GREAT Yarmouth Town's reward for their FA Cup extra-preliminary round success last Saturday at Hadleigh is to entertain the “Manchester United” of Norfolk local football, Wroxham, on August 30.

GREAT Yarmouth Town's reward for their FA Cup extra-preliminary round success last Saturday at Hadleigh is to entertain the “Manchester United” of Norfolk local football, Wroxham, on August 30.

This will be the Bloaters' first meeting with the Yachtsmen since the relegation season 2004-05 when the teams drew 3-3 in the Wellesley match, Yarmouth having led 3-1 10 minutes from the end, writes Gerry Brown.

Ironically, Yarmouth's U18s are due to meet Wroxham U18s (away) in the FA Youth Cup in a few days' time, the week beginning September 8.

Last week's win made it two out of two for the Bloaters, with no goals conceded. It's a rare feat, as the last time Yarmouth won their two opening games was six seasons ago, 2002-03, as then-manager Paul Tong well remembers (and they were also two clean sheets).

But the occasion prior to that goes back 25 years to the Bill Punton days, and before that you have to delve deep into the club's history to the 1920s.

Of Saturday's match, joint manager Kevin Cruickshank said: “Although there is still room for improvement in certain areas, it was another pleasing overall team performance.”

However, he is not getting carried away with the team's early successes.

“There is a long hard season ahead and we have only played two games. Paul and I will take one game at a time and prepare all the players positively for the next game.”

Tong was also realistic in his assessment: “We didn't play as well in midfield as I feel we could and we didn't put away our chances.

“But we bossed the second half and our defence was very tight - another clean sheet was very pleasing. It was perhaps a fortuitous free-kick that led to the goal but over a season you win some, you lose some - so yes, a marvellous result.”

Relishing the prospect of the match with Wroxham, long-time top dogs in the Ridgeons League, Tong said the team are looking forward to it

“It will give the boys an opportunity to see what they have to aspire to. Wroxham have been a formidable team for over a decade now and it will be great for us to pit our wits against such a good squad.”

Tomorrow, in the league. Yarmouth visit relegated Ipswich Wanderers who lost 3-1 at March on the opening day before defeating one of last season's leading Division One sides, Debenham LC, 2-1 in mid-week. After drawing 2-2 with Stowmarket in the FA Cup, they won Wednesday's replay 2-0.