Great Yarmouth and District Football League

The league returned to a full schedule but two of its remaining three sides in the Norfolk Primary Cup bowed out, leaving Belton as the only league representative in county action after Christmas.

Caister Youth played a very strong Diss Town A side and bowed out 5-0. Caister were not disgraced by the more experienced Diss side. Diss set up a quarter-final with Belton at Burgh Castle in January.

Meanwhile, South Yarmouth had a closer time of things but went down 4-2 to Lowestoft side Hopton at Halvergate.

The remaining two second round ties in the league’s prestigious Wiltshire Cup took place. MK United, winners in 2003/4 season, booked a quarter-final spot against Carpathians with a 4-2 win over Division Two leaders Caister CC. A hat-trick from Stu Thompson and one from Dave Bartram saw MK home.

Yarmouth United also made it through with a 5-1 win over a never-say-die Caister A. Caister put in a vastly-improved performance and only two late goals from United gave the score an unfair look. Yarmouth will play Feathers in the next round.

In Division One, Catfield extended their lead to six points with a 7-0 win over Feathers. The game between Bohemians and Albion was abandoned at half-time with Albion leading 3-1, due to injury. The league wishes the Bohemian’s goalkeeper a speedy recovery.

Norfolk n Chance, under new management, earned a valuable three points with a 4-2 win over Yarmouth Peelers. The two clubs trade places in the division with Norfolk n Chance now six points clear of the drop zone.

The Division Two title is too close to call at the moment. With Caister CC in cup action it was the turn of the challengers to step up and make a claim.

Carpathians who started the day in second could only pick up a point as they drew 2-2 with Wellington FC.

Belton though did make a statement as they defeated Prostar Windows 4-1 on the Rec. It wasn’t all plain sailing though as Prostar led 1-0 through Steve King before having a man sent off, which Belton took advantage of. Arches also gained three points to keep them in the hunt as they defeated bottom side Martham A 4-2 away.

Martham are though improving and will no doubt pick points up sooner or later.

This week sees the two divisional league cups take centre stage.

The draws for the first and second rounds of the Percy Nockolds Trophy have been made and all clubs should now have them via e-mail.

The league is pleased to announce that the Pub on the Shrubs is sponsoring the new club-of-the-month scheme for this season. The winners of the new scheme for November was Feathers FC and they will be presented with a match ball by the sponsor Pub on the Shrubs in due course.

Norfolk Primary Cup round four: South Yarmouth 2, Hopton 4; Caister Youth 0, Diss Town A 5.

Wiltshire Cup round two: MK Utd 4, Caister CC 2; Yarmouth United 5, Caister Utd A 1.

Division One: Catfield 7, Feathers 0; Norfolk ‘n’ Chance 4, Peelers 2. Bohemians v Albion abandoned.

Division Two: Martham 2, Arches 4; Wellington 2, Carpathians 2; Prostar Windows 1, Belton 4.

Fixtures (all kick-offs 2pm). H A Holmes League Cup – Group One: Catfield v Caister Utd (Beaco, R Drake), Yarmouth Utd v Albion (Beaco, M Hubbard).

Group Two: Bohemians v Norfolk ‘n’ Chance (Lynn Grove, A Symonds), Feathers v Peelers (Gorleston Rec, R Green).

Burgess Cup – Group One: Belton v Caister CC (Burgh Castle, D Tozer), Prostar Windows v Arches (Gorleston Rec, P Emblem).

Group Two: South Yarmouth v Wellington (Halvergate, D Codling), Caister Youth v Martham A (Allendale, R Manship).

Division One: Yarmouth International v MK Utd (Beaco, B Russell).

Division Two: MK Utd Res v Carpathians (Gorleston Rec, G Houghton).