Pub on the Shrubs Yarmouth Saturday League

As we approach March it is getting down to crunch time in the competitions for numerous clubs and this week saw the Burgess Cup semi-final and wiltshire cup semi final line-ups complete.

In the Wiltshire Cup the second semi-final will be an all Ormesby affair after Graeme Eagles’ Wanderers side defeated League One side South Yarmouth 2-1. In a really close match the home side took their chances when it mattered and booked a semi-final courtesy of a brace from Soares. It was an excellent win for Wanderers in their debut season who also lead Division 2 as they look to end the season with some silverware. Meanwhile six times winners Catfield will be the opponents after they eased through 8-1 at MK Shrubs, who last won the competition in 2003. Catfield’s scorers included Pongo Thompson and Bodie Carter.

The semi-finals of the Burgess cup for Division 2 clubs are now also complete after Prostar Windows got the point they needed at bogey venue Filby to win group B and earn a home semi-final with MK Shrubs Reserves on March 23 to be played on the Magdalen. The other semi-final will now be played on March 16 and will be an all Caister affair as Caister A entertain Caister Roma Reserves at Allendale.

On to the league cup and the only game due to be played was postponed after remarkably from a league point of view the first team to call-off a fixture this season. The visitors Haven Bridge United are awarded a walkover. In Division 1 Yarmouth International picked up a second win on the bounce as they defeated Bohemians 2-1 at New Road. The race for Division 2 has never been so intense as we finally saw one of the five teams at the start of the day in with a chance of the glory going down to defeat and ruling themselves all but out now. This was MK Shrubs Reserves who went down to Caister Roma Reserves by four goals to two. Caister A also saw there title challenge take a blow as they went down 3-0 at home to fellow title challengers Peelers which included the customary strike for Jimmy Dawes. This win for Peelers puts them top. Grosvenor Casino also picked up three points as they won 6-2 to league side Martham A who are now without a point in the league since 2010.

This week sees the first Wiltshire Cup semi final as Haven Bridge take on holders Caister Roma at the Beaconsfield for a place in the Easter Monday morning final and both clubs are asked to pay split fees to the officials. The league is looking for any potential new club or side who are interested in playing in this competitive league Saturday afternoons. The club must be affiliated by July to either Norfolk or Suffolk county FA depending on your location. If you are interested please give league secretary Ryan Starkey a ring on 01493 602345 or 07788 592529 or alternatively email ryan.starkey@sky.com who will be more than happy to help. The league offers a good standard of football which also includes a county cup competition and two or three knock out competitions plus your league division. The league has already had four avenues of interest which is very good - Ryan Starkey.