Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers v Great Yarmouth Town.

 

Wednesday 30th August 2023.   Report by Martin  Baxter. 

 

On a clear and cool late summers evening the Bloaters made the short journey to the Nest in Norwich to face newly promoted Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers in a mid-table clash.

 

Yarmouth made 4 changes from Saturday’s narrow FA Vase defeat to Histon with Adams, Stanley, Barber and Sanders all making starts and ex-bloater Tom Cullumbine was in the visitors line up.

 

The away side got off to the perfect start in only the 1st minute when a Couzens free kick sailed into the danger area and reached Fenn who found himself in space in the 6 yard box and he headed the ball home to put his team 1-0 up. 

 

The Rovers defence seemed to be caught cold and they turned off for just long enough to be punished and Yarmouth now had something to defend and to play their counter attacking game which has served them so well away from home so far this campaign.  

 

That precious lead came under serious threat just 2 minutes later when a Cullumbine volley from 5 yards out smashed against the underside of the bar before bouncing away to safety and in the 8th minute the very impressive Durrant went on a great run right though the Bloaters defence before a last ditch tackle from Duffield prevented him from pulling the trigger.    

 

Rovers were now in the ascendancy and both Durrant and Cullumbine in particular were looking a real threat and were putting the Yarmouth defence under intense pressure and in the 12th minute Lane made a crucial save from a Cullumbine volley when he turned his effort over the bar for a corner and in the 20th minute the Yarmouth keeper was called into action again when he made a superb one handed save from a Taylor header from close range.   

 

The away side after surviving the onslaught finally started to get some possession in the opposition half of the pitch and in the 40th minute Duffileld  struck a free kick from fully 25 yards out that the Rovers keeper Fish turned around the post for a corner.    

 

However the respite was short lived as leading up to half time Rovers won a succession of corners but were still unable to break down a stubborn and resilient Yarmouth defence and the away side went in a the break still somehow leading 1-0.

 

Half time:  Dussindale and Hellesdon 0  Great Yarmouth Town 1.    

 

 

The 2nd period started like the first with an early goal, however this time it went to Rovers as Bloaters old boy Cullumbine came back to haunt his old club when he slotted the ball home from 7 yards out in the 47th minute and it looked like being a long second half for this young Yarmouth side.   

 

However 10 minutes later Belmar found himself through on goal and he calmly rounded the keeper before tapping the ball into the empty net to give the Bloaters a 2-1 advantage and another lead to defend and it was a case of a blue moon in the overnight sky and blue heaven for the large travelling contingent of away fans. 

 

On 65 minutes Stanley was replaced by Spooner and the middle part of this second half was a lot more evenly contested with the home side temporary knocked back after conceding another goal and the visitors boyed after re-taking the lead again and it gave them much needed confidence going into the last 20 minutes and trying to see the match out.

 

The inevitable kitchen sink was thrown by Rovers at Yarmouth in the closing stages and in the 78th minute man of the match Lane made another match winning save to deny a Durrant header from a corner and on 82 minutes Fenn was replaced by Akpan who who was brought on to hold the ball up in the middle of the park and try to take some pressure off of his over worked defenders.

 

Despite a few late scares hold on they did and this win lifted the Bloaters up to 8th place in the league on 11 points from 6 matches, and after 6 matches last season they were struugling with only 5 points on the board, therefore this vast improvement is very encourging.  

 

Full Time: Dussindale & Hellesdon 1 Great Yarmouth Town 2.

 

GYTFC: Lane, Halliday, Duffield, Stanley, Philpott, Adams, Fenn, Barber, Couzens, Sanders, Belmar.  Subs: Akpan, French, Cork, Spooner.

 

Man of the Match: Rueben Lane.