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Saturday 24th October 2009

STOWMARKET TOWN 1, BLOATERS 2

Saturday 24th October 2009

Stowmarket Town 1, Great Yarmouth Town 2

The Bloaters won their seventh game on the trot with goals from Scott Woodcock and new signing Gavin Norman, but not without some alarms in the second half that concerned manager Paul Tong.  

“We went 2-0 up and should have been comfortable but the boys will have to learn that it’s vital to tighten things up when you’re ahead, and learn it sooner rather than later. The dressing room was not a pleasant place to be after the game as I was not best pleased with our performance despite coming away with the points.  

“I felt there was a lack of professionalism in our preparation before the game and in our conduct during it. It was like we expected to just turn up and win, but in this league it does not just happen, you have to make it happen. Let’s hope it’s a lesson learned, because as the season goes on we will face much tougher opposition than we did today.” 

On a heavy pitch, the first of the winter, Yarmouth had the first chance but Fernando Vide fired wide from twelve yards. Michael Hilton, captaining the side once again with Stewart Roach on the bench, pushed a Stowmarket shot onto his bar but the home side could not follow it up. Yarmouth then went close with an effort somehow scrambled away from the line after a Woodcock corner on the quarter-hour mark. 

Yarmouth’s found it hard to get their normal rhythm going on the sticky pitch, but though they must have been boosted by three successive wins even less was seen of the home attack which failed to create a second shot until 30 minutes when Hilton needed two attempts to make sure. Perhaps they had been stung into action by a Jake Reed shot that was pushed onto the bar a minute before. 

Reed had another chance minutes later when Ross Charters lost the ball with Reed snapping at him but the home ‘keeper ended on his knees with the ball between them. 

Marcus Saunders was replaced by Martin Goulder as a precaution after his hamstring injury troubled him again with Martyn Magee moving back into defence, and it was a headed clearance from Magee that started the first goal move in added time: Vide picked it up in midfield, passed out to Reed on the right and the youngsters from right to left was met superbly by Woodcock who fired back past Charters into the far corner.  

Two minutes into the second half and the lead was doubled. Adam Sewell took a throw-in on the left; Norman laid it off to Woodcock whose fierce shot was only parried by Charters and Norman was left to slot the ball home – his first goal for the Bloaters. 

But instead of being a signal for Yarmouth to go on and dominate the game, it was the home team that drew inspiration from their setback. Vide, after a tireless performance, had just gone off to be replaced by Mark Thompson after 62 minutes and while Yarmouth were re-organising, Stowmarket got the ball across to the left-hand side from where leading scorer Zane Hughes took his chance well, finishing in similar style to Woodcock earlier. 

Yarmouth now looked nervy and Stow were winning the ball more than at any other time in the match. Roach went on to bring some stability and experience to the Bloaters but some tough defending was required, and Magee and Craig Roberts supplied it. The visitors recovered some of their poise and Norman could have extended the lead but for slipping on the wet surface as he was about to shoot past an exposed Charters. 

“Martyn Magee and Craig (Roberts) were outstanding,” said Tong afterwards, “and for me Craig was man of the match.”

M Hilton, A Sewell, O Savage, C Roberts, D Smith, M Saunders(M Goulder 40), S Woodcock, M Magee, G Norman, J Reed (S Roach 74), F Vide (M Thompson 62). Unused: J Bell