Great Yarmouth Town Reserves v Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers Reserves.
Saturday 7th January 2023. Report by Martin Baxter.
Yarmouth reserves finally got to play a competitive fixture for the first time in over a month owing to firstly having several fixtures postponed and then because of the Christmas break which happens in the Anglian Combination leagues.
Yarmouth currently sit out of the bottom three on goal difference only, however this has been partly caused by the first team having a serious injury crisis during November, which resulted in 5 or 6 of the reserve team regulars being called up to the first team squad and this had a huge knock on effect for them, and in fact at one point resulted in the reserves not being able to field a side in the Norfolk Junior cup game against Long Stratton and having to forfeit the tie.
However they were looking for a positive start to the new year against 7th placed Rovers and only narrowly lost 4-3 in this reverse fixture back in October, and they were finally able to field a much stronger side than in recent matches.
The match started in very windy conditions with Rovers having the advantage of the wind behind them for the first 45 minutes and they looked a well organised, strong and physical side and were asking all the early questions.
In the 10th minute Franklin had a header from a free kick on the left well saved by Stueman in the Yarmouth goal and 2 minutes later from another cross Norbry opened the scoring with another header which the Yarmouth defence failed to deal with and this looked like it was going to be a very long first 45 minutes for the Bloaters.
On 22 minutes they went close again when following another cross into the box the ball was cleared off of the line to prevent Blossom converting with a header, however the inevitable 2nd goal finally arrived in the 37th minute when that man Norbury got his 2nd of the afternoon with a well taken volley from 15 yards out.
Half time. Great Yarmouth Town Reserves 0 Dussindale and Hellesdon Reserves 2.
The 2nd period started and with the wind now if their favour Yarmouth were looking to get themselves back into this match, however they had a very lucky escape when in only the 1st minute of play re-starting Rovers somehow failed to score with an open goal at their mercy and the home side breathed a huge sigh of relief, and in the 53rd minute substitute Smith was brought down in the box for a stone wall penalty which was perfectly executed by penalty specialist Zach Woodhouse to give the Bloaters a lifeline.
However just as the home side looked to be on the front foot following their goal, Norman was sinned binned for 10 minutes for dissent and they were reduced to 10 men, and this ended up being significant to the outcome of this game as 8 minutes later man of the match Norbury went clean through after a counter attack and took the ball around the keeper to slot home for his hat trick.
Smith had a chance to reduce the deficit in the 75th minute when he connected with a cross, however his effort went over the bar and this game was finally up for the Bloaters in the 80th minute when Blossom tapped the ball home at the far post following a Norbury free kick on the right and then 3 minutes later Norman who had just returned to the pitch following his sin bin period on the side lines was shown a second yellow card and was sent off, rounding off a miserable afternoon for him and his team mates.
Full Time: Great Yarmouth Town Reserves. 1. Dussindale and Hellesdon Reserves 4.
GYTFC Reserves: Stueman, George, Cole, Bishop, Norman, , Macca, Meakins, N Woodhouse, Z Woodhouse, , Abbotts, Lopez. Subs: Smith, Rigby.
Man of the match: Lewis Norbry.
Yarmouth man of the match: Luke George.
