Bloaters leave it late

BOOSTED by the weekend's home win over Downham, Great Yarmouth Town visit Halstead tomorrow (ko 3pm, coach leaves the ground at 11.15am sharp.)

Great Yarmouth Town 2, Downham Town 1

THE Bloaters deserved to win. They had the lion's share of possession in a game which was far from a classic.

After a couple of minutes Dale Crane met a good cross from the left but his header was straight at keeper Jamie Golland.

Against the run of play, with their first attack, Downham scored with barely five minutes on the clock.

In a quick break, Downham piled forward and after some good work down the left a quick ball inside was met by Jason Cook who, with a sharp turn and shot, beat Pride in the Yarmouth goal.

For the next 25 minutes Downham were under constant pressure as Yarmouth spurned chances.

Ben le Compte's corner was headed just over by Stuart Roach.

Downham defended well and were quick on the break. The last 15 minutes before half-time saw the sides cancel each other out with Yarmouth producing most of the chances.

At half-time Mark Thompson replaced Crane. The second half started with Yarmouth in determined mood.

Good work by Dyer down the left set up Crawley on one of his many runs but Downham cleared well to concede a corner from which Roach headed just wide.

On 65 minutes Yarmouth had their best chance of the game when le Compte had a goal-bound header cleared off the line by Sam Darlow.

For all their dominance it did not look Yarmouth's day.

Adam Sewell replaced le Compte, Yarmouth continued to force the play and were finally rewarded with a deserved equaliser.

Steve Taylor produced a brilliant cross for Roach, whose header was dispatched with ease past Golland in the Downham goal.

This was the break Yarmouth had been waiting for and it was ll one-way traffic as Downham were forced to defend in numbers.

Mark Thompson had two great chances to put the game beyond doubt but Downham stood firm.

With time fast running out Gareth Palmer had a great chance but his shot was cleared off the keeper's legs.

Then with barely three minutes left Yarmouth scored their winning goal. They won the ball in midfield and Roach played an excellent ball through to Nick Crawley, who calmly side-footed past the advancing keeper.

This was a good team effort against a well-organised Downham Town.

Team: Elliot Pride, Johnny Watt (C), Paul Dyer, Steve Taylor, Gareth Palmer, Toby Gourbould, Daniel Crane, Ben Le Compte, Stuart Roach, Adam Sullivan, Nick Crawley, Subs: Mark Thompson, Adam Sewell, Tommy Gardiner.