Great Yarmouth Town 3 Cornard United 1

Two enalties, either side of half time, secured a win against bottom-of-the-table Cornard United in Mark Vincent’s 750th appearance for the club.

Joel Watts and Danny Scriven’s spot-kicks either side of half time and an own goal secured the win in a game that will be remembered for the central defender’s achievements, writes REBECCA ABBOTT.

Before the kick-off Vincent, 49, was given a guard of honour by both sets of players and match officials, and was presented with a retro shirt signed by former and current Bloaters players. There were letters of support from the town mayor Colleen Walker and the manager of Everton David Moyes.

On the pitch, though, it was the visitors who took a shock lead six minutes into the game, Ashley Curran turning home Stephen Hammond’s cutback. After the minor setback the Bloaters took control. Marian Jobbagy skipped past the visitors’ right back before firing in a cross towards George Barnden, the striker’s header blocked on the goalline. Soon after Charlie McAra was released by a Callum Jones ball over the top but was denied by keeper Marcus Weeks.

The deserved equaliser came on the half hour mark as Joel Watts was upended by a late challenge in the box after latching on to a Jobbagy cut back. Watts picked himself up to blast home from 12 yards.

Yarmouth should have been ahead at the break as, after another spell of pressure, Johnny Jarvis crossed to Jobbagy whose volley needed to be parried behind.

Cornard could have retaken the lead two minutes into the second half as Kevin Dilloway headed wide from a deep Ashley Curran cross. Instead Yarmouth took control of the second half, and never looked back.

Rob Andersen fired a 30-yard free kick straight at Marcus Weeks and Callum Jones had a long-range drive easily saved before Cornard conceded a cheap corner. From it Marian Jobbagy curled the set-piece towards the far post where one of the visitors’ defenders turned the ball over his own line.

Two minutes after the second goal the management and fans joined in a standing ovation as Mark Vincent was replaced by Danny Scriven. The substitute was the architect of the third Bloaters goal.

Scriven pounced on a weak backpass from Jamie Gregory and in trying to clear Marcus Weeks clattered into Scriven, sending the striker scrawling. Scriven picked himself up and sent Weeks the wrong way from the spot. Joel Watts had a chance to extend the lead but was inches away from converting Charlie McAra’s cross before the striker came off for Josh Thomas. The substitute had a similar chance after Danny Scriven had stolen possession off a defender but shot wide.

The game did have a sour point at the end as both Charlie McAra and Jordan Forbes had their afternoon prematurely ended with injuries, leaving the Bloaters with nine men on the pitch.

Yarmouth: Ben Cudden, Johnny Jarvis, Robin Andersen, Callum Jones, Mark Vincent (C) (Danny Scriven 63), Jordan Forbes, Joel Watts (Josh Thomas 74), Liam Williams (Joe Bryanton 59), George Barnden, Charlie McAra, Marian Jobbagy.

Goals: Watts 31 pen, own goal 61, Scriven 68 pen