Match Report

On a very damp and autumnal feeling Saturday at the Wellesley Yarmouth entertained in form Haverhill Borough in an attractive looking encounter.

Yarmouth had a striker issue with Beeson and the in-form McQueen both being unavailable, and therefore gave starts up front to Sanders and Trenery.  

The game kicked off after a very patriotic rendition of “God save the King” was sung by the 137 in attendance, followed by a minutes silence to pay respects to her majesty Queen Elizabeth.

Yarmouth got off to a flying start in their last home match and almost repeated it once again when following a Cantwell corner in the 3rd minute, Trenery connected with a shot that went sailing over the bar, when he should really have done better.  

The game then settled down with both sides looking to win the crucial midfield battle and in the 15th minute Reuben Lane made a great point blank save to deny Sykes from opening the scoring for the visitors. 

Barely 2 minutes later Lane made another decent stop from a free kick which then took a deflection and went out for a corner, and from the corner Murphy had a shot from 15 yards out that went out for yet another corner, and the visitors were laying siege on the Yarmouth goal. 

Haverhill had a total of 5 consecutive corners but somehow the Bloaters managed to keep them at bay and keep the score at 0-0.

After weathering the storm Yarmouth almost took the lead totally against the run of play in the 23rd minute when Trenery went clean through and took the ball around the visitors keeper Kendle only to see his shot rattle against the crossbar instead of sinking into the net. 

10 minutes later that man Trenery once again hit the woodwork with a scorcher from fully 25 yards out and you wondered if this was going to be Yarmouth’s day?

In the 42nd minute Haverhill took the lead when after a frantic scramble in the box the ball fell to Sykes who slotted home from close range. 

However barely 2 minutes later the Bloaters should have levelled, however Sanders sent a golden opportunity sailing over the bar.  

Just before half-time a defensive error from the home side allowed Murphy in at goal and he was able to slide the ball past Keeper Lane to put his side 2-0 up and leave Yarmouth a mountain to climb in the 2nd half. 

However in first half stoppage time Trenery was once again unlucky not to score, this time being foiled by a superb save by the visitors keeper Kendle.

Half time:  GYTFC  0  Haverhill Borough  2.

The 2nd period kicked off and Haverhill were happy to sit on their 2 goal lead, however Yarmouth still seemed shell shocked from conceding 2 goals so close to half time and on the hour mark the changes were made with Sanders and Soares being replaced by Fenn and Roberts and then on 65 minutes Perry was also hooked and Duffield came on to replace him. 

On 66 minutes the first real opportunity of the 2nd half fell to the visitors with their striker Harvey making a real positive run at goal and just putting his shot wide of the right hand post and 5 minutes later Harvey once again missed a decent chance to put the game to bed for Haverhill.  

The changes made by the Bloaters did eventually pay off when in the 78th minute a low cross sailed across the visitors box and fell to Vincent who tapped home to give the home side a lifeline and then with a last throw of the dice Jacobs was replaced by Melo.  

However the comeback was short lived as 3 minutes later from a corner Yarmouth failed to clear their lines and conceded a scrappy third goal which was converted by Harvey.

Full Time: Great Yarmouth Town FC 1  Haverhill Borough 3.   Attendance: 137.

Yarmouth man of the match:  Rueben Lane.