Thetford Town v Great Yarmouth Town. Tuesday 30th July 2024. Report by Martin Baxter.
On a very warm summers evening Yarmouth made the trip to the Brecklands to face league title favourites Thetford Town for their first away fixture of the new season.
The Brecklanders have reached the Premier League play off’s for the last 2 seasons and they started the new campaign with a very good 2-0 away win at Brantham last Saturday.
The Bloaters named an unchanged starting line up from Saturdays opening day win against Long Melford and Cameron Barnes was named amongst the substitutes.
The match started and in only the 2nd minute Duffield tested the Thetford keeper Smith with a speculative shot from fully 30 yards out that the keeper somehow fumbled allowing Fenn to run in and almost tap the loose ball into the net, however Smith just about managed to dive at Fenn’s feet in time to clear the ball to safety.
For the opening period of this game the home side dominated the possession and Yarmouth had to work very hard off the ball to keep them at bay and Thetford’s skipper Bond was dominant in the middle of the park driving forward with his excellent range of passes, however on 16 minutes and against the run of play Couzens put in cross which sailed right across the 6 yard box without a Yarmouth player being able to connect with it as Smith got a vital touch to divert it clear.
In the 20th minute a diving header from the edge of the 6 yard box by Olpin forced a fine save from Ling in the Yarmouth goal and 5 minutes later following a very swift counter attack, Grove squared the ball to Diggens who from 10 yards out looked almost certain to score, however he somehow put his shot wide of the right hand post.
After being 2nd best for the first half hour the away side started to get a foothold in this encounter and Duffield cut in from the right flank and tested keeper Smith with a fierce strike, which he turned around the post for a corner and in the 43rd minute Adams went on a run from his own half through the middle unchallenged and unleashed a magnificent effort from 30 yards out that keeper Smith could only turn around the post for a corner.
However the Bloaters were not to be denied as right on half-time a Belmar corner was not cleared by the Thetford defence, allowing Deeks to smash home a volley from 5 yards out to put the away side 1-0 up at the break.
Half Time: Thetford Town 0 Great Yarmouth Town 1.
The 2nd half kicked off and buoyed by their goal just before half-time Yarmouth started the 2nd period much better than they did the first half and they were now keeping possession really well and were playing with far more confidence and on 57 minutes a Belmar corner was met once again by Deeks, this time with his head at the back post and the ball sailed into the net to make it 2-0 and it was almost 3-0 barely 3 minutes later when a Duffield shot from the right was just about turned around the post for a corner by keeper Smith.
In the 65th minute it was game on again when Gilchrist hit a superb strike from 20 yards out that keeper Ling had no chance of stopping as it firstly smashed against the bar and then into the net and the Brecklanders almost pulled level just 2 minutes later when sub Davies had a point blank range header expertly saved by keeper Ling and it now seemed only a matter of time before this match would be all square again.
However Yarmouth then rallied once again and took the game to their opponents and in the 70th minute a Belmar free kick went right across the 6 yard box without anyone being able to get a touch on it and then the same player once again tested keeper Smith with a powerful drive after cutting in from the right, which he did very well to stop.
In the 75th minute this enthralling Norfolk derby was finally settled when Belmar once again had a strike at goal from 10 yards out which hit the post before rebounding back to him and he reacted first to superbly slot the ball home to make it 3-1 .
Both Cooper and Jake Spooner came on for the last 10 minutes to add some fresh legs to the Bloaters as they comfortably then saw the game out.
This was a superb all round team performance and probably the best yet since Honeyman and Blissett have been in charge of this young group of players.
Full Time: Thetford Town 1 Great Yarmouth Town 3.
GYTFC: Ling, Halliday, Belmar, Wilson-Towns, Deeks, Adams, Duffield, Jacobs, Couzens, Barber, Fenn. Subs: Cooper, L. Spooner, Sacremento, Barnes, J. Spooner.
Man of the match: Every player was simply outstanding!
