On a dull and mild Saturday at the Wellesley the Bloaters hosted high flying Whittlesey Athletic who were sitting in 6th position in the league and who were chasing a play-off place after 3 straight victories.
This reverse fixture back in November was a very tight encounter with a goal from De Sousa winning the match for the home side on the day and Yarmouth made 3 changes from last time out at Downham Town with Halliday, Trennery and Barnden all coming into the side.
The kick off time was switched to 2 pm as the club were looking at ways of saving on energy costs by not using the floodlights at the Wellesley, along with the away side now being able to travel back home earlier in the evening.
If successful then all winter matches in the future between November and February may also start at 2 pm rather than the traditional 3 pm.
Before kick off there was one minutes applause to celebrate the life of club legend Neil Hart who sadly passed away recently, and Neil will always be remembered for that iconic goal against Rugby in the FA Vase semi-final in 1983.
The match began and Yarmouth started with Barnden as a make shift centre forward up top as Beeson the first choice striker was not available until half-time onwards and this meant that their style of play was changed to adapt to this, and in the first 20 minutes of this encounter both defences were on top and neither keeper was called into action.
On 22 minutes this changed when De Sousa tested Lane with a fierce drive from 10 yards out that the young keeper somehow managed to turn around the post for a corner and this was followed by a period when Athletic started to exert some pressure on the Yarmouth back line, however the home defence stood firm to keep them at bay and on 33 minutes Duffield put in an excellent cross from the right which sailed dangerously across the visitors box without anyone in an amber and black shirt being able to get on the end of.
On 40 minutes a perfectly weighted pass from De Sousa found Cooke who clinically slotted home from close range to put the visitors 1-0 up and Yarmouth were unable to respond to going 1-0 down before the ref blew for half time.
Half time: Great Yarmouth Town 0 Whittlesey Athletic 1.
The 2nd period started with Yarmouth looking to improve after not really offering much of a goal threat in the first 45 minutes and Beeson came on to replace Perry to hopefully give them a little more fire power, however he was yellow carded within 5 minutes for a late challenge on a Whittlesey defender and on the hour mark the home side finally had a chance to draw level when a Melo cross from the right found Jacobs who’s flick at goal went just past the the post.
This game should have been wrapped up for Athletic in the 65th minute when Carter had the whole goal to shoot at from 5 yards out but he somehow managed to send his effort blazing over the bar, however it was not a crucial miss as 5 minutes later he had a second bite at the cherry and this time he tapped the ball into the net from close range following a flick on from a corner to put the visitors 2-0 up.
Yarmouth then made changes with Cousins getting his first run out after a long term injury and Fenn was also introduced to try and give the home side a way back into the match and on 82 minutes following a corner and some pinball in the visitors box the ball was eventually cleared off of the line to deny Beeson who was in the thick of the action.
However late on the best opportunity once again fell to the visitors when man of the match Carter had a header from a free kick that just missed the target by inches.
Full Time: Great Yarmouth Town 0 Whittlesey Athletic 2.
GYTFC: Lane, Halliday,Duffield, Barnes, Philpott, Perry, Trennery, Willetts, Barnden, Melo, Jacobs. Subs: Beeson, McQueen, Fenn, Cousins.
Man of the match: Jack Carter. (Whittlesey)
