Stowmarket Town 0, Great Yarmouth Town 3YARMOUTH returned to Greens Meadow to replay this fixture after having used an unregistered player on April 25 when they won 2-1.

Stowmarket Town 0, Great Yarmouth Town 3

YARMOUTH returned to Greens Meadow to replay this fixture after having used an unregistered player on April 25 when they won 2-1.

Had Stow won, they would automatically have qualified for an FA Cup entry next season. For Yarmouth, one point would have been enough to lift them into fifth place in Ridgeons Division One above rivals Gorleston, writes Gerry Brown.

The Bloaters improved on their previous visit - the win gave them the second highest number of away wins in the division after champions Newmarket Town, and the goals made them the highest-scoring team away from home in the section.

A shortage of home goals scuppered promotion hopes, as of the top-nine teams Yarmouth scored the least at home. Defensively, only Debenham LC conceded fewer at home and only the promoted teams conceded fewer in away fixtures.

The central-defence pairing of Adey Ager and Alan Darby is one of the strongest in the division, the horrors at Halstead notwithstanding, and it is notable that Ager was missing for the defeats by Newmarket home and away and Hadleigh away. Michael Hilton, in goal, has improved beyond all measure since replacing Elliot Pride after a long wait for his chance.

As to this game, Yarmouth were never in danger of losing it after they took a 22nd- minute lead. A Mark Thompson run and cross saw Jake Reed have two bites at the cherry before firing past Charters.

Yarmouth showed a tremendous appetite. Reed, a livewire up front and reportedly being watched by an Ipswich Town scout, was producing some really deft touches and darting runs.

On 77 minutes he went through the middle, Charters came out to challenge but completely messed up, leaving the youngster to walk the ball into the net for 2-0.

Three minutes later, it was all over bar the shouting when Bartley grabbed a deserved and well-taken goal.

At the start of the campaign, Paul Tong was hoping for a top-six finish so to end in fifth place represents a successful season on the pitch, with much more to look forward to in 2009-2010.

Bloaters: Michael Hilton, Johnathan Watt, Joe Bryanton (David Lawrence), Toby Gorbould, Adey Ager (c), Alan Darby, Scott Woodcock, Bobby Hill, Liam Bartley, Jake Reed, Mark Thompson (Kieran Bartley). Att: 48.

Soham Town Youth 2, Great Yarmouth Town Youth 3

The hosts, who had won the North Division of the Ridgeons Youth League, scored first and last in this championship semi-final play-off on Monday, but unbeaten Yarmouth's three goals in between were just enough to send them through to next week's final.

Yarmouth dominated from the start but a defensive slip gave Soham the lead after only a quarter of an hour. Yarmouth fought back and hit a post before grabbing the equaliser.

A tremendous Jake Reed shot was turned round a post by the home keeper and when Joe Bell's corner went in the keeper twice saved close-range efforts before Adam Sewell turned the ball over the line.

Yarmouth made changes at half time. Jacob Maitland put them into the lead with a neat header on 55 minutes.

Soham came back furiously and the Bloaters' goal led a charmed life before Joe Bell slid a Kieran Bartley cross under the keeper in the 63rd minute to give Yarmouth breathing space. Then Soham scored their second from a free-kick.

Yarmouth now meet Stotfold in the final at Diss Town's ground next Tuesday at 7.45pm. All support would be appreciated.

Yarmouth: Dan Allen, Sam Watts, Cherno Bari, Tom Gardiner, Adam Sewell, Dominic Smith, Jacob Maitland, Lee Roscoe (c), Jake Reed, Jack Deeley, Joe Bell. Subs: Simeon Lee (n/u), Ross Catchpole, Kieran Bartley, Charlie McAra, Richard Brett (n/u).