Saturday 5th August 2023.   Report by Martin Baxter.

 

In conditions more suitable for Water Polo than football Yarmouth made the reasonably short journey to picture postcard Needham Market to face their under 23’s side.

 

It was with total irony that the Style Council song “Long Hot Summer” was playing in the Needham club bar when we got into the ground for our pre-match drink.

 

The Bloaters made 3 changes from last weeks opening win at FC Peterborough with Cork, Adams and Akpan all making starts and new signing Charlie Barber was named among the substitutes.    

 

The game started with the away side asking all the early questions and it was no surprise when in the 9th minute a perfectly timed pass across the box from Belmar cutting in from the left found Akpan who slotted home from 5 yards out to put his team 1-0 up.  

  

The Market Men then responded with a couple of half chances, firstly from a defensive mistake Hoskin went through on goal but put his shot high over the upright and the same player had another effort 2 minutes later which again was well off target.  

 

The Bloaters were looking the more clinical and composed of the two sides in the final third and Belmar in particular was causing the home defence serious problems with his pace cutting in from the left wing and in the 23rd minute he picked the pocket of his marker, winning the ball and then unleashing a shot from 20 yards out that keeper Podd turned over the bar for a corner.   

 

At this point in the match the Market Men were creating as many chances as their opponents, however they just lacked a real killer instinct in front of goal, which must have been very frustrating for their supporters as their build up play at times was excellent.  

 

In the 33rd minute Couzens made a surging run through the middle of the park before unleashing a superb strike from 18 yards out that sailed in the net giving the keeper no chance of stopping to put Yarmouth 2-0 up. 

 

However 7 minutes later following a push in the box Needham Market were awarded a penalty which was well converted by Barker to make it 2-1.     

 

Right on half-time a Cantwell free kick from 25 yards out narrowly missed the target by a matter of inches and the two teams went in at the break with this match finely poised at 2-1.

 

Half time: Needham Market Under 23’s 1  Great Yarmouth Town 2.

 

The 2nd period started with Fenn finding himself in a glorious position in only the 1st minute, however he only managed to put his close range strike into the side netting when a certain goal looked on the cards. Thankfully his miss did not prove crucial as in the 59th minute a Duffield free kick on the edge of the box was perfectly placed to fly into the net to make it 3-1 to the Bloaters. 

 

On the hour mark Belmar was replaced by Spooner and 2 minutes later following a superb counter attack a cross from the wide right from Halliday got caught in the cross wind to beat everyone including keeper Codd to sail into the top left hand corner of the net to make it 4-1.  

 

Fenn was replaced by new boy Barker in the 68th minute and 4 minutes later keeper Codd spilled the ball in front of Halliday who tried to score with his first touch from a tight angle and the ball came crashing back off of the crossbar and there was really to be honest only one team in this game now.  

 

Yarmouth then made 2 more late changes as Sanshaw came on for Couzens and Cork was replaced by Melo.

 

Halliday was not to be denied his 2nd goal of the day as in the 88th minute he connected with a superb cross from new boy Barber to head home to make it an emphatic 5-1 to the Bloaters and in injury time Melo almost made it 6-1 with a long range effort that went just over the bar and the ref then blew the final whistle. 

 

Next up for Yarmouth is a tricky looking knock out cup tie at Norwich CBS on Wednesday evening, 9th August, kick off 7.45 pm.

 

Full time:  Needham Market Under 23’s  1.  Great Yarmouth Town 5.     Attendance: 45.

 

GYTFC:  Lane, Halliday, Duffield, Cork, Philpott, Adams, Fenn, Cantwell, Akpan, Couzens, Belmar.  Subs: Orme, Sanshaw, Spooner, Melo, Barber.

 

Joint Man of the match: George Couzens and Mitchell Belmar.