Yarmouth Town 3 Fakenham 0

The Bloaters started the New Year as they finished the old – with a well-deserved home win.

This time it was the Ghosts of Fakenham Town who, from four meetings this campaign have failed to get the better of The Bloaters, writes DEREK BIRD.

The Bloaters kicked off and were rewarded for their positive play when, with a little over five minutes on the clock, 17 year-old Rorie Burnett rose to score his first senior goal with a fine header that sailed into the top corner beyond Tommy Rix’s despairing dive.

The Ghosts had to wait until the 17th minute for their first effort of note which was comfortably dealt with by stand-in custodian Johnny Jarvis.

Midway through the half Robin Andersen came close to doubling the home advantage when his looping header was plucked from underneath the bar by Rix.

Minutes later the Bloaters pressure paid off when Josh Tomas, after some exquisite ball control in the area, gave Rix no chance when he hooked into the top corner.

The lead could have quite easily been extended before the break had it not been for a couple of fine saves by Rix.

In comparison with the first period, the second was a rather dour affair, littered with free kicks, which frustrated both teams, and was not conducive to free-flowing football.

Indeed, other than the odd effort on goal the main talking point of the half was the apparent case of mistaken identity with booking of the Bloaters’ captain Callum Jones.

The visitors had two good chances to reduce the arrears.

The first was when Kyle Plumb shook off his shackles to outpace the defence but was denied by a timely last-ditch challenge and the second was midway through the half when a long-range effort, through a crowded area, was cleared off the line.

The Bloaters secured the points five minutes from time when second half substitute Danny Scriven coolly stroked home from the spot after Rix rather needlessly body-checked Forbes as they challenged for a 50/50 ball.In time added on the visitors were denied a consolation goal when Jarvis pulled off a stunning point blank save.

Great Yarmouth Town: Jarvis, Burkle, Anderson (Scriven 55), Jones, McMorran, Burnett, Bryanton, Barnden, M.Forbes (Markham 87), Thomas, Crux

Fakenham Town: Rix, Harvey, Pearson (Curson 81), Day, Gilchrist, Page, Tricks, Anderson, Plumb (Steed 75), Jarvis (Harris 63), Savory

Bookings: Great Yarmouth Town - Burnett, Jones

Fakenham Town - Gilchrist, Rix.