Micks Column
February saw us play three games the first two was a double header against st andrews, never easy and i was happy that we came away with all six points, the first game saw st andrews visit us and they played some neat football crowding the midfield and playing one up top they contolled the early part off the game without troubling cable, we started to find our feet and eventually took the lead holmes cutting in and driving home from twenty yards, to say we have missed holmes this season would be an understatement and his telling runs would be a feature off the game, in the second period we bossed most off it but with clarke and remblance having off days holmes took on the mantle off tormentor and scored a couple more both superb efforts one from forty five yards and the other from just outside the box, st andrews got a consolation late on as fiske and shaw made a hash off a routine clearance.
the following week we made the trip over to thorpe and faced a changed st andrews team two up top and playing with width they again started the better, this week they tied up holmes by doubling up on him but this gave remblance room and he fired us ahead with typical rumble goal beating players before firing home, we were guilty off sitting back and waiting for more rather than taking the game by the scruff off its neck and st andrews hit us with a two goal blast the first was down to our defensive failings the second a well worked free kick which left us flat footed, fortunately we got an equaliser right on half time holmes sho was only parried and clarke was on hand to finish, the second period we tightened up defensively and looked the more likely, st andrews got caught in possession and clarke set remblance free who finished to give us the points.
Next we faced Hempnall and a tough game was always going to be had, i warned the players off this during our warm up and also prior to going out, dont start slow or you could be dead and buried in the first twenty, twenty minutes later we were three down with some comedy defending and clinical finishing leaving us chasing the game, one player who doesnt lie down is remblance and his sublime free kick gave us a lifeline only for another piece off schoolboy defending to throw it away, remblance scored with a header just before half time to give us hope, we at least started the second period better and pinned hempnall back, we needed a goal and the chance came as clarke wriggled free but took the ball to close to the keeper who gathered it in and with it went any hopes off a comeback the half finished goalless and hempnall took the spoils.
With the cup semi at blofield being a victim off the weather i was able to watch the reserves play cromer in there semi final, we as a club have to be grateful to the players who turned out to help out as a combination off the rules and unavailability gave richard little choice in his selection, that said he still fielded a good side and we went one nil up haylock flighted in a lovely ball for masters to finish the lads were playing well and ellis was not called into much action haylock again provided a superb cross after a sweeping move but davis missed his volley,just before half time it was clear that waterman was in some discomfort and i like most people was surprised to see him emerge for the second period, he lasted less than a minute before signalling he needed to come off, the ressies though hit cromer with a second davis finishing well again after good work from haylock, most thought that was it but cromer had a young side who carried on battling away they should have pulled one back but the effort was blown, this warning wasnt heeded and with our legs tiring on the heavy pitch cromer upped a gear and pulled one back little was done to stop the cross but ellis seemed to be favourite but a brave header from cromers forward saw them pull one back, the confidence drained from our side and we gave the ball over time and again and after we got caught dribbling the ball out of defence cromer equalised, with ten to go only one side seemed to have the legs to win it and cromer duly did a long punt down the middle wasnt dealt with and cromers forward ran free to score, massive jubilation from the away dug out and cromer were throughto the final.
On the day the lads were technically more than capable but fitness told in the end.
On the transfer front Neil Hurren has decided his future no longer lies with Gorleston and he has now gone back to Blofield, we as a club didnt make blofield jump through hoops like they did us and hopefully that will be remembered if we ever have transfer dealings with them in the future. As yet we have not been informed when the semi final will take place and like blofield we have lots off league games to cram in so we need all players to make themselves available.
Cheers Mick
