Great Yarmouth Town v Framlingham Town. League Challenge Cup.
Wednesday 27th September 2023. Report by Martin Baxter.
On a mild early autumn evening the Bloaters hosted Framlingham Town in a league cup tie under the floodlights at the famous Wellesley ground.
The home side made 6 changes and the visitors 4 changes from their previous matches at the weekend, therefore the managers were giving several squad players their opportunity to impress and stake a claim for a regular starting place and it was good to see both Josh Ford and Charlie McAra in the starting eleven following their return to the club.
This cup tie started slowly with both sides feeling each other out, however the first chance fell to the visitors in the 9th minute when Barker sent a glancing header narrowly wide of the left hand post and 6 minutes later following a collusion involving Yarmouth keeper Lane and one of his defenders the ball fell to Exworth who took full advantage of the mistake to finish clinically from 8 yards out to make it 1-0.
In the 20th minute it was the Castlemen’s turn to make a goal keeping error, however this time Yarmouth did not capitalise on it as Belmar missed the target from 15 yards out with the goal at his mercy and 5 minutes later a cross by Exworth from the right got caught in the strong cross wind and was sailing into the net until Lane somehow got a touch on the ball to send it over the bar for a corner. Just a minute later Belmar had another oppurtuntity follwing a counter attack by the home side, but once again his effort went wide from 10 yards out.
Framlingham were looking the better of the 2 sides at this point and were keeping posssesion well and Yarmouth in contrast were looking a little flat and sluggish and were not really anywhere near their best and Exworth had another oppurtunity on 35 mintes with a speculative volley from 30 yards out that he connected really well with but failed to find the target.
The ref blew the whistle for half-time and the Bloaters were going to need to improve in the second half if they wanted to still be in the draw for the next round of the league cup.
Half time: Great Yarmouth Town 0 Framlingham Town 1.
The 2nd half started with the home side on the front foot and in the 52nd minute Belmar made a superb run down the left flank and put the ball into the box where Fenn was waiting to slot home from close range to make it 1-1.
On the hour mark Yarmouth made changes with Orme and Stephenson both coming on to offer some fresh legs as they went looking for a winner and 2 minutes later Freeman hit a superb strike from 20 yards out for the visitors that produced an excellent reaction save from Lane who turned the ball around the post for a corner.
Although the game was now very even it was the Castlemen who were creating the clearer cut oppurtunities and man of the match Exworth had another great chance to score his second goal in the 70th minute, however his shot was once again well saved by Lane in the Yarmouth goal and in the 80th minute Yarmouth introduced their big guns in Sanders and Barber into the battle to try and grab that all important late winner.
Ford took a knock late on and was replaced by Wilson-Towns, however the match finished all square at 1-1 and went straight to a penalty shoot out, which Framlingham won 4-3.
This match did not really get going as a spectacle, however it was important for several of the Yamouth squad to get some much needed game time on the pitch.
Full Time: Great Yarmouth Town 1 Framlingham Town 1. (Framlingham won 4-3 on penalties)
GYTFC: Lane, French, Ford, Cork, Philpott, Adams, Perry, McAra, Cantwell, Belmar, Fenn. Subs: Orme, Stephenson, Wilson-Towns, Barber, Sanders.
Man of the match: George Exworth. (Framlingham Town)
