Blofield United 0 UEA 2

The Mummery Cup brought a change from league fixtures and Blofield hoped a change in fortunes as UEA visited the Rec for this first round clash. The Beavers were semi finalists last season before losing out to Sheringham in extra time, could they repeat the feat or even go one better this year?

Squads: Blofield – Ian Stones (c), Alain Elsley-Medina, Ryan Frankland, Isaac Mace, Darren Critchlow, Andrew Fulcher, Will Bennett, Alex Niescierowicz, Robbie Fryers, Callum Cox, Jack Robinson. Subs – Shaun Dunthorne, Adam Bellingham, Charlie Downing.
UEA – Tom Smith, Ibrahim Hagos, Callum Mooney, Marcus Legg, Richard Black, Ben George, Jordan Cornes, Henry Clark, Mohammed Hassan, Rinor Plepolli, Jesse Parot. Sub – Jody Scowcroft

UEA started as you would expect, passing the ball out short from the back, however inside the first five minutes this almost caught them out as Alex pressed high and won the ball back before sliding the ball through to Robbie, but his well struck shot was saved by Smith flying to his right.

Blofield were enjoying the early part of the game, a corner from Will on the left was met well by Robbie’s head in the centre, but the ball flew just over the UEA crossbar.
As the half progressed the visitors started to come more into the game, their own corner from the left was put just over by Ben George, then after twenty minutes Hassan was played through for UEA, and on breaking into the box he went down under a challenge from Fulcher, the referee pointed to the spot and produced a yellow card for the defender. Hassan picked himself up to convert from the spot sending Stones the wrong way.
Blofield were still carrying a threat and had a huge claim for a penalty of their own when Robbie’s flick over a defender’s head was clearly blocked by a raised arm, however the referee waived away the appeals.

The last thing Blofield wanted to do was concede another before the break, however just two minutes before half time a throw on the right for UEA came to Plepolli, and his low driven shot nestled in the bottom corner to give the visitors a 2-0 half time lead.
Blofield certainly weren’t going to give up on the game and began the second half well, when the ball fell rather awkwardly for Frankland a good 25 yards out he produced brilliant technique to send the ball flying towards the top corner of the UEA net, but Smith just managed to get a hand on it to tip the ball away.

Although Blofield were still pressing they were being reduced to mainly shots from distance, however when awarded a free kick substitute Dunthorne struck it well, the keeper could only parry the ball straight out into the middle of the area, but nobody was there to provide the final killer touch for the hosts.

Blofield’s biggest chance came midway through the second half as having played out from the back Isaac delivered a beautiful ball over the top to Jack in the box on the right-hand side, but as the keeper came rushing out his shot not only cleared the keeper but the bar as well when he probably should have scored.

Big chances after this were very few and far between as UEA saw the game out well for a 2-0 victory. This was a shame for Blofield who no doubt would have been hoping for a cup run, but the attention now turns back to the league as we look for a first win of the new season.

Jonny Clarke

Updated 12:15 - 19 Jul 2020 by Beaver Reporter