Brantham Athletic 0, Great Yarmouth Town 1A Stewart Roach goal, Yarmouth's 50th in the league this season, after just three minutes ensured the visitors their seventh away Ridgeons Division One victory but the Bloaters had to endure a testing second half.

Brantham Athletic 0, Great Yarmouth Town 1

A Stewart Roach goal, Yarmouth's 50th in the league this season, after just three minutes ensured the visitors their seventh away Ridgeons Division One victory but the Bloaters had to endure a testing second half.

The first half was mostly Yarmouth's, with several good chances not put away. After taking the lead, when Roach headed home a Scott Woodcock corner after home keeper Bedingfield had spilled a Mark Thompson cross, Adam Sewell and Woodcock both put chances over the bar, and Woodcock sent a

free-kick curling past a post.

Roach knocked one over from Thompson's cross on 23 minutes and Yarmouth's defence denied the home side any serious attempts on their goal until half-an-hour had passed

when Michael Hilton made a catch at the near post off Brantham captain Patrick Brothers.

Ten minutes from the interval, some clever interplay by Yarmouth in the Brantham box should have brought further reward but Roach's final shot prooduced a Bedingfield diving save.

Brantham have returned to the league having left it in the early Nineties when Yarmouth's last visit in 1993 saw them fight out a 0-0 draw. The Bloaters again kept a clean sheet thanks to some very cool and determined defending.

For the first 20 minutes, and with the Brantham defence playing a high line, Yarmouth barely got out of their own half. But as the half progressed they managed to get some forward momentum going, though more wayward shooting and the goalkeeper prevented any further score.

Young player Richard Brett came on and showed an eagerness to get involved but fell foul of several offside decisions.

With time running out, the home side became desperate to end their four-match losing run and near the end were screaming for a penalty as they claimed Adey Ager had handled in clearing an effort of the line, but referee Potkins waved play on.Yarmouth survived more alarms in time added on with Hilton producing one crucial touch to keep the ball out at the expense of a corner.

The Yarmouth defence gave a masterclass in defending in numbers when necessary with Ager and Alan Darby outstanding again.

Smith and Sewell produced some clever touches to keep the ball in Yarmouth's possession in midfield and also supported the attack intelligently, while Woodcock and Thompson out wide frequently outwitted the home defenders, even if they did not always produce the perfect cross.

An exciting game, well refereed by Mark Potkins.

Yarmouth - Michael Hilton, Johnathan Watt, Olly Savage, Gareth Palmer (Toby Gorbould 75), Adey Ager (c), Alan Darby, Dominic Smith, Adam Sewell, Stewart Roach, Scott Woodcock (Richard Brett 70), Mark Thompson. Unused Sub: Sam Watts. Att 31.