Great Yarmouth Town suffered a narrow defeat in a hard-fought game at Long Melford on Saturday, with a late goal from Steve Adams settling the issue.

With both teams missing a number of regulars the Villagers went ahead after only three minutes.

Nathan Rowe put Hassan Ally through down the flank and his cross found Will Wingfield who side-footed home from three yards out.

Play switched to the other end and Keiron Hagan got through with home keeper James Scammell off his line but his effort found the side-netting.

The Bloaters levelled after 20 minutes when, from an edge of the box, a free-kick from Chris Holmes found the top corner of the Melford net.

Just before half time Melford lost the ball to Haydn Davis on the edge of the area and his shot shaved the post.

Action again came in the Melford area after 51 minutes when a great shot from Davis was pushed over the bar by Scammell.

Melford had a great chance to double their score after 65 minutes. Lewis Haughton left his markers floundering and his accurate cross found Adams in the Yarmouth box who could only fire wide of the gaping goal.

At this period Yarmouth were edging possession, but it was Melford who came closest to scoring when a Lopez piledriver was pushed over the bar by Anis Naili in the Yarmouth goal.

From the resultant corner in the 83rd minute the winner arrived as thundering header from Adams gave the keeper no chance.

Then it was all Yarmouth. They had a header against the bar, another effort was cleared off the line and in the last minute of added time they had a strong shout for a penalty, but it was not to be.

Great Yarmouth Town: Naili, Eagleton, Andersen, Ager, Howell, Hagan, Bartam, Sanders, Lewis, Holmes, Davis. Subs: Constanachi, Doddington, Kemp.

The Bloaters were away again on Tuesday evening and came away from fifth placed Brantham Athletic with a highly creditable 0-0 draw.

“Another Tuesday night away trip out of the way. Big shout out to our 16-year-old keeper and four 17-year-olds on a point and a clean sheet,” the club tweeted afterwards.

Great Yarmouth Town: Milligan, Palmer, Ford, Bartam, Ager, Urry, Costanachi, Lewis, Sanders, Holmes, Davis. Subs: J Forbes, Howell, Hagan.