A more confident Wroxham side won for the first time since October following the appointment of Damian Hilton, who was taking charge of his first game for the Yachtsmen, writes Tom Wardle.

Jackson Ramm came back into the side as right back whilst Michael Sommerfield and Ollie Ebbage returned as a centre back pairing. The midfield saw David Hinton, Jack Garrod Stephen Taylor, and Seamus Kelleher all come back for Wroxham. A surprise saw Nick Davey return to the Yachtsmen for his second spell this season from Wisbech to try to inspire Wroxham to claim their first win since October.

Wroxham started the better of the two sides attacking straight from the kick-off. Jackson Ramm held the ball in the right corner before easing past the defender. He was eventually stopped in his tracks and the ball was put out for a corner. Five minutes later, Jack Garrod went inches away from giving the home side the lead with what would have been a “goal of the season” contender. The winger cut in from the left, before finding some space and rifling a shot towards the goal but the ball smashed against the top left hand post and the ball was then cleared.

After 15 minutes Thamesmead had their first chance of the game. Derek Duncan’s free kick from the edge of the area was wasted as he blasted the ball over the bar. Duncan then went close for the away side again but again saw his powerful shot go over the bar and out for a goal kick. Thamesmead were still on the front foot but Jack Barry’s header didn’t trouble Elliot Pride. The Yachtsmen then countered quickly, Jamie Forshaw latched on to a through-ball before playing a brilliant teasing ball into the near post but Seamus Kelleher stretched and put it wide.

On the 25th minute there was controversy for the visitors as an off the ball incident saw Hallam red-carded and the referee awarded Wroxham a penalty. Jamie Forshaw stepped up and placed the ball to the bottom right corner but his shot was saved by the visitor’s keeper and kept the score level.

The Yachtsmen were then forced into the first change of the afternoon, as Ollie Ebbage was replaced by the returning Josh Carus who has followed Manager Damian Hilton from Norwich United. The last chance of the first half fell to the Yachtsmen as Ramm’s cross from the right hand side was headed over by Nick Davey who did very well to get on to the end of the cross.

Once again at the start of the second half the Yachtsmen started the better side as they went very close. Jamie Forshaw’s shot from the edge of the area was however pulled wide left of the Thamesmead goal.

On 50 minutes the Yachtsmen finally got what they deserved. Jamie Forshaw’s pass was collected by Jack Garrod on the right, who eased past a defender before curling his cross into the area. The cross was met by the head of Seamus Kelleher who leaped up and planted his powerful header into the back of the net to give Wroxham a much deserved lead.

5 minutes later Jamie Forshaw again went extremely close to getting a Wroxham second, as his run down the right hand side saw a chipped ball hit the top of the cross-bar.

Thamesmead then had their first chance of the second half, but Faireweather-Johnson failed to trouble the Wroxham keeper as the ball was easily collected. The away side then had another chance 2 minutes later, but Richard Butler saw his shot wasted and over the cross-bar.

Mid-way through the second half, Nick Davey showed some good skill to get around two Thamesmead defenders before playing the ball across the six-yard box, the ball falling to Jack Garrod with his shot saved by the keeper.

David Hinton and Nick Davey were shown yellow cards later in the half before Michael Sommerfield managed to recover and slide in to get the ball of Gordon Young who was about to pull the trigger in the Yachtsmen penalty area. As injury time approached a nervy Yachtsmen were showing signs that an equalizer was imminent. As Thamesmead hit the outside of the post late on with Johnson-Faireweather finding space before drilling the ball towards the left hand post. After an agonising three minutes the referee finally cheered the Wroxham faithful, players and staff to give Damian Hilton a dream start in the Wroxham dugout.

Overall the Yachtsmen were the better team as there seemed to be a boost in confidence. Michael Sommerfield and Nick Davey were two key men in the game, but as a team Wroxham were fantastic from start to finish. They will now hope to carry this on and into the game at home on Tuesday night against Tilbury.