Great Yarmouth Town Reserves v UEA Reserves.
Saturday 25th February 2023. Report by Martin Baxter.
With a cold northerly wind blowing across the Wellesley Yarmouth reserves played host to mid table UEA reserves in a vital game for the home side.
After their 3 points gained from last Saturday following their opponents Aylsham having to call off the match, Yarmouth knew that another win and 6 points out of 6 would move them comfortably clear of the relegation zone and ease the pressure considerably.
The Bloaters started with a strong looking line up that included first team squad regulars Perry, Vincent, Soares and Fenn and as the first team were not playing the day’s spotlight fell on this match and it was good to see a healthy crowd at the Wellesley.
The game started slowly with both sides struggling to get any rhythm and the first chance came in the 17th minute when Chakarto went clean through on goal following a defensive error, however his close range strike was well stopped by Bloaters keeper Harding.
The home side then responded with an opportunity of their own when Fossett had a long range effort sail just wide of the right hand post and this encounter was now coming to life after a somewhat cagey start, and the away side then had their 2nd chance in as many minutes when Kerr this time tested Harding with a shot from 15 yards out that the keeper comfortably dealt with.
In the 35th minute Yarmouth were awarded a penalty following the referee adjudging that a UEA defender had hand-balled in the box and Fossett stepped up to take the spot kick, however the UEA keeper Souster made an excellent save to deny an opening goal for the home side.
However Yarmouth striker Fossett made amends for his penalty miss less than 5 minutes later when following a great counter attacking move he tapped the ball home from 5 yards out to put the home side 1-0 up.
It got even better 3 minutes later when following a superb through ball from Fenn, Fossett doubled his tally when he smashed the ball into the net from 10 yards out giving the keeper no chance of stopping.
These 2 goals in quick succession seemed to really lift Yarmouth and 3 minutes later they almost increased their lead even further when Fenn went through on goal but had his shot well saved by Souster and just before half time another chance fell to Fenn, who after a great run down the left flank put his shot just wide of the left hand post.
Half time: GYTFC Reserves 2 UEA Reserves 0.
The 2nd half started pretty much like the first period of the first half with neither side being able to create a clear cut opportunity, and we did not get any action of real note until the hour mark when George hit a strike from 25 yards out that went wide.
The Bloaters still looked the more likely of the 2 sides however and on 70 minutes joint man of the match Fenn had yet another sight at goal, but once again his shot from close range was well dealt with by the UEA keeper Souster, who turned his effort around the post for a corner.
In the 80th minute the visitors had a free kick in a dangerous position around 20 yards out which went narrowly wide and Yarmouth breathed a huge sigh of relief, however that relief was short lived as in the 85th minute following a corner from right back Parakon, the ball was tapped home at close range by Lopez to give UEA a lifeline back into this match.
In the 90th minute a cross from the right sailed dangerously across the Yarmouth box and just missed UEA striker Fraine by inches and this match was now on a knife edge and Yarmouth were looking a little nervous, however in injury time those nerves were finally put to rest when Jesse Fenn finally got his reward when he beat the off-side trap to go clean through and he calmly took the ball around the keeper and slotted home to the delight of the watching faithful.
Full Time: GYTFC Reserves 3. UEA Reserves 1.
GYTFC Reserves: Harding, Perry, Evans, Bishop, Vincent, Norman, Meakins, Soares, Fossett, George, Fenn. Subs: Abbott, Lopez, Revell.
Joint man of the match: Jesse Fenn and Gerson Soares.
