Swaffham Town v Great Yarmouth Town.
Tuesday 25th October 2022. Report by Martin Baxter.
On a mild autumn evening Yarmouth made a trip up the A47 to The Worzel’s Roofing Stadium (yes really) to face old foes Swaffham Town who were relegated from the Thurlow Nunn Premier league last season.
Swaffham have had a mixed start to life back in the division one north and currently sit in 13th place and 2 places and 3 points above the Bloaters and will be buoyed by a decent 2-1 win at home to Haverhill Borough last time out.
Yarmouth made only one change from Saturdays hard fought victory at Needham Market with Lonergan coming in for Jacobs.
The game started with Yarmouth once again paying in a 3-5-2 formation which in recent matches has certainly made them more solid and organised at the back.
In the first 20 minutes or so the visitors were having problems with the Pedlars wide player Bruce who was switching between both flanks and running at defenders with both pace and power and in the 21st minute he was through on goal as he beat the offside trap, however his scorching effort was well saved by Lane who tipped the ball over the bar for a corner.
However Yarmouth then started to get more possession and were growing into this encounter and in the 35th minute they took the lead with a Cantwell free kick that sailed straight at the Swaffham keeper Hemmings who totally mis-judged the flight of the ball and parried it into his own net for a very bizarre own goal. (However Cantwell will still claim it I am sure)
Just 5 minutes later that man Bruce again went very close to levelling things up with another surging run at goal, but he sent his effort just over the bar and the Bloaters were able to see out the rest of the first half keeping that vital 1-0 lead.
Half-time. Swaffham Town 0 Great Yarmouth Town 1,
The 2nd half started with Yarmouth now taking the game to their opponents and they had a decent shout for a penalty in the 46th minute when Couzens seemed to be upended in the box, however the ref was not interested and actually booked him for diving.
However a minute later another excellent free kick from Cantwell was headed down by Vincent to Barndon who volleyed home from 10 yards out to give his side a vital 2-0 cushion.
This 2nd goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of the Pedlars and in contrast oozed confidence and belief into the Bloaters who were playing some great attacking football and they were now in total control all over the park.
On 57 minutes a 40 yard run at goal from Phillpott ended with him shooting just wide and 1 minute later Cantwell went even closer with a scorcher that the keeper tipped over the bar.
Although Yarmouth were now dominating this match, they had a scare on the hour mark when following a Swaffham corner, Fox put an effort over the bar from 5 yards out when he should really have scored.
The away side continued to press their opponents and in the 70th minute Couzens had an effort go just wide of the right-hand post and on 75 minutes Soares was replaced by Halliday.
In the 80th minute the very impressive Couzens rattled the crossbar with a superb strike at goal from fully 30 yards out and 2 minutes later Lonergan was replaced by McQueen.
That totally deserved 3rd goal finally arrived in the 85th minute when Trenery found himself clean through on goal and he clinically slotted the ball into the net giving the keeper no chance.
Then 2 minutes later Couzens once again had another effort from 20yards out which the keeper did well to save.
Finally in in injury time substitute Mc Queen was put through with a wonderful pass from Halliday and took the ball around Hemmings to make it 4-0 on the night.
Full Time: Swaffham Town 0 Great Yarmouth Town 4.
Great Yarmouth Town: Lane, Willotts, Phillpott, Barnden, Vincent, Barnes, Trenery, Cantwell, Couzens, Soares, Lonergan. Subs: McQueen, Halliday, Duffield, Perry, Fenn.
Joint man of the match award: Jordan Cantwell and George Couzens.
Coming Soon!
