Catfield complete treble

Great Yarmouth & District Football League

www.gydfl.com

On Wednesday evening Gorleston Wanderers scored twice in a minute midway through the first half through Chris Thompson and Lee Griffiths before Jonny Bowles pulled one back for Albion (GY).

Eight minutes into the second period Thompson restored the two-goal advantage but substitute Ricci Lee Collins again brought Albion back into the game. Another substitute, Nathan Kemp put Wanderers 4-2 ahead with just 13 minutes remaining.

Peter Oldham made it 4-3 going into the final 10 minutes and in the final minute Kristian Gowing salvaged a point as the long, gruelling season is taking its toll on Albion.

On Saturday, Albion returned to winning ways, although the breakthrough against Prostar Windows didn't come until early in the second period when Sam Welch scored and Ricci-Lee Collins made sure of the points from the spot.

The win takes them to within a point of the leaders with games in hand on all of their rivals.

Goals from Rory Gook and Gary Chaplin gained Hemsby Reserves a valuable three points with a hard fought 2-1 win against Norfolk and Chance and four points off leaders Shrublands.

Great Yarmouth Peelers are a further point behind as a good run has taken them to fifth and six points behind the leaders with two games in hand starting with Hemsby Reserves on Saturday. Goals from Jason Howell, Adam Searby and Andy Lilly against MK United Reserves made in seven wins in a row, the last three by 3-2 and none by more than a two-goal margin.

Paperclip completed another week of close games with a 2-0 win at home to Great Yarmouth United thanks to goals from S Ingram and P Botton.

On Wednesday evening Albion (GY) and MK United Reserves meet in the final of the Burgess Cup kicking off on the Wellesley at 7.30.

Paul Payne

Wiltshire Cup final

On a still, grey Easter Monday morning Catfield completed the treble by claiming the Wiltshire Cup.

However, they did not emulate the Royal Naval Hospital's winning margin exactly 100 years previously when they defeated Empire United 6-0 en route to winning the famous trophy four times in six years.

Catfield's success was their third in four seasons. They took the lead after only three minutes when a sweeping move from their own penalty area, led by the marauding Karl Barnard and involving neat interchange with

Chad Pillar, was finished with a simple tap-in by Paul Thompson from Barnard's pin-point cross into the box from the left.

Catfield dominated the early exchanges as Lacon Arms showed Catfield too much respect and allowed them too much time on the ball. Andy Moore, playing at right-back in place of the injured Bevan Self, saw a lot of possession and from his deep cross Pillar crashed a header against the bar with 10 minutes played.

Midway through the first half Lacon Arms had a glimmer of hope when a clever pass from Anthony Balls was dummied by Martin McColgan for his strike partner Shane Smith, but the alert Spencer Self was soon across slamming the door shut.

On the half-hour mark Lacon Arms recorded their first effort on target with a long-range effort from Tony Copping that did not trouble

Ryan Starkey. Just as Lacon Arms were enjoying a little possession they were again undone by a very swift counter attack.

From a Lacon Arms free-kick Adam Hodds commanding clearing header was flicked on by Paul Thompson and his run took him towards the corner flag where he outpaced the Lacon Arms keeper Neil Long before turning and squaring the ball to the edge of the penalty area where Paul Thompson picked his spot to make it 2-0.

Five minutes before the break Pillar's break into the Lacon Arms half was brought to an abrupt end by an infringement.

Darin Scales' resulting free-kick was met by Moore's head who directed the ball into Barnard's path and the lively winger calmly side-footed home from close range to put the game beyond Lacon Arms.

Catfield were rampant as Lacon Arms heads dropped. Adam Thompson's clever turn took him into the penalty area but his cut-back from the byeline just eluded teammates.

Then Long produced a fine save from a rasping left-foot effort from Pillar. Just before the break Starkey had to be alert as a fine pass from Kai Lake put through Smith.

The second half started with Catfield finding the net within the first five minutes with good interplay down the left putting in Adam Thompson to square the ball back for Pillar to finish.

On 52 minutes Catfield opened up the Lacon Arms defence down the other flank and this time Adam Thompson failed to make a positive connection.

With 15 minutes remaining substitute Gary Todd cross from the right was missed by Pillar and Thompson leaving Adam Thompson an easy chance from close in to make it 5-0.

The Thompsons were involved again, this time Adam was again the provider with clever work down the left and a cross that Paul missed.

Lacon Arms never threw-in the towel and five minutes from the end looked as though they would get a consolation goal with Kai Lake's deep cross from the left met by Del Salmon, but his touch was too heavy and Starkey claimed under no pressure.

Hugh Wiltshire presented the medals to both sides and the Wiltshire Cup to winning captain Aaron Bowers who along with midfield partner Darin Scales was dominant throughout.

League chairman Michael Covill also presented the first division trophy to Catfield and Dennis Esherwood presented Paul Thompson with

the trophy for man of the match for his two-goal performance and general

all-round play.

Catfield: Ryan Starkey; Andy Moore, Spencer Self, Adam Hodds, Stuart Patterson (Martin Vincent 72 mins), Adam Thompson, Arron Bowers, Darin Scales (Ryan Wilkes 85 mins), Karl Barnard (Gary Todd 66 mins), Paul Thompson, Chad Pillar. Subs not used: Bevan Self.

Lacon Arms: Neil Long; Andy Balls, Marcel Bartlett, Daniel Goodrum, Tony Copping; Russell Platten (Simon White 45 mins), Del Salmon, Kai Lake, Ricky Jonas (Gavin Miller 67 mins), Martin McColgan (Ben Cribb 49 mins), Shane Smith. Sub not used: Brent Wright, Chris Austin.

Referee: Robert Manship; assistants: Les Pierce, Scott Addy; fourth official: Thomas Woodrow.