GREATYARMOUTHFC.CO.UK

Tuesday 18th August 2009

Raunds Town 1, Great Yarmouth Town 3

FA Cup extra-preliminary round replay

Manager Paul Tong succinctly summed up the game when he said: “A marvellous first half performance won us the game.” 

This replay was earned by Yarmouth with a goal two minutes from time on Saturday; on Tuesday, Yarmouth repeated the dose with a goal two minutes into the game that set the tone for the night. Scott Woodcock sent over one of his pinpoint corners and centre-back Marcus Saunders put his head on it to score his first-ever goal for the Bloaters and set them on their way to a date with Saunders’ old club, Lowestoft. 

Jake Reed’s pace and tenacity caused the Raunds defence endless problems and he it was that scored the second after just twelve minutes with a superb lob over a replacement ‘keeper as compared to Saturday. 

Craig Roberts, a ball winner in midfield for Yarmouth, was always looking to make a contribution up front and did so when he scored the third goal in the 16^th minute, a simple tap-in after the home defence made a mess of a Martyn Magee free kick. 

The excitement for the Bloaters supporters continued throughout the half with Woodcock and Olly Savage supplying devastating crosses from the left. Woodcock also worked the inside and was agonisingly wide after pirouetting near the penalty spot, and on another occasion hit his shot straight at the ‘keeper after Reed’s pass from a clearance had found him in space on the edge of the area. 

Tong made one voluntary change from Saturday’s line-up with Savage available again, Stewart Roach, the scorer of Saturday’s equaliser, standing down on the bench. The one involuntary change saw Blaine Lowthorpe make his competitive debut in goal in place of the unavailable Osborne and the young Reserve ‘keeper played with great confidence: “He didn’t let us down at all,” said Tong. 

Ace goal-poacher Roach returned for the second half which never saw the same fluency from Yarmouth but then the Bloaters’ solid defence showed its prowess and Raunds only had a 65^th minute penalty to show for their improved efforts. 

Yarmouth chances were fewer but Roach headed wide after a Magee free kick screwed off the bar, Adam Sewell’s shot with the ‘keeper nowhere was deflected for a corner and near the end substitute Vida Formoso should have scored but wanted just too much time which allowed the ‘keeper to block. 

Raunds’ Chambers was sent off at the death for attempted retaliation after a foul by Magee who was booked, but it was little more than frustration on the home players part as the United Counties League Premier Division side suffered their third defeat in four games. 

“The three youngsters, Jake, Adam and Dominic, were outstanding,” commented Tong; “they played beyond their years. But we played as a team tonight, and when we do play as a team with our short passing game we look a football team!” 

Yarmouth – B Lowthorpe, A Darby, O Savage, C Roberts, A Ager, M Saunders, A Sewell, M Magee, J Reed (S Roach 46), S Woodcock (V Formoso 73), D Smith. Subs not used: L Bartley, B Junior, M Thompson.

Referee - C Holmes (Ely)

Attendance – 104