Great Yarmouth Town v Framlingham Town.
Wednesday 30th November 2022. Report by Martin Baxter.
On a mild and dry late November evening Yarmouth hosted high flying Framlingham Town who currently sit in 2nd position in the league and with their games in hand look likely to return to the summit where they have been for most of the season.
After an unprecedented recent injury crisis at the club the Bloaters were able to welcome back Halliday, Philpott, Barnden, McQueen and Barnes into their starting line up, all returning from injuries and new signing Connor Smith was on the bench.
This boost in having players returning seemed to have an immediate effect as the home side started the game on the front foot in a real positive fashion and as early as the 4th minute Duffield tested the visitors keeper Cummings with an effort from 15 yards out which he did well to block and put out for a corner and for the next 10 minutes or so Yarmouth looked the more likely of the two sides.
However Framlingham are not favourites for promotion without good reason and after the initial 10 minutes they stated to press their opponents and get a foot hold in this match and in the 20th minute they had their first shot at goal from 25 yards from Exworth that went wide of the right hand post and the match then became a lot more evenly contested.
In the 25th minute Barnes had a long range shot from 25 yards out that went just over the bar and 5 minutes later Lucaret sent in an excellent free kick from the left for the “Castle Men” which was just about scrambled clear by some last ditch defending on the line by the Yarmouth defence and 3 minutes later a high ball over the top was headed on by Adams and just missed the target, going over the crossbar.
Although the visitors were now in the ascendancy the Bloaters stood firm at the back and managed to keep their opponents at bay and the two sides went in at half-time at 0-0.
Half Time: Great Yarmouth Town 0 Framlingham Town 0.
The 2nd half started with a totally crazy five minutes which decided this contest as firstly in the 46th minute Exworth rose unchallenged in the box to head home a powerful header from a free kick to put the away side in front, however a minute later Yarmouth were level when Vincent headed home from a corner.
Parity was short lived however as a minute later Wilson put the “Castle Men” back in front again, with a side footed effort from 5 yards out following a cross from the left and we had 3 goals in as many minutes to really bring this match to life.
Just 2 minutes later came the deciding factor in this game when following a Yarmouth corner Vincent was adjudged to have pushed and manhandled a Framlingham defender and was shown a straight red card by the referee.
Down to 10 men the task had now become even more difficult for the home side and Melo and Connor Smith were both introduced to bring some much needed fresh legs and to their credit Yarmouth kept plugging away and looking for a way back into this encounter and Smith had a great chance to level in the 70th minute but his strike at goal from 15 yards out went narrowly wide and the hard working Adams was then replaced by Evans in the 78th minute.
In the last 10 minutes the game really opened up as Yarmouth started to understandably tire and firstly Lane bravely dived at the feet of Wilson to prevent him taping the ball home from close range and then 2 minutes later the same player again had a chance to put this match to bed for the visitors, however after a great surging run at goal he put his shot over the bar.
In then 90th minute following a routine save by the visitors keeper Cummings, the Yarmouth players appealed to the ref that the keeper had put the ball over the goal line, however nothing was given and Barnes was then sinned binned for his protests and with virtually the last kick of the match Lane made a great fingertip save to once again deny the out of luck Wilson.
Full Time: Great Yarmouth Town. 1 Framlingham Town. 2.
GYTFC Line up: Lane, Halliday, Philpott, Vincent, Barnden, McQueen, Barnes, Willetts, Adams, Soares, Duffield. Subs: Harrison, Melo, Evans, J.Smith. C. Smith.
Man of the match: Louis Duffield.
