Manager Jordan Southgate made two changes to his starting XI after Tuesday's hard-fought game at Norwich United for Saturday's encounter with Whitton United. The most notable was a first start for recent signing Matt Hayden whilst Joe Keeley came in at left back.

In the opening minutes, Whitton were not playing like a side sitting towards the bottom of the League. They were contesting every ball and it took until the 6th minute for Wroxham to have their first half-chance. It was Matt Hayden who broke up field towards the Whitton goal. He was caught by a defender but managed to get the ball to Harley Black. The midfielder played the ball across the six-yard box but there were no Wroxham forwards anticipating the ball and it was no danger to Jack Spurling in the visitor's goal.

This gave Wroxham lots of hope and there were half chances for Wyatt Hill, Matt Hayden, Ryan Curtis and Ryan Miles but the Whitton defence stood firm and blocked the shots or the ball was wide of the posts.

On 24 minutes, Wroxham's best opportunity of the game fell to Shaun Taylor from a Matt Hayden pass. Wroxham's number 11 playing his 149th game for the club was set up by a Hayden pass and the shot was caught sweetly by Taylor but Spurling made a great diving save to put the ball out for a corner.

Just before the half-hour, there was an incident when Whitton captain Ethan Clarke went in over the ball against Ryan Curtis earning the Greens player a yellow card when on other occasions it could have been a straight red. After receiving treatment, Curtis was able to continue.

Whitton were not settling to contain the Yachtsmen and Owen Betts managed to win a corner when he was released with the ball.

As half-time approached, Wroxham made the breakthrough and it was an unlikely source for the goal. A great ball from the left was headed back across goal by Shaun Taylor to Joe Keeley coming into the area. His header into the net past Spurling was greeted partly with relief from the Yachtsmen fans who were wondering if today was going to be one of those games.

The second half started with Wroxham on the front foot following their late goal just before half-time. The two Ryans, Miles and Curtis both had attempts from distance but both shots were wide of the goal.

Whitton tried to get into the game and Daniel Thrower had a shot that fell wide of the Wroxham post.

This danger gave Wroxham more urgency and in the 55th minute, Matt Hayden made it 2-0 to Wroxham. A through-ball from the Wroxham defence reached Hayden who took the ball into the Whitton area and calmly shot low past the keeper.

Whitton were given an ideal opportunity to get back into the game on the hour. A cross into the area was deemed as handball and referee Louis Lofts was immediate with poiting to the penalty spot. Thrower came forward but his shot low to Sutton's right was excellently save by the Wroxham keeper.

A few minutes later, Wroxham had calls for their own penalty. Ryan Curtis went down under pressure but this time the referee kept his finger down and his whistle unblown.

In the 71st minute, Wroxham put the game out of reach of the Suffolk side. A high ball out of defence by Tom Huckerby that probably had snow on it when it reached Ryan Miles just inside the sideline. Miles took the ball perfectly, advanced into the area and shot past the keeper. It was a wonderful piece of skill from Miles and rightly he received the plaudits of his manager.

With the game now looking like a home win, Jordan Southgate made a triple substitution bringing on Conley Poynter, Olly Yun and Brad Spooner whilst Harley Black, Wyatt Hill and Ryan Curtis were all given a chance of an early rest.

Whitton had not given up and a flick from a corner was close to the far post and prompted a few words from Ollie Sutton towards the players in front of him. From the goal kick, Ryan Miles was keen to get his second of the game but he was unable to find a way past Spurling having made space for his shot.

In the 85th minute, Matt Hayden got his second of the game. A ball into the area from the left was controlled by the striker, shifted to give himself space and fired past the keeper. The Blue Wave were prompted to serenade the goalscorer with "Matt Hayden, he has a big hose" in celebration. To add context to this, Matt Hayden is a firefighter in his day job.

As the game was coming to a conclusion, Matt Hayden was keen to get his hattrick but it was not to be. The best chance was when Brad Spooner played the ball to Miles but his cross was just beyond the reach of Hayden.

Wroxham now have a week off the pitch and their next game is home to fifth placed Walsham Le Willows at Trafford Park on Saturday.

Wroxham: Ollie Sutton, Wyatt Hill (Olly Yun 75), Joe Keeley, Jordan King, Chris Skipper, Tom Huckerby, Ryan Miles, Harley Black (Conley Poynter 75), Matty Hayden, Ryan Curtis (Brad Spooner 75), Shaun Taylor. Subs: Conley Poynter, Brad Spooner, Olly Yun, George Couzens, Travis Dodsworth.
Goals: Joe Keeley (45), Matty Hayden (55, 85), Ryan Miles (71).

Whitton: Spurling, Clark, Ferguson, Wiggins, De'Ath, Warren, Robinson, Wales, Thrower, Betts, Clarke. Subs: Pelling, Horne, Linard, Hubert.

Ref: Louis Lofts. Assistants: Tyler Clayton, Alexander Melton.

Att: 166