Great Yarmouth Town v Cornard United.
Saturday 2nd September 2023. Report by Martin Baxter.
On a very hot late summer’s day the Bloaters hosted high flying Cornard United at the Wellesley in what looked like being another very tough challenge for the home side.
Cornard sat in 5th place in the league coming into this fixture and are one of the clubs fancied to reach the play-off this season and Yarmouth had to make numerous changes from their mid- week win at the Nest owing to player unavailability, with Spooner, Wilson-Town, Akpan and and French all making starts along with 3 youngsters called up from the reserves sitting on the bench.
Like in their 2 previous matches Yarmouth got off to a flyer once again when only in the 2nd minute a routine shot from distance by Sanders was spilled by Ards keeper Lee- Stevens and Fenn was in the perfect place to capitalise on the mistake as he tapped the ball home to make it 1-0 and continue his incredible recent goal scoring streak.
However Cornard responded immediately to this set back when barely a minute later Spurling tested Lane with a close range strike that the keeper did well to stop and 5 minutes later Banner just failed to connect with a cross into the box when it looked likely he was going to find the net and it was clear to see why the Ards have been tipped to be in and around the play off places in the table this season.
The pressure finally paid off when in the 15th minute Seale flicked the ball home from close range to make it 1-1 and you had to say the goal was coming. It would be interesting to see how the Bloaters would now respond to being pegged back in these very hot conditions (with both sides having to take a water break on 25 minutes) and in the 37th minute Cornard’s Spurling had a half chance with a snap shot from 8 yards out that went narrowly wide.
In the 40th minute a superb run down the right flank from Akpan ended with him putting over a pinpoint cross for Sanders who struck the ball perfectly from 15 yards out but was foiled by a very good save by the Ards keeper to make up for his earlier error.
However neither side were then able to create another opportunity and the referee blew for the end of the half.
Half time: Great Yarmouth Town 1 Cornard United 1.
The 2nd half began with both sides somewhat cautious as the next goal would obviously be so important to the outcome of this fixture and for the first 15 minutes or so goal scoring chances were at a premium, however in the 62nd minute Fenn crossed the ball into the 6 yard box and Sanders struck the ball home from 3 yards out to make it 2-1 to Yarmouth.
8 minutes later Halliday cut in from the right flank and unleashed a shot that went right across the face of the goal and just wide of the left hand post and Yarmouth were now looking the stronger of the two sides going into the final 20 minutes and it is in these final periods in a tight game when fitness levels are so important and full credit to the fitness levels of this young Bloaters squad.
Cornard then had a period of intense pressure when they won 5 consecutive corners, however the Bloaters defence held firm and weathered the storm without looking like conceding an equalizer and the hard working Akpan was replaced by Spooner in the 82nd minute and then both Couzens and Sanders had half chances to put the game to bed, but both had their shots blocked by some resolute defending.
This game was however finally put to bed in the 89th minute when Barber broker free on a counter attack which ended with him playing the ball through to Spooner who slotted his effort past the keeper to make it 3-1, and in injury time it was almost 4-1 when following another counter attack Sanders put his effort just wide.
This win lifted Yarmouth up to 6th place in the table.
Full Time: Great Yarmouth Town 3. Cornard United 1.
GYTFC: Lane, Halliday, Spooner, Wilson-Town, Philpott, French, Akpan, Barber, Couzens, Sanders, Fenn. Subs: Stanley, Sacremento, McNab.
Man of the Match: Leo Spooner.
