Norwich CBS v Great Yarmouth Town. Thurlow Nunn knock out cup.
Wednesday 9th August 2023. Report by Martin Baxter.
On a warm and glorious summer’s evening the Bloaters made the very short journey to face neighbours Norwich CBS in a knock out cup tie.
Unlike their visitors CBS have had a poor start to the new season losing all 3 of their opening matches.
Yarmouth made 5 changes from Saturdays emphatic 5-1 win at Needham Market with , Pereira, Melo, French, Barber and Spooner all coming into the starting eleven.
This was a perfect opportunity for the coaching staff to take a look at several new players and they took full advantage of this with the 5 changes.
The match started with both teams fizzing the ball around on the 3G pitch, however neither side were able to create a clear cut chance until the 18th minute when a perfect through ball from Barber found Halliday in space and he clinically slotted home from 5 yards out to put the away team 1-0 up on the night and 2 minutes later Barber found himself in a similar position clean through on goal, however this time his shot went straight to the CBS keeper.
The home side responded on 23 minutes when Richardson curled in an effort at goal from 15 yard out, but he was denied by keeper Pereira who turned the ball around the post for a corner and as Yarmouth were pushing forward at every opportunity for the 2nd goal this was leaving them short in numbers at the back and therefore vulnerable and they eventually paid the price in the 34th minute when Curren was allowed time to shoot from 10 yards out and put his effort past the keeper to level the cup tie at 1-1.
This equalizer lifted CBS and they then had a spell where they were on top and the Bloaters back line were camped in their own half working hard to not concede again, however leading up to half time Spooner had a half chance which he failed to hit the target with and the first period finished all square, which was probably on balance about right.
Half time: Norwich CBS 1 Great Yarmouth Town 1.
The 2nd period started and Yarmouth’s captain Cantwell was brought on on to replace Cork and the first opportunity of the half fell to CBS on 46 minutes when their striker Ngolo hit the bar with a header from a corner when he should really have scored , however 5 minutes later CBS did score again when Curren doubled his tally on the night when he took the ball around the keeper to coolly slot into the net to make it 2-1 to the home side.
On the hour mark Belmar and Fenn were introduced into the battle and this was a masterful tactic from the Yarmouth coaching staff as to bring on 2 attacking substitutes with real pace to face tiring defenders immediately paid dividends and 5 minutes later a Couzens free kick from 25 yards out was spilled by keeper Sutton and Adams was in the perfect position to tap the ball into the empty net to make it 2-2.
It got even better for the away side in the 70th minute when Couzens was adjudged to have been fouled in the box and he stepped up to convert the spot-kick himself to make it 3-2 in this excellent cup tie.
In the 75th minute a superb solo run by Belmar ended with him being blocked by a last ditch tackle from a defender just as he was about to slot the ball into the net and Yarmouth were now on top in the closing stages of this battle and it got even more difficult for CBS in the 80th minute when one of their defenders received a second yellow card and they were reduced to 10 men.
In the 83rd minute man of them match Barber was replaced by Orme and Sanshaw came on for the excellent Couzens and Sanshaw made an instant impact when 2 minutes later his shot from 7 yards out beat keeper Sutton to make it 4-2 on the night and put the Bloaters in the draw for the next round of the knock out cup.
Full Time: Norwich CBS 2 Great Yarmouth Town 4.
GYTFC: Pereira, Melo, Duffield, Cork, Adams, French, Halliday, Barber, Akpan, Couzens, Spooner. Subs: Cantwell, Fenn, Belmar, Sanshaw, Ome.
Man of the match: Charlie Barber.
