GYTFC V Huntingdon Town.
Saturday 22nd April 2023. Report by Martin Baxter.
On a bright and sunny spring day Yarmouth hosted Huntingdon Town in their last match of the 2022/2023 season and after picking up 4 wins in their previous 5 games they came into this encounter in excellent form with no more worries of potential relegation hanging over them.
Huntingdon sat in 7th position in the league and only just missed out on the end of season play-off’s and would be very difficult opponents.
The Bloaters made only 2 changes from that incredible mid week win over Norwich CBS with Willetts and Soares both getting starts and the game kicked off with the home side once again on the front foot and looking very positive after an upturn in recent results.
However it was the Hunters who had the first sight at goal in the 10th minute following a counter attack which ended with Henson shooting straight at keeper Lane who dealt with it comfortably, and in the 20th minute in form striker Fenn went clean through on goal but somehow put his effort just inches wide of the left hand post and a glorious chance went begging.
Yarmouth then paid for this miss 7 minutes later when following a defender slipping over, Adams was allowed to go clean through on goal to slot the ball into the net to put the away side 1-0 up.
Henson almost made it 2-0 to the Hunters 2 minutes later following another defensive mistake, however this time Lane was able to make a very good stop on his goal line to keep the effort out, however the Bloaters did not seem to learn their lesson as just before half time a complete mix up between keeper and defender allowed Henson to ghost in and tap home from close range.
Half time: Great Yarmouth Town 0 Huntingdon Town. 2.
The 2nd period began and Yarmouth had 2 early opportunities to get back into this match when following a Cantwell corner the ball was twice cleared off of the goal line in a matter of seconds to deny them and then on 57 minutes Soares was replaced by Fossett to add some fresh legs into the midfield area.
In the 59th minute Nfamara was shown a 2nd yellow card for a late challenge and the Hunters went down to 10 men for the remaining 30 minutes and Yarmouth then brought on an extra striker introducing Adams to replace Willetts.
On 66 minutes a Cantwell corner missed everyone in the box including the Hunters keeper Losif and sailed straight into the net to make it 1-2 and it was game on!
However just 1 minute later Henson once again went clean through on goal, but this time put his effort just wide, however the visitors were not to be denied a third goal as Akintola slotted home in the 70th minute after yet another dreadful howler in the Bloaters back line.
Fenn pulled another goal back in the 80th minute from a close range header to set up a grandstand finish, however despite being down to 10 men the Hunters were still matching their opponents blow for blow and Lane was called into action once again to make a superb point blank save from visitors striker Adams in the 83rd minute.
Evans and McQueen were introduced late on for a last throw of the dice by the home side and they almost pulled level in injury time with the ball pinging around the Hunters goal line for several seconds before finally being cleared and the match then finished and Yarmouth paid the price for some uncharacteristic defensive mistakes.
Full Time: Great Yarmouth Town. 2 Huntingdon Town 3.
GYTFC: Lane, Halliday, Duffield, Willetts, Perry, Barnes, Fenn, Cantwell, Couzens, Soares, Belmar. Subs: Adams, McQueen, Evans, Fossett.
Man of the match: Rio Henson. (Huntingdon Town)
Yarmouth man of the match: Jordan Cantwell.
