Great Yarmouth Town v Eynesbury Rovers. FA Vase 2nd Qualifying round. Saturday 22nd September 2024. Report by Martin Baxter.
On a glorious late September Saturday Yarmouth played hosts to Eynesbury Rovers in the FA vase in another cup tie at the Wellesley this season.
Rovers play at the same level as the Bloaters in the United Counties league and they made the long trip to the east coast in mixed form and currently sit in 11th position in their league.
Yarmouth were able to name both Deeks and Jacobs in the starting eleven after they both missed the trip to Heacham and Fenn also started after coming off the bench and scoring a late equalizer at Heacham.
The match started with the home side getting off to a flyer in only the 2nd minute when following a Belmar corner Barber played a one/two with Fenn before unleashing a drive from 15 yards out that sailed into the bottom right hand corner of the net to put his side 1-0 up, and it was very nearly 2-0 just 2 minutes later when Barber again found himself through on goal, however this time Rovers keeper Lewis did well to block him out and then grab hold of the loose ball.
Th Bloaters were playing some real attractive attacking football and were putting their opponents under a lot of early pressure, however the 2nd goal did not come and Rovers then started to disrupt play by giving away a lot of free kicks and they picked up 3 yellow cards in the first 20 minutes of the game, however this tactic worked in the respect that play then become dis-jointed and this effected Yarmouth’s control of the game, with several stoppages for injuries not helping either.
In the 35th minute the visitors had their first sight at goal when following a defensive lapse Lewis found himself in a great position to pull his side level, however his volley went high over the crossbar and the chance went begging and this opportunity seemed to give Rovers confidence and they finished the first half much stronger winning a a couple of corners, but without really threatening Bloaters keeper Ling.
Half-time : Great Yarmouth Town 1 Eynesbury Rovers 0.
The 2nd half started with the visitors once again looking a lot more positive and in only the 1st minute Osobu looked like he had beaten his marker and was bearing down on goal, however somehow Halliday recovered well to block him from getting his shot away
and it seemed that a 2nd goal was certainly going to be required for Yarmouth to get through this tie.
The home side were second best in the opening period of the 2nd half however in the 53rd minute a Belmar free kick sailed into the box and was met by the head of Adams, however his effort went straight to the keeper and 2 minutes later Duffield was replaced by Jake Spooner and on the hour mark Osobu tested keeper Ling with a shot from 20 yards out that just went wide and Rovers were still looking the more likely of the 2 sides to get the next goal and they came even closer when danger man Osobu tried his luck from a tight angle in the 65th minute, however his shot from close range was well saved by Ling. Howell then came off the bench for the Bloaters for the last 20 minutes.
Man of the match Barber broke free from his marker 2 minutes later to run through on goal, however his shot went just wide from a tight angle as Yarmouth looked to put this game to bed and in the 70th minute it looked as if they had done that when Barber played a cross field pass to Fenn and he struck the ball into the net from 15 yards out to make it 2-0 and Rovers player King was then sinned binned for arguing with the match officials about the goal being allowed to stand.
Perry, Boast and Bates all then came off the bench to add some fresh legs for the last 10 minutes in very warm conditions which were clearly effecting the players of both sides, and in the 85th minute after turning over possession in their own half Yarmouth counter attacked with Halliday making a superb run down the right before crossing the ball to Belmar who’s shot deflected off of a defenders leg before hitting the back of the net to make it 3-0.
In injury time the Bloaters created another couple of chances that they unfortunately did not manage to take, however this cup tie then finished with a comprehensive win for Yarmouth and went into the hat from Monday’s FA Vase draw.
Full Time: Great Yarmouth Town. 3 Eynesbury Rovers 0. Attendance: 264.
GYTFC: Ling, Halliday, Belmar, Wilson-Towns, Deeks, Adams, Duffield, Jacobs, Couzens, Barber, Fenn. Subs: Perry, Boast, Bates, Howell, J. Spooner.
Man of the match: Charlie Barber. (His work rate and enthusiasm was second to none, simply outstanding)
