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Tuesday 24th November 2009

Great Yarmouth Town 1, Wroxham 1

A missed penalty in extra time denied Yarmouth what would have been a well-deserved place in the Norfolk Senior Cup semi-finals. After Jake Reed was sent sprawling in the Wroxham area after seven minutes of the first extra period, Liam Bartley struck his spot kick well enough but not quite well enough to beat ex-pro ‘keeper Scott Howie who somehow got a touch on it to send the ball over the bar for a corner. “It was a good save,” said Bartley, “but I should have scored it.” He claimed not to have missed from the spot before. 

It was not the first time Howie had saved his side and he was the busier ‘keeper on the night as the gusting wind dictated much of the play. 

Yarmouth went ahead after 38 minutes of domination with the wind at their backs; a patient build-up saw Fernando Vide feed the ball to Martyn Magee to the right of goal and his well-struck righted-foot shot slewed across Howie and in by the far post. 

Yarmouth withstood some tremendous second half pressure as Wroxham, now with the wind in their favour, tried to make good the goal. But the Yachtsmen became frustrated and niggly with only two bookings to show for it until the 78^th minute when substitute James Bulman latched on to a through ball after a rare stray Yarmouth pass and went on to beat the advancing Michael Hilton and take the tie into extra time. 

Dominic Smith had two good chances in the extra periods, as did Reed and Bartley. Gary Gilmore became a third Wroxham player to incur the referee’s displeasure and receive a yellow card much to his disgust, and Bartley also received a late booking. 

Manager Paul Tong said he was proud of his players: “They gave everything, and on another night they’d have won a game. But we were playing a top side and they gave us respect but you have to bear in mind the conditions. 

“There were good chances for both sides and some good saves by both ‘keepers but we had the misfortune to miss the penalty. Liam was brave enough to take it, so credit to him – he wanted to do it and Martyn Magee our normal penalty taker was not on the pitch by then. So no blame on him – we had other chances we missed. I’m proud of the boys; they competed and that’s what I wanted them to do tonight. They showed they can play with the best.” 

The draw for the semi-finals takes place Friday on Radio Norfolk at 6.30 and the replay is at Wroxham on Tuesday (7.45), putting off once again Yarmouth’s Division One Knockout Trophy game with Halstead. 

Team – M Hilton, A Sewell, O Savage, C Roberts, M Saunders, M Magee (L Bartley 78), F Vide (B Junior 82), D Smith, S Roach, G Norman, S Woodcock (J Reed 75). Unused subs: M Thompson, J Bell.

Referee – A Symonds

Attendance - 77