Great Yarmouth Town v Harwich and Parkeston FC. Saturday 25th February 2024. Report by Martin Baxter.
On a bright and sunny late winters day Yarmouth hosted play-off chasing Harwich and Parkeston FC at the Wellesley in a 2nd v 5th place encounter which again looked like being yet another tough challenge for this young Bloaters side.
Yarmouth made only 1 change from the mid-week game at Holbeach with Cantwell coming in for Wilson-Towns who was named amongst the substitutes.
The match started on a decent playing surface considering all the mid week rain and full credit must go the ground staff who did a superb job in producing such a good pitch, however despite this both sides took a while to settle with passes going astray and it was a little bit scrappy for the first 10 minutes or so, however in the 15th minute a Cantwell corner was met by the head of Duffield at the back post and he headed the ball into the net, however the referee had spotted a push in the box and the goal was disallowed.
However Duffield had another bite at the cherry on the half hour mark when he connected with a perfectly placed cross from the left by Barber with a low diving header at the far post which sailed into the net and this time the goal stood to make it 1-0 to the home side. This opening goal was crucial as with both defences working hard to keep things really tight the Shrimpers would now need to push forward more to try and get back into the match, which meant the game should now open up which suited Yarmouth with their fire power in the final third.
In the 40th minute a Duffield cross from the left missed the stretching foot of Halliday in the 6 yard box by a matter of inches before going out of play and just before half-time the visitors were awarded a free kick just outside the area, the free kick was met by the head of Beecham but his effort went straight into the arms of Bloaters keeper Ling.
The Bloaters went into the half-time break with that all important 1-0 advantage in a 45 minutes where for the most part the defences were on top.
Half-Time: Great Yarmouth Town. 1 Harwich and Parkeston. 0.
The 2nd half started with Yarmouth taking the game to their opponents and in the 50th minute a long range strike from Duffield was turned over the bar by Shrimpers keeper Cook when it looked like it just might be creeping in and 5 minutes later Belmar and Duffield combined with a quick interchange which ended with Belmar testing keeper Cook with a strike which he did well to stop and just 1 minute later following a counter attack Duffield went though on goal and his shot came back off the woodwork before being cleared.
On 65 minutes Jacobs came off the bench and was brought into the action along with both Wilson-Towns and Fenn just 5 minutes later as the Bloaters went looking for that all important 2nd goal to give them a 2 goal cushion which felt like it would be enough to see this game out and on 72 minutes the home side had another goal disallowed for off-side when Sanders put the ball into the net from close range.
In the 75th minute the Harwich manager received a straight red card for encroaching into the oppositions technical area and he watched the remainder of the match from up in the main stand and just 3 minutes later his day got even worse as Couzens nutmegged a Harwich defender on the touchline before cutting in and taking the ball around the keeper before superbly slotting home to make it 2-0 and easing the tension for the watching 185 plus supporters in the stands.
Melo and Adams then came on for the remaining 10 minutes and in injury time Fenn was fouled on the edge of the box and from the free kick Cantwell forced keeper Cook into an excellent save and with the last kick of the game man of the match Duffield had a shot well saved by Cook at his near post.
This was another hard fought 3 points won to keep up the pressure on league leaders Framlingham Town who visit the Wellesley in only 2 weeks time for a potential title decider?
Full Time: Great Yarmouth Town 2. Harwich & Parkeston. 0. Attendance: 187
GYTFC: Ling, Halliday, Philpott, Cantwell, Thompson, Barnes, Duffield, Barber, Couzens, Sanders, Belmar. Subs: Melo, Jacobs, Adams, Wilson-Towns, Fenn.
Joint Man of the match: Louie Duffield & Cameron Barnes
