Every now and again you get one of those weeks when everything goes right, and you realise why you enjoy football so much.
It started on a good note when Bob Briggs introduced a new session at training, around the power of positive thinking in sport. For many it was a session they really enjoyed, and certainly, it seemed to pay dividends in Saturday’s performance.
We then opened up negotiations with the Three Horseshoes to secure after match hospitality, and I am pleased to say things went well. We will be trying this out over the next few weeks to ensure both parties are happy with the arrangements.
The very next day more positive proceedings followed when Matt Atkins joined us from Sprowston Wanderers. He brings good experience of Senior football and much needed competition to the defensive positions.
Then Marty Addison declared himself fit enough for selection having reduced a 4 week injury to 2 weeks.
With Ben Cussens and Sean Flint cup tied, this was welcome news and it was good to see veteran striker Mark Way return from holiday.
After much deliberation around the side regarding so many not being 100%, fit the decision was made to start both Way and Addison, moving Tim Downs to sweeper, and Frankie dropped into ‘hole’ behind the front two.
These turned out to be good tactical moves as it freed up Mark Whitmore to turn in a "man of the match" performance in marking the dangerous home striker Modeira and the strikers to shut down the marauding full backs that caused us so much trouble in the 5 – 1 league defeat earlier in the season.
The 1st half belonged to us as we had several attacking moves that created good chances to score but couldn’t convert, that was until Rob Browne burst through unleashing a thunderbolt from his left foot that the keeper could not hold, and he drove home the resulting rebound with his right foot.
Tim Downs was having a good game at sweeper, and the central midfielders Barnes and Player were back in tandem for the first time since 1st of September, other than an ill fated risk against Blofield when they were both clearly not fit. Both areas looked solid in their set up.
The 2nd half saw Dersingham come more into the game, particularly towards the latter stages, when the lack of games in recent times began to tell. Sam, who was suffering from a sickness bug, came off to be replaced by Adam Solly with 15 minutes to go. Rob Browne who had an excellent game dropped into Midfield.
We always looked in control with Franklin becoming more accustomed to his new role, but the 1-0 score line meant nerves started to jangle as the end of the came approached. The referee who had a good game prolonged that anguish when he some how found 10 minutes added time, and a few more hairs went grey!
Finally the whistle did come to signal the start of the celebrations which went on long into the night as my head will testify! For many on and off the pitch, this is just reward for 2 years of hard graft.
From Frankie, the lads & myself this is a victory which we would like to dedicate to Mrs Youngman as a get well soon gesture.
With Cromer surprisingly losing to Watton 2-1, it’s the Division one team we will face in the final at Wroxham on Easter Monday. Having watched their victory we will not be taking them lightly as they are a very fit accomplished side who have already dispatched 3 Premier sides having beaten Beccles 6 – 0 in the quarter finals & Lowestoft Reserves in the previous round.
Our cause will not be helped by the scheduling of the final on Easter Monday when many had already booked time away with their families and we play Wroxham Reserves in another big game on the Saturday. So two big games in three days, both at Wroxham.