A long journey to Kent saw the Yachtsmen return home with all the points as two goals from Jack Garrod were enough to win in a tough game away to Phoenix Sports, writes Tom Wardle.

Wroxham made the long journey from Norfolk count as they ran out 2-1 victors in a game that saw a feisty finish as the home side were reduced to 10 men in injury time. Jack Garrod scored both goals for the visitors including a well struck penalty.
Matt Halliday returned to the Yachtsmen defence having been unavailable last Saturday and Nick Davey was restored up front for the visitors after injury and scoring for the reserves in midweek. Tom Cullumbine, Joel Potter and Sam Harty all started on the bench for Wroxham.

Wroxham started brightly and in the first two minutes Jack Garrod ghosted past the Phoenix full back before getting brought down in the box. Despite protests the referee waved play on. 12th placed Sports were playing some neat football and the dangerous looking Christie Pattison saw his volley from the edge of the Wroxham box saved by Elliot Pride. The home side were forced into an early change after only 8 minutes as centre back Lewis Mingle was replaced by Giannoulis Fakinos. After 15 minutes, Phoenix Sports had the best chance to get a goal. Adrian Stones effort from outside the penalty area was blasted over the bar when he should have done better and a corner was given for the home side. Russell Bedford’s corner was met by the head of substitute Fakinos, but headed straight into the arms of Pride.

Steve Phillips was then called into action for the first time in goal for Phoenix Sports. David Hinton’s pass to Jordan King on the edge of the box resulted in a tame effort from the midfielder and the ball was easily collected by the home goalkeeper. Phoenix countered quickly, wideman Pattison drove forward on the left before sending a cross into the near post, the ball hit the back of Alistair Gordon before spooning over the bar. Wroxham had an excellent chance to open the scoring, a lovely flowing and passing move saw the ball arrive at the feet of Nick Davey, but his two shots from the edge of the six-yard box were blocked superbly on the line by covering defenders and the chance was gone.

On 29 minutes, the first goal of the game went to the traveling Yachtsmen. David Hinton’s run forward down the left as he saw a pass to Nick Davey on the edge of the Phoenix box. Davey then chipped the ball over the defence back to Hinton. As Hinton’s shot was blocked, the ball fell kindly for Jack Garrod who calmly slotted in to put Wroxham one up.
10 minutes later Phoenix pulled back level. A ball got played to Pattison on the edge of the box, the winger then took a touch inside the box before smashing the ball past Pride and into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
The final minutes of the half saw both team go through on goal a few times, but neither team could finish their chances as the first half ended 1-1.

5 minutes into the second half, Wroxham made their first change of the afternoon, as Michael Sommerfield made way for Samuel Harty who went into the centre-midfield role. Phoenix had the first chance of the half as Alistair Gordon’s cross in from the right hand side for the home side was met by the head of Adrian Stone, but his header was put well over the bar.

Wroxham were playing some neat football and looking dangerous as they came forward. Substitute Sam Harty played the ball to Jack Garrod inside the area. Garrod turned the defender before getting brought down. The referee immediately indicated a penalty to the visitors. Jack Garrod picked himself up and smashed the ball into the top right hand corner of the goal giving the goalkeeper no chance and to give Wroxham a 2-1 lead.

Two minutes after the Wroxham goal, the home side tried to respond as the ever dangerous Pattison crossed into the box from the right but Adrian Stone’s header was again well over the bar. The Yachtsmen then made their second change of the afternoon as Jamie Forshaw was replaced by Joel Potter.

Phoenix were keeping up the pressure on the Wroxham defence. This time Joe Matthews’ shot toward the Wroxham goal was deflected on the edge of the box before Pride picked up the loose ball. Pattison was again involved for the home side as his run past two Wroxham players saw his cross played into the danger zone but no one in green managed to get onto the end of it as the ball rolled out for a throw in.

Wroxham made their final change of the game, as Tom Cullumbine came on for Nick Davey who played well leading the line on his first game back for the first team after injury. As the game wore on, some of the play became a bit feisty with strong tackles and no holding back by either side. Samuel Harty went into a 50/50 challenge before getting the first yellow card of the afternoon for Wroxham. As the game entered injury time, a moment of madness by Phoenix captain Russell Bedford led to the referee producing his red card. A free kick was awarded to Phoenix but as Jack Garrod went to prevent it being taken quickly, Bedford took a wild swing missing the ball but connecting with Garrod. The referee was left with no choice but to send off the defender, whilst Garrod picked up a yellow for preventing the home side to take the free kick quickly. The last chance of the game fell for Pattison but his shot from the edge of the area was smashed over the bar an out for a goal kick.

The referee blew his whistle and brought an end to an action packed game away at Phoenix Sports. Both teams had some very good chances to score a few goals but most were wasted. However, Wroxham were the more clinical of the teams and that told in the end. The Yachtsmen now sit 19th in the league with a 4 point gap to the relegation zone.

For the Easter weekend, the Yachtsmen face Maldon & Tiptree at Trafford Park on Saturday and a trip to Brightlingsea Regent on Bank Holiday Monday.

Phoenix: Steve Phillips, Ryan Andrews, Steve Springett, Russell Bedford, Lewis Mingle, Joe Matthews, Alistair Gordon, Jason Goodchild, Adrian Stone, Billy Bennett, Christie Pattison. Subs: Giannoulis Fakinos, Michael Aziaya, Sam Long, Adam Woodward, Danny Kemp.

Wroxham: Elliot Pride, Stephen Taylor, Nick Bailey, Michael Sommerfield (Harty), Aarron Taylor, Matt Halliday, Jack Garrod, Jordan King, Nick Davey (Cullumbine), Jamie Forshaw (Potter), David Hinton. Subs: Joel Potter, Tom Cullumbine, Sam Harty