated and they picked up a couple of yellow cards for two late challenges as the home side went looking for a 3rd goal and on 39 minutes a Duffiled cross into the box was met by the head of Couzens, but his effort went just over the bar and then right on half-time man of the match Fenn put a low cross into the 6 yard box and Duffiled was perfectly placed to slot the ball home to make it 3-0 and leave Rangers with a mountain to climb in the second half.
Half Time: Great Yarmouth Town 3 Soham Town Rangers 0.
The 2nd period started and Rangers came out showing a lot more intent after being 2nd best for the first 45 minutes and their very impressive winger Varela went on driving run down the left flank before testing keeper Ling with a shot which the keeper was equal too and in the 55th minute substitute Howe tried a long range strike from fully 35 yards out, that went right over the bar.
Yarmouth looked content to sit on their 3 goal cushion and counter attack when the opportunity arose and in the 58th minute a superb piece of individual skill by Fenn ended with him losing his marker and then striking a volley from 20 yards out that narrowly missed the target by a matter of inches.
Rangers winger Varela was still causing the Bloaters defence plenty of problems, however along with his team mates he lacked that little bit of finishing quality required in front of goal and this was at the end of the day the difference between the two sides.
Perry came on for the Bloaters in the 65th minute and 5 minutes later Soham’s Jackaman hit the bar with a spectacular volley from the edge of the box as his side were desperately trying to find a way back into this tie.
Cooper, McQueen and youth player Boast were then all introduced to give them some much needed game time on the pitch.
In the closing stages Rangers continued to carve out some decent half chances without being able to make any of them count and this FA Vase tie ended up in a comfortable win for the Bloaters.
Full Time: Great Yarmouth Town 3 Soham Town Rangers 0. Attendance: 272.
GYTFC: Ling, Halliday, Belmar, Adams, Fenn ,Barnes, Duffield, Wlison-Towns, Couzens, Barber, J. Spooner. Subs: Cooper, Boast, Perry, Deeks, McQueen.
Man of the Match: Jesse Fenn. (Put the opposition defence under constant pressure and was rewarded with 2 assists and also won his side a penalty)
