GREAT Yarmouth Town take the next step in this season's Norfolk Senior Cup tomorrow when they entertain local Anglian Combination Premier Division opponents Acle United in the fourth round.

GREAT Yarmouth Town take the next step in this season's Norfolk Senior Cup tomorrow when they entertain local Anglian Combination Premier Division opponents Acle United in the fourth round.

This is believed to be the first time the two clubs' senior sides have met in a competitive fixture, and the historic occasion should draw a sizeable crowd to the Wellesley (kick-off 3pm), writes Gerry Brown.

The Bloaters have already beaten Combination Premier opposition in Dersingham Rovers in round three.

Joint manager Paul Tong is looking forward to a tough game: “After last week's performance, Kevin (Cruickshank) and I will be pondering changes.

“We cannot be happy with the showing against Godmanchester. We need to up our game and it will be down to people that want it and who show the desire and commitment. Hopefully, we'll have that little bit of quality too.”

Extra time has been allowed for, but if the game is still drawn after that, there will be a replay next Saturday at Acle.

The Reserves visit Poringland Wanderers tomorrow (2pm), the side they defeated on penalties to progress in the Junior KO Cup recently.

In the next round of that competition, the Reserves have been drawn away to Thetford Rovers on Saturday, December 13.

The Under-18's have a tough couple of matches coming up in the next fortnight, both against Lowestoft Town Youth, but both at the Wellesley.

This week's game, on Wednesday, is a league affair, but on December 3 a place in the Ridgeons Youth Cup third round is at stake. Both kick-offs at 7.45pm.

Great Yarmouth Town 1, Godmanchester Rovers 1

Teenager Jake Reed celebrated his call-up to the ranks of the contracted player with a classic header in Saturday's game, but a strong second-half showing by Godmanchester earned them the draw which ended the Bloaters' 100 per cent home league record.

Reed put pen to paper immediately before the game, and joins fellow youth team players Adam Sewell and Dominic Smith who signed up earlier this season - all three are regular first team squad members.

The goal was one of few highlights in the game for Yarmouth who disappointed with a sub-standard performance against a team that had lost its previous two matches. However, the draw also denied Godmanchester two points and both sides' league positions remain unchanged.

Joint-manager Paul Tong although declaring that the draw was in the end a fair result, also said Yarmouth's performance had given him and Kevin Cruickshank food for thought ahead of the Norfolk Senior Cup tie next Saturday.

“Some of the players have got to look at themselves, and we may have to change one or two things,” he said. “We haven't played well for a number of weeks now, so this has been coming, but we knew this was going to be difficult today.”

It was a classic game of two halves. Yarmouth impressed with some attacking play in the first, and the goal when it came was well worth waiting for.

A five-man move ended with Adam Sewell sending in an inch-perfect ball to which Reed rose to send his flying header crashing past Duncan McAnally in the visitors' goal after 31 minutes.

Godmanchester came out strongly after half-time and soon equalised. A 51st minute free kick was headed away by Gareth Palmer, but after a follow-up shot was pushed away from his line by the diving Elliot Pride, Chris Hughill reacted first to steer home the loose ball.

Godmanchester grew in stature and tested Yarmouth's resolve with a number of free-kicks and corners, but the defence held firm.

Bloaters' substitute José Vide tried to turn on his magic, but having lost captain Adam Sullivan in the change - he was carrying an injury - Yarmouth were light in the midfield department and the visitors finished the stronger.

“Pleased to get a point at the end of the day,” reflected Tong. “And we keep our unbeaten home run going, but it's a long season. People may have been getting carried away with our position, but we haven't really played anyone yet.

“Godmanchester were a tough side but just what I expected - committed, hard-working, well-organised and with bags of desire. We've got to assess ourselves against these sorts of teams and really they are the matches we need to win if we are to progress.

“But there's plenty to go yet. The boys have got to dig in and we'll see if we've got any character now.”

Yarmouth: Elliot Pride, Adam Sewell (Dominic Smith 67), Ollie Savage, Gareth Palmer, Adrian Ager, Alan Darby, Chris Squire, Adam Sullivan (capt) (José Vide 70), Stewart Roach, Jake Reed, Scott Woodcock. Unused subs: Toby Gorbould, Michael Hilton. Attendance: 59.