BLOATERS MARCH ON WITH 9TH STRAIGHT WIN!
GYTFC V FC Peterborough. Saturday 10th February . Report by Martin Baxter.
On a mild and overcast Saturday Yarmouth hosted FC Peterborough in what looked like being another huge challenge for this young side.
I reported on this reverse fixture way back in late July and Peterborough were excellent that day and were unlucky to not come away from that game with at least a point.
I was very impressed with everything about them as a football club and they are a real threat in the final third of the pitch with their pace and power. Yarmouth kicked off with the same eleven who started the match against Whittlesey in mid-week.
In the first minute keeper Ling was bundled into his net by a Peterborough striker following a cross and although the ball crossed the line the linesman rightly flagged for a foul and the home side then went on the front foot looking for that crucial early goal and firstly Barber hit the post with a shot from the edge of the box and then Duffield played in Couzens with a delightful through ball and his effort from close range deflected out for a corner and from this corner Sanders found the head of Couzens at the near post and he very deftly flicked the ball into the net to make it 1-0 in the 10th minute and just 2 minutes later Couzens very nearly made it 2-0 when his flick at goal from a cross came back off the woodwork, before being eventually cleared.
The visitors had their first effort at goal after 25 minutes however Sanches put his long range effort way over the bar and 4 minutes later a Duffiled volley also missed the target once again going a yard or so too high and in the 40th minute with their first real opportunity Peterborough pulled level when following a free kick on the right the ball was flicked on by Vaz and went past the diving effort of keeper Ling and into the net and right on half-time Peterborough almost took a shock lead when a Sanches free kick from the edge of the box smashed against the post before going out of play and the 2 sides went in level at 1-1.
Half-time: Great Yarmouth Town 1 FC Peterborough 1.
The 2nd half started with Peterborough on top and buoyed by their equalizer late in the first period and Yarmouth at this stage were looking a little leggy and jaded after 2 very tough fixtures in the previous 7 days, however on the hour mark a Belmar free kick was met at the back post by Barnes and his header sailed into the net to make it 2-1. The lead did not last very long as once again the visitors pulled level just 7 minutes later with a scruffy looking goal from Marlimo which Yarmouth should really have cleared before it was bundled into the net to make it 2-2.
The much needed fresh legs were then introduced with Cantwell, Spooner and Jacobs all coming on as Yarmouth through the dice to get those 3 crucial points and keep the pressure on league leaders Framlingham and straight away their was a renewed energy about this young side as Duffield went though on goal and attempted to lob the ball over the keeper, however his effort went wide of the target. The breakthrough finally came in the 84th minute when once again Duffield broke free of his marker, however this time he finished superbly putting his shot under the keeper Snitkas and into the net to send the 250 plus crowd into wild celebrations. Fenn and Thompson then both came on for the last 5 minutes or so and Fenn was bundled over in the box by a Peterborough defender deep into stoppage time and Duffield stepped up to take the resulting penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way and making it 4-2 and with the last kick of the match Duffiled had a close range shot cleared off of the line by a Peterborough defender, to deny him his hat trick.
This match had been dedicated to ex player and club legend Alf Tooley who has recently been in poor health and it was fitting that he was able to attend such an entertaining game at the famous old Wellesley.
Full Time: Great Yarmouth Town. 4 FC Peterborough 2. Attendance: 251.
GYTFC: Ling, Halliday, Philpott, Wilson-Towns, Adams, Barnes, Duffield, Barber, Couzens, Sanders, Belmar. Subs: Thompson, Cantwell, Jacobs, Spooner, Fenn.
Man of the match: Brady Philpott.
