Great Yarmouth Town v Kirkley & Pakefield.
Friday 2nd August 2024. Report by Martin Baxter.
On a glorious summers evening the Bloaters staged their first FA cup tie in 5 years with a home game against local rivals Kirkley & Pakefield FC.
Having had a fantastic start to the new season with 2 wins from their 2 opening matches Yarmouth were hoping to carry their league form into this cup tie.
The only change from Tuesdays win at Thetford Town was Barnes coming in for the unavailable Wilson-Towns.
The game started with the home side on the front foot and in the 6th minute a free kick from Duffiled from 25 yards out went straight to the Royals keeper Wright, however just 3 minutes later the same player put in a cross from the right which took a touch off of a defenders foot on its way through and this wrong footed keeper Wright and the ball deflected into the net to make it 1-0 to Yarmouth and this goal was officially registered as the first goal of the entire 2024/2025 FA cup campaign.
It good even worse for the Royals in the 16th minute when they were the victims of their own downfall following some horrific defending when firstly their centre back failed to clear the ball in the 6 yard box and only succeeded in sending it high up into the air and keeper Wright then mis-timed his jump trying to grab the loose ball and only succeeded in dropping it and then crashing into Bloaters striker Duffield and conceding a penalty. Couzens took the penalty and made no mistake with a perfectly executed spot kick to make it 2-0.
Conceding such a sloppy goal seemed to affect Kirkley and they looked shell shocked for the next 10 minutes or so and Yarmouth were smelling blood and attacking them relentlessly looking for that all important third goal. In the 28th minute Couzens laid the ball back for Barber and his volley from 10 yards out went sailing over the bar without testing the keeper and just 2 minutes later a Couzens cross into the 6 yard box was flicked on by Duffield and only missed the target by a matter of inches.
Yarmouth created another couple of half chances without really testing keeper Wright and the visitors seemed mightily relived when the referee then blew the half-time whistle.
Half-Time: Great Yarmouth Town 2 Kirkley & Pakefield 0.
The 2nd period started in dramatic fashion when in only the first minute Jacobs tried his luck with an effort from 15 yards out that hit the cross bar before rebounding into the arms of keeper Wright and then Pollock had a shot from 10 yards out that went a yard wide and this was Kirkley’s first real effort at goal. Duffiled then also hit the cross bar a minute later with a superb drive at goal from fully 25 yards out and it was a real lively start to the 2nd half.
Yarmouth were keeping possession well and looked very solid at the back with Deeks marshalling the defence and the Royals were finding it difficult to break through and create many clear cut opportunities, however the home side were noticeably starting to look a little leggy after 3 very tough matches in the first 7 days of the new season and on the hour mark both Leo and Jake Spooner came on to freshen things up and they were soon followed by introductions for Cooper and Sacremento as well.
Leo Spooner had a half chance in the 75th minute but did not really connect with the ball properly and his shot went wide of the post and then 3 minutes later the referee noticed a foul in the box and Kirkley were awarded a penalty, completely surprising everyone in the ground. Skipper Brown stepped up to take the spot kick and he tried to place it into the bottom right hand corner, however keeper Ling guessed right and pulled off a stunning reflex save to deny him and keep the score at 2-0.
This penalty save was crucial in the context of this match as with 10 minutes to go a goal at that time would have given the Royals the momentum to push on for an equaliser.
Mc Queen then came on for the last 10 minutes and in the 89th minute Belmar almost made it 3-0 when he cut in from the left and unleashed a drive that went just past the post.
The referee then blew for full time and Yarmouth march on in the FA Cup and they will face either Cambridge City or Lakenheath in the next round.
Full Time: Great Yarmouth 2 Kirkley & Pakefield 0. Attendance: 362.
GYTFC: Ling, Halliday, Belmar, Barnes, Deeks, Adams, Duffield, Jacobs, Couzens, Barber, Fenn. Subs: Cooper, L. Spooner, D. Sacremento, Mc Queen, J. Spooner, Perry, Allen.
Man of the Match: Mitchell Belmar.
