Match report by Tom Wardle

The Yachtsmen’s outstanding defensive display after going down to 10 men earned them a well deserved point away at 7th place Thamesmead.

Wroxham managed to see out the game with their fantastic defensive display especially in the final 10 minutes of the game as the home side didn’t manage to work Elliot Pride even though they had the majority of the possession. However Wroxham did very nearly manage to nick a goal in the second half as Jamie Forshaw was millimetres away from giving the Yachtsmen all 3 points as the ball agonisingly rolled past his stretched foot and out for a goal kick.

The visitors saw a number of changes from last week’s 4-0 loss to AFC Hornchurch at Trafford Park. Elliot Pride remained in the Wroxham goal, but Jackson Ramm replaced Charlie Norman as right full back, Matthew Halliday and Danny Rust were replaced by Stephen Taylor who went in at left back and Andy Howell, who replaced Halliday at the back. Lewis Sturman replaced Hinton in the centre midfield, which saw Ollie Ebbage return from his absence last week and join captain Andy Howell at centre back. Jack Guyton, Danny Beaumont and Jamie Forshaw all remained in the starting line-up, but Seamus Kelleher and Jordan King were replaced by Jack Garrod and Matty Waters. Youngsters Charlie Norman, Ben Robinson and Bradley Spooner were all on the bench.

Wroxham started off proceedings away at Thamesmead and forcing Alan Walker into action in the opening few minutes of the game. Jack Garrod’s run down the left hand side saw him able to get his shot off from a wide angle, but was well caught by the Mead’s keeper. With 10 minutes gone, neither team were getting a hold on the ball. However Michael Uwezu weaved his way into the box, only to see his shot pulled wide of the left post, and then a minute later Ainslew Everett picked up the ball for the home side just outside the box, but his shot was well wide of the right post, not troubling Elliot Pride. The Visitors then very nearly took the lead; a fantastic move to the right of the box saw Danny Beaumont's through ball met by Jamie Forshaw before scuffing his shot and eventually getting cleared.

With 20 minutes gone, an incident that could very well turn the game. As Thamesmead countered after a Wroxham corner, Jackson Ramm was stamped on by a Thamesmead defender, Ramm then got up and retaliated by using his elbow. Ramm was subsequently sent off. An incident that should have seen both players punished.

The last chance of the first half fell to Thamesmead, the ball fell to Richard Butler on the edge of the box, but he sliced wide which summed up the first half display from the home side.

Thamesmead were definitely favourites to go on and win the game in the second half laying 7th in the table and an extra player. The first yellow card of the second half went to Lewis Dark, who’s foul on Jack Garrod stopped a very promising counter attack for the Yachtsmen. 5 minutes later after some good pressure from Wroxham, pin ball in the box meant the ball found Jack Garrod but saw his shot blocked on the penalty spot. After 15 minutes gone in the second half the home side were only creating chances from about 30 yards out. Firstly Lewis Dark’s shot was blasted over the bar, then 4 minutes later; Everett saw his shot go wide of the right post.

Mid way through the second half, Thamesmead saw the best chance of the second half hit the top of the bar and go over after Substitute Derek Duncan’s sweetly struck shot from the edge of the area. The Yachtsmen then made their first substitution of the afternoon, as Jack Garrod was replaced by Charlie Norman. Then the Yachtsmen had a chance to nick a goal, Jamie Forshaw broke with the ball on the edge of his own box following a Thamesmead corner. Forshaw passed the ball forward to Danny Beaumont whose classy turn and pass saw him stopped in his tracks as he was blocked on the half way line. However the ball made its way to Charlie Norman as the referee played an advantage. Norman's run to the right of the home side’s box saw a cross into the box post roll millimetres away from the sliding foot of Jamie Forshaw as the ball agonisingly ran out for a goal kick.

The Yachtsmen then brought on their remaining two subs, Hardworking Matthew Waters and Danny Beaumont were replaced by Bradley Spooner and Ben Anderson. The last 10 minutes saw the majority of possession go to the home side, but they couldn’t break down the Wroxham defence. The referee then blew his whistle in a game which felt like a win for the visitors as they would be going home the much happier of the two sides.

Overall, even though Wroxham didn’t create too many chances and Thamesmead had the majority of possession, Thamesmead never really tested Elliot Pride because the Wroxham players worked as a team making sure they were all doing their job correctly. Having not conceded, Wroxham's forwards now need a bit of luck in front of goal.