Pitchero

Norwich United FC Up The Planters

Club Rank: 1100

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Godmanchester Rovers

Norwich United

Full time

M Blake (5', 23'), B Thompson (32')

ke 29 huhti 19:45 - Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League - Premier Division Attendance 96

Report

Highlights

Selection

TON UP!! make that TWO!

By Robert Wilford

The trip to Bearscroft Farm was in no way a done deal for the Planters.

Whilst the boys were looking for a hundredth goal and two points to reach a 100 this season, Goddy were looking for a result to ensure their second place in the league, ahead of Stanway. The trip was not comfortable for the United team and supporters, with the usual traffic jams on the car park that is the A14 not helped by road works and a serious accident. With Lee Mason suspended, Adam Bennett and Matty Daniels not available and Ben Jones still injured, we looked light in midfield.

The game was billed as the battle of the hot shots Mathew Blake and Tom Meechan going head to head for the golden boot for this years top scorer, Tom lead by two on thirty two after his hat trick Saturday against Whitton. Blakey being taken off replaced early on Saturday new what he had to do.

The boys came out looking to shake the journey out of their legs with the Rovers players forming a guard of honour for the champions (nice touch), Rovers started stronger and after two minutes hit the Planters woodwork seeing a shot come off the base of the post. Fortunately this served to wake up the boys for the battle they faced.

The Planters began to take control playing into the breeze, the pitch was a bumpy affair not unusual for this time of the season. After just 5 minutes an Andy Cusack corner found Steve Shipley his goal bound strike was touched on fittingly by Mathew Blake 0 - 1 Planters, an early goal the 100th of the season and one closer for Blakey to Meechan.

On 22 minutes Adam Hipperson rolled his ankle and was replaced by Jamie George, Jamies first touch was rolled through to Ben Thompson who picked out Blakey who beat the keeper with ease 0 - 2 Yellows. A brace for Blakey evening it up at the top of the golden boot race. Andy Eastaugh saw yellow on 27 minutes for a heavy challenge.

On 32 minutes the game was over as a competition, neat football down the left, Jamie George fed the ball through to Andy Cusack on the overlap, his ball across the box was dummied brilliantly by Paul Cook opening up a shooting opportunity for Ben Thompson who smashed it home 0 - 3 Planters. Three clear cut chances three goals clinical.

Going in three up at halftime, the boys having conceded just once in seven games in April left Godmanchester really up against it.

Andy Eastaugh was replaced at half time by Aaron Kay for his debut, Aaron who signed for us at the start of the season has been plying his trade with Dereham Town. Gavin Lemmon in midfield was having a great game holding it all together in the middle of the park. Rovers were having the better of the early minutes of the second half after the forwards from United had bossed the first half, it was now the defenders jobs to hold onto our lead with the boys looking to hit Rovers on the break. Five minutes in Blakes pace opened up Goddy who could only watch as the goalbound effort came off the cross bar .

On the hour Josh Carus came on for Greg Crane and quickly took to the fight. Rovers had by far the best of the second half but Duncan McAnally was not going to give up his 31st clean sheet without a fight pulling off a couple of good stops. The boys saw the game out with relative ease, leaving Godmanchester disappointed, but still with the second place in their own hands facing Hadleigh in their last game of the season. An assured performance by the Planters to add to a fabulous April, 8 games 7 wins and a draw, only conceded one goal scored 17 a champions performance reaching the two big goals, 100 league goals and points . Blakey gets my man of the match, his brace plus the 100th of the season well deserved.

Onwards for the boys it's not done yet, Brantham Athletic on Saturday at Plantation Park where we will be presented with the league trophy a day to enjoy followed Monday with the League Cup Final against Walsham Le Willows at Diss. We can also say goodbye to the Grey kit!!

Well done boys!!