Super-sub Jack Garrod came off the Yachtsmen’s bench to score twice as the Yachtsmen progressed through to the 1st Round Qualifying of the FA Cup and set up an exciting looking encounter against Kings Lynn.

Fakenham hearts were broken in the second half stoppage time as Jack Garrod inspired a
successful comeback from 2-1 down and Wroxham eventually won the game 3-2 with two late goals.

Wroxham lined up with 3 changes to the side following their midweek defeat at Bury Town. Danny Rust, Matty Waters and Seamus Kelleher coming in for Michael Sommerfield, Andy Howell and Steve Holder.

The game started well for the Yachtsmen who were on the attack from the first whistle. Nick Davey's cross from the right in the second minute found Seamus Kelleher. The wideman was in plenty of space and found the bottom left corner to give Wroxham an early lead.

Kelleher almost made it two within a few minutes as he was played through. Having taken it around Thomas Rix in the Ghost’s goal, his shot was blocked on the line by a covering defender and cleared from danger.

Kelleher was again involved in the next action as he looked to centre the ball from the left side of the penalty area. The ball struck the defender’s arm as they were raised. Referee Callum Walchester dismissed all appeals however.

The game was becoming very open as Fakenham came into it. They weren’t showing any signs of their disappointing league season to date and created a number of chances. Elliot Pride was having an outstanding first half pulling out top draw saves from Robert Harris and James Page to keep Wroxham ahead. At the other end of the pitch saves from Thomas Rix were keeping the Wroxham forwards at bay and the score 1-0.

However as the first half entered stoppage time Fakenham finally got their reward. A perfectly weighted cross in was met by Ashley Jarvis. The striker’s volley finishing in the top of the net giving Pride no chance. Then with the Yachtsmen trying to regroup it was 1-2, a through ball found the lively Jarvis who this time finished it in the bottom right corner to punish Wroxham. The two goals leaving Wroxham stunned at half time.

Just after the start of the second half Nathan Stone had a couple of very good chances to draw Wroxham back level. The first chance came from a David Hinton free-kick. Stone controlled the ball with his chest then on the turn volleyed it, but the shot was too high over the goal. The second came two minutes later. This time a cross from Stephen Taylor was
hit on the volley, but again Stone was unable to keep his shot below the bar.

The turning point in the match just after the hour when Jack Garrod replaced Matthew Waters and scholar Charlie Norman came on for Jack Guyton. Wroxham entered a more attacking phase as Garrod looked to push on against the Fakenham left back. With just under fifteen minutes left to play Garrod showed his skill and cut inside from the right before smashing the ball into the top left hand corner of the net to bring the scores level.

Fakenham were not going to sit back and settle for a replay and in the 85th minute Sam Garner hit the ball on the turn and managed to hit the Wroxham crossbar. A minute later, Ghost Robert Harris hit the woodwork on the counter attack. The Fakenham player trying to chip Pride but hit the top of the woodwork instead.

In stoppage time, the game looked destined to go for a replay back at Clipbush Park. Wroxham thought otherwise however. A weaving run from Stone down the left saw a
pull back to Garrod who finished beautifully in the bottom left corner to make Wroxham's late comeback a successful one and more importantly help them to progress to the next round.

After the game Manager Stewart Larter was reflecting on the performance. “We dug in today and managed to get over the line. It wasn’t pretty but I am happy that we will be playing Kings Lynn in the next round”. “We weren’t as good as we have been today but we draw a line under that and have a chance to put things right quickly on Monday”.

Wroxham continue with their Ryman League programme with a home game today (Monday 3pm) against Soham Town Rangers. The Green’s suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat in the FA Cup on Saturday at Thurlow Nunn club Mildenhall Town.

1 Elliot Pride
2 Steve Taylor
3 Danny Rust
4 David Hinton
5 Jordan King
6 Matthew Halliday
7 Matty Waters 12
8 Jack Guyton 14
9 Nathan Stone
10 Nick Davey
11 Seamus Kelleher
12 Jack Garrod
14 Charlie Norman
15 Michael Sommerfield

Attn: 141

Report by Tom Wardle