A GREAT YARMOUTH Town XI played Acle United at home and were disappointing in a 2-0 defeat after dominating for long spells. Finishing was a worry and it is missed chances that lose matches.

On the Sunday a mixed First and Reserve side played in the Sailor Brown Memorial Trophy and finished third overall. Having drawn against the hosts Gorleston 1-1, they beat Waveney Athletic 2-1 before defeats against worthy winners Cromer 1-0 and Kirkley & Pakefield 2-1.

Tuesday saw the Reserves fulfil the return fixture against Acle United with a 4-4 draw in an entertaining friendly. A brace from Glen Spooner, one for Martin Goulder and a stunning free-kick from Sam Jones saw the Reserves share the spoils

Last night the First team were due to visit Sheringham for the annual Michael Wright Cup k/o 7:45 with all proceeds going to the Big C Appeal.Tomorrow the Bloaters entertain Peterborough Northern Star of the United Counties League at the Wellesley (ko 3).

Great Yarmouth T XI 0 Acle U 2

A GOAL in each half was enough for the Anglian Combination Premier Division visitors as the home side comprising of a mixture of First XI, Reserves and Youth players, did not take their chances on goal.

The early stages of the game were played mainly in the Acle half of the field as Yarmouth dominated the midfield. Quick passing between James Page and Stathie Steer split the Acle defence but the keeper saved at Olly McCarthy’s feet.

On 19 minutes a shot from Joe Bell was cleared off the line with the visiting keeper well beaten.

With Acle slowly coming more into the game, it was still against the run of play when the visitors took the lead in the 41st minute.

The Bloaters conceded a free kick just the penalty area and from the kick Jake Jessup tipped the shot over the bar for a corner. Yarmouth were slow to react to a short corner taken by Acle and a cross was headed into Yarmouth’s net by an unmarked attacker.

With Yarmouth making three changes at half-time, the half started with a midfield tussle with neither side coming out on top, until Acle increased their lead in the 55th minute and almost made it 3-0 after 70 minutes when a fine reflex save by the Acle forwards at bay.

The Bloaters laid siege to the Acle goal in the final 10 minutes with Tommy Gardiner going close on a couple of occasions.

Yarmouth squad: J Jessup, J Page, E Short, T Clark, C Duffy, G Palmer, S Steer, G Barnden, O McCarthy, L Roscoe, J Bell, T Gardiner, J Lutchmaya, M Goulder, S Woodcock.

Acle U 4 Great Yarmouth T Res 4

THE Bloaters sent the Reserves squad for the return friendly against Acle and returned with a creditable draw.

Playing their first friendly of the season the Bloaters took time to settle down and Acle had the first chance of the game but Peter Souza in the Yarmouth goal easily dealt with a long-range shot.

Acle took the lead after 11 minutes when a header looped over Souza. Nine minutes later the Bloaters defence failed to clear their lines and an Acle attacker netted.

Within a minute the Bloaters should have reduced the deficit but the home keeper thwarted Mark Allen. Yarmouth did however equalise in the 28th minute. Allen was brought down just outside the penalty area and Sam Jones curled the free-kick into the top corner.

Toby Gorbould deflected a cross into his own goal four minutes later. The Bloaters went close through Allen and Garri Davies before two opportunist goals from Glen Spooner in the 44th and 45th minutes put the Bloaters on level terms at half-time.

Eight changes were made by the Bloaters at half time.

In the 48th minute they had a goal disallowed for offside and saw a shot by Martin Goulder just off target. Goulder scored in the 75th minute after a free-kick was headed on by Olly McCarthy.

A defensive mix-up five minutes from time allowed Acle to level.

Yarmouth manager Kevin Cruickshank commented: “Although we got a draw, the result was not as important as seeing how we gelled as a team and the strength of the squad for the forthcoming season.

“There were some new players to assess and all of last years team have re-signed, so it looks promising for the new season”.

Yarmouth Res Squad: P Souza, D Bain, S Jones, G Davies, J Amey, R Barnard, A Hanks, O McCarthy, G Spooner, M Allen, C McAra, A Houghton, T Gorbould, N Kemp, M Goulder, J Hart, J Hume, L Grigg, M White, A Haworth.