For the first time this season, we were able to announce an unchanged starting line up which was good news after the excellent 5 -1 performance against Acle the previous week.
A more attacking bench with Way, Flint and Cracknell was announced, with Lydka, Solley and Webb sent with the reserves to obtain much needed playing time, what with the cup final only 10 days away.
The Reserves also included Sonny Sloggett who joins us from Scole, and we thank Ronnie Edwards for allowing the transfer to go through so quickly. I understand the boy had a good debut as the Reserves beat promotion chasing Acle 3-1.
The home of the champions is never an easy place to visit, and so it turned out again. A real end to end game ensued with Blofield going ahead twice only for us to peg them back twice.
The opener came from one of many cross field balls opening us up for an easy tap in on the far post. But heads didn’t drop, and from a period of pressure an inswinging corner somehow found its way into the net as Thurston misjudged the cross.
The Veterans, Warman and O’Brien were causing us problems aerially, and from a free kick which earned Cussens a booking (one of 8 in a game that was always competitive but never dirty), O’Brien out jumped Barnes on the far post to plant his header into the corner.
Back we came again, and from an excellent move, Tom Halliwell struck an unstoppable dipping volley to leave Thurston rooted to the spot.
In a game that was a good advert for Anglian Combination football, both sides continued probe and create chances but some last ditch defending at both ends meant there were no further goals.
Right on the death we had two great chances to edge the game our way, as first, Flint, on for the tiring Cussens, robbed Hart to face a one to one with the home keeper, but unfortunately lifted his shot over the bar. It is good to see the young striker back with a totally different attitude and approach to the one when he left. For those non believers he has actually trained 4 weeks out of 5!
Then from a goal mouth melee, the ball fell to the ‘evergreen’ Mark Way in the box but his driven shot was diverted by a defender straight into Thurston’s arms as he lay on the floor from an earlier shot.
In a game which I thoroughly enjoyed there were many good performances, Tim Downs secured our man of the match but Midfielders Player and Halliwell pushed him hard
We thank Blofield for their always good hospitality and Paddy’s apology at calling us a ‘pub side ‘in the earlier encounter. But if Carlsberg did Pub Teams we would probably be ------------------! All said in good humour and apology accepted.
Anyone wishing to travel to the Cup Final on Easter Monday , the bus will be leaving Hempnall at 4.30 (meet 4.20), and you need to contact Dave Pointer, Tim Clarke or Nick Page to book a seat.