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First Team - Report
Date: Tuesday 7th August 2012 - Kick Off: 19:45
Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League - Premier Division
Attendance: 118
| Gorleston | 5 | vs | 1 | Norwich United |
We've Got Ally Mac
An excellent performance from Gorleston ensured it was two wins from two in the Thurlow Nunn League.
However, the game couldn’t have got off to a worse start for the Greens.
With just five minutes gone Eddie Thompson was shepherding a bouncing ball out of play on his own goal line when he appeared to receive a nudge in the back which caused the ball to strike his arm. The referee blew and pointed to the spot for a penalty to Norwich. Matt Dixon stepped up to send Elliot Pride the wrong way and give his side the lead.
The lead lasted barely three minutes. Reece Hunn broke down the left and crossed towards Ally McKenna who deftly flicked a header into the bottom far corner of the goal.
After an even first quarter of the game, with both sides having good possession, Gorleston took the lead in the 25th minute.
Hunn appeared to be bowled over in the penalty area but the referee waved play on. The ball was only half cleared by United and was helped back into the box where it found McKenna who turned and thumped the ball into the goal.
The game was still finely balanced with both sides working hard to close down their opponents space and the nearest anybody came to scoring was two minutes before the break when Liam Harvey-Cooper cut in from the left and hit a powerful drive goalwards but the goalkeeper turned it away.
The Greens began the second period in the best possible way. Just four minutes in, a long ball forward saw McKenna break past the last two defenders, leaving them in his wake, and calmly lift the ball over the advancing keeper into the goal to complete his hat trick.
After 55 minutes Harvey-Cooper picked up a loose ball in midfield, knocking the ball past the last defender, Steve Shipley, who then brought him down 25 yards out. Harvey-Cooper had lost control and the ball was heading wide which is why the referee only showed Shipley a yellow card.
However, Carl Poppy ensured the worst punishment possible for the foul when he struck the ball, low past the wall into the bottom corner of the goal.
Eight minutes later Poppy took another free kick from twenty yards which seemed to strike a defenders arm in the penalty area, but the referee waved play on.
Kyle Howell came on for the hard working Steve Taylor allowing Poppy to push into central midfield. Gorleston were now in total control with every player wanting the ball, and passing well.
On 71 minutes a chip into the box found McKenna with just the keeper to beat. Although Nower saved the first effort the ball fell nicely back to McKenna to slot into the empty goal.
Shortly after McKenna was replaced to rapturous applause by Ricci Butler. Butler almost created a further goal with a ball into Keegan Middleton, who turned in the box and curled an effort which just clipped the outside of the post.
Gorleston: Elliot Pride, Carl Poppy, Reece Hunn, Jack Marsden, Andy Howell, Eddie Thompson, Jack Garrod, John Bell, Ally McKenna (Ricci Butler 74), Steve Taylor (Kyle Howell 65), Liam Harvey-Cooper (Keegan Middleton 71)
Goals: McKenna 8, 25, 49, 71 Poppy 55
Norwich Utd: Ben Nower, Tom Jeal, Shaun Howes, Steve Shipley, Adrian Ager, Adam Ager, Ian Hunter, George Wilson, Jordan Blyth (Jordan Rocastle 76), Matt Dixon, Tom Balls (Mark Baxter 61)
Goal: Dixon 5
Bookings: Wilson 27, Shipley 55
Vote for your man of the Match
Pictures will be added Wednesday night.
With just five minutes gone Eddie Thompson was shepherding a bouncing ball out of play on his own goal line when he appeared to receive a nudge in the back which caused the ball to strike his arm. The referee blew and pointed to the spot for a penalty to Norwich. Matt Dixon stepped up to send Elliot Pride the wrong way and give his side the lead.
The lead lasted barely three minutes. Reece Hunn broke down the left and crossed towards Ally McKenna who deftly flicked a header into the bottom far corner of the goal.
After an even first quarter of the game, with both sides having good possession, Gorleston took the lead in the 25th minute.
Hunn appeared to be bowled over in the penalty area but the referee waved play on. The ball was only half cleared by United and was helped back into the box where it found McKenna who turned and thumped the ball into the goal.
The game was still finely balanced with both sides working hard to close down their opponents space and the nearest anybody came to scoring was two minutes before the break when Liam Harvey-Cooper cut in from the left and hit a powerful drive goalwards but the goalkeeper turned it away.
The Greens began the second period in the best possible way. Just four minutes in, a long ball forward saw McKenna break past the last two defenders, leaving them in his wake, and calmly lift the ball over the advancing keeper into the goal to complete his hat trick.
After 55 minutes Harvey-Cooper picked up a loose ball in midfield, knocking the ball past the last defender, Steve Shipley, who then brought him down 25 yards out. Harvey-Cooper had lost control and the ball was heading wide which is why the referee only showed Shipley a yellow card.
However, Carl Poppy ensured the worst punishment possible for the foul when he struck the ball, low past the wall into the bottom corner of the goal.
Eight minutes later Poppy took another free kick from twenty yards which seemed to strike a defenders arm in the penalty area, but the referee waved play on.
Kyle Howell came on for the hard working Steve Taylor allowing Poppy to push into central midfield. Gorleston were now in total control with every player wanting the ball, and passing well.
On 71 minutes a chip into the box found McKenna with just the keeper to beat. Although Nower saved the first effort the ball fell nicely back to McKenna to slot into the empty goal.
Shortly after McKenna was replaced to rapturous applause by Ricci Butler. Butler almost created a further goal with a ball into Keegan Middleton, who turned in the box and curled an effort which just clipped the outside of the post.
Gorleston: Elliot Pride, Carl Poppy, Reece Hunn, Jack Marsden, Andy Howell, Eddie Thompson, Jack Garrod, John Bell, Ally McKenna (Ricci Butler 74), Steve Taylor (Kyle Howell 65), Liam Harvey-Cooper (Keegan Middleton 71)
Goals: McKenna 8, 25, 49, 71 Poppy 55
Norwich Utd: Ben Nower, Tom Jeal, Shaun Howes, Steve Shipley, Adrian Ager, Adam Ager, Ian Hunter, George Wilson, Jordan Blyth (Jordan Rocastle 76), Matt Dixon, Tom Balls (Mark Baxter 61)
Goal: Dixon 5
Bookings: Wilson 27, Shipley 55
| Stat Attack | ||
| Gorleston | Norwich Utd | |
| 5 | Goals | 1 |
| 2/3 | Other shots on/off target | 4/2 |
| 1 | Hit woodwork | 0 |
| 3 | Corners for | 0 |
| 4 | Caught Offside | 3 |
| 8 | Free kicks for | 10 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
Pictures will be added Wednesday night.
Player Of The Match
Ally McKenna
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