In the first of back-to-back games for the youth team against Gorleston the Wroxham team travelled away to Emerald Park. The game kicked off with Gorleston perched nicely at the top of the Thurlow Nunn Youth League East table so Wroxham knew they had a tough task ahead. Wroxham were also forced to make a substitution before kick-off with Alex Jary pulling up in the warm-up, being replaced by Tom Rampling.

Gorleston indeed came out on fire and on top, forcing a corner in the 4th minute, nicely cleared by the Wroxham defence, and then took a good free-kick just inside the halfway line which keeper Warren Burwood easily picked up. A minute later though Burwood was forced to make two outstanding saves preventing Gorleston from taking the lead. On 7 minutes Gorleston were awarded a free-kick again cleared by the Wroxham defence.

Wroxham then took the action to the other end and on 8 minutes good work by Tommy Knight saw Tom Rampling's shot get deflected wide. Wrexham kept up pressure in the Gorleston box and a minute later Luke Holland blasted a shot which was again pushed wide. Knight then raced past Gorleston defenders to see his shot go wide of the post.

Gorleston then got back in play but saw great defensive work by Holland and Ed Abery clear the danger. From the corner Jack Lincoln cleared well. A very good run by Knight and Rampling looked promising but Knight was penalised for offside, then Robbie Turner made a run into the Gorleston area only to see his shot go wide. Wroxham then had a shot deflected, a corner headed wide and a shot by Turner again well-saved.

The pressure paid off in the 28th minute when. Good work by Lincoln and Adam Wilson ended with Wilson sliding the ball across for Knight to fire home. Three minutes later Rampling rounded the keeper and scored Wroxham's second. They should have made it 3-0 but after a series of half-half-shots no one managed a clear shot.

After all the action at the other end however the Wroxham defence must have switched off as on 34 minutes Gorleston had an easy goal with the defence seeming to stand still.

Half-time: Gorleston 1, Wroxham 2

The team talk at half time warned the lads to be sharp again as Gorleston were expected to come out fast and wanting a goal. Managers Mark Wilkinson and Russell Barnes were left speechless as within a couple of minutes of the restart Gorleston equalised with the Wroxham defence all over the place and again giving Gorleston an easy goal.

Play then became mainly end to end with a couple of shots for Gorleston coming to nothing. On 73 minutes Ben Riley replaced Tom Rampling. Good work by Bradley Spooner looked promising but his final shot was weak and easily gathered by the Gorleston keeper. Gorleston then saw a corner easily saved by Burwood.

A corner for Wroxham should have seen goal number three but after lots of action in the Gorleston area it was caught by their keeper. However on 75 minutes the pressure paid off as Wilson ran through the defence, rounded the keeper and scored. Steve Kidd replaced Knight on 78 minutes and it was a tense final ten for both teams as both Burwood and the Gorleston keeper pulled off some great saves to keep the scoreline at 3-2.

Final score: Gorleston 2. Wroxham 3.

With next week's game the reverse fixture both management teams will need to examine the strengths and weaknesses of both sides and try to take all three points. It promises to be yet again a very entertaining match. Managers Wilkinson and Barnes, although pleased with the result both believe there is far more yet to come from the team and will possibly be looking for this from the lads next week. Some fine performances which hopefully they can build on.

Team: Warren Burwood, Josh Gathergood, Ed Abery, Luke Holland, Alex Philpott, Jack Lincoln, Adam Wilson, Rob Turner, Tommy Knight, Bradley Spooner, Alex Jary. Subs: Steven Kidd, Toby Tye, Tom Rampling, Ben Riley.

Wroxham FC

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