Cats use up cup lives

Great Yarmouth & District Football League

IN their Norfolk Junior Cup semi-final, Catfield produced a stunning comeback not once but twice to earn a replay this week on the Beaconsfield.

Starting poorly, they were two down after 20 minutes and it could easily have been worse. However, Pillar popped up before half-time to give them hope.

The second half and Catfield came out playing better but chances came and went at both ends. With time running out Adam Hodds produced a calm finish to level the tie at 2-2 and take it to extra-time.

West Lynn soon found what looked like a killer third and things got worse as Molloy was sent off after giving away a penalty for bringing down the striker.

Moore went in goal, but the penalty-taker missed the target. In the last minute a run by Hodds ended with him hauled to the ground 20 yards from goal.

Chad Pillar curled a delightful free-kick into the top corner to silence the home ground and send the Cats' players and supporters into delight.

The replay will be played tomorrow on the Beaconsfield with a 1.45pm kick-off. All support is welcome and needed.

Albion progressed as winner of group two of the League Cup with a 3-1 win at Peelers which saw a hat-trick for Peter Oldham. They will play Lacon Arms in the semi-finals after they defeated Tramway 5-1 to finish runners-up of group one.

In the Wiltshire Cup, Reedham booked a home semi-final on March 13 with Catfield or Lacon Arms after an emphatic 6-2 win over a 'never say die' Martham A from Division Two.

In Division One, MK United stretched their lead at the top to 10 points after defeating Yarmouth International 7-1.

The match was marred by two sending-offs for the league leaders. Shrublands and Hemsby Reserves' match was postponed.

In Division Two, Bohemians continued their fine run by beating a hard-working Prostar Windows 3-1 in the Burgess Cup semi-final rehearsal for three weeks' time.

Norfolk and Chance are the only realistic challengers now after a hard-earned 6-3 win at Carpathians. Steve Brown's side are in good form as they square up to Bohemians in the Percy Nockolds Cup in two weeks' time.

Caister A warmed up for there Burgess Cup semi-final with a 6-1 win over Feathers.

They face GY United this week in the semi-final and they also had a good 3-1 win over MK United Reserves with Ashley Williams grabbing a hat-trick.

Gorleston Wanderers picked up a valuable point as they fought out a 3-3 draw in the Halvergate derby with South Yarmouth.

March fixtures have now been issued via email to all clubs and April's will follow in a couple weeks, but expect at least one Wednesday night game as the season will come to a close in May.

Any new or prospective clubs or teams wishing to enter the Great Yarmouth and District League next season can contact league secretary Peter Payne on 01493 600965 or fixture secretary Ryan Starkey on 01493 602345.

Results

Norfolk Junior Cup semi-final: West Lynn SSC 3, Catfield 3 (aet).

H A Holmes League Cup Group One: Tramway 1, Lacon Arms 5. Group Two: GY Peelers 1, Albion 3.

Wiltshire Cup: Reedham 6, Martham

A 2.

Division One: GY International 1, MK Utd 7.

Division Two: Prostar Windows 1, Bohemians 3; Carpathians 3, Norfolk and Chance 6; South Yarmouth 3, Gorleston Wdrs 3; MK Utd Res 1, GY Utd 3; Feathers 1, Caister A 6.

Fixtures

Norfolk Junior Cup semi-final replay (1.45pm): Catfield v West Lynn SSC (Beaco, K Betts, P Stearman, P Venables).

Burgess Cup semi-final (2.30pm): GY Utd v Caister A (Beaco, R Manship, A Anguish, G Houghton).

Division One: Albion v MK United (Beaco, A Russell), GY International v Hemsby Res (Beaco, D Tozer), Tramway v Lacon Arms (Mill Lane, B Bradnum), GY Peelers v Shrublands (Lynn Grove, N Farrow).

Division Two: South Yarmouth v Bohemians (Halvergate, K Forbes), Carpathians v Prostar Windows (Ormesby, R Green), Feathers v Norfolk and Chance (Mill Lane, P Emblem), MK Utd Res v Gorleston Wdrs (Mill Lane, M Hubbard).