Trafford Park was a cold and dark place on Saturday. Literally at 3 o'clock, and metaphorically by 5pm. Quite how a day could have gone any worse for the Yachtsmen was beyond all the faithful as the full time whistle blew, writes Darren Wiseman.
Optimism had been high before the match. Recent home performances had been encouraging and Waltham Abbey were only a few places away from the Yachtsmen, so the game also had a must win feel about it.
Wroxham lined up with Elliot Pride in goal, Blake Saker and Olly Humphries at full back alongside Stefano Mallardo and Adam Plumstead. In midfield Matt Cook, Ben Lewis and Jack Newman would battle for control with Ross Gilfedder and Craig Bussens out wide. Upfront was Armani Schaar.
With the floodlights already on, Wroxham kicked off shooting towards the car park, but given the significance of the day, no one could have expected what would transpire in the next 25 minutes.
In the early stages Abbey appeared on top but were unable to create anything of note. Wroxham made the first chance, a long ball up to Jack Newman in the area and he played neat one two with Bussens. Newman's resulting effort was was wide of the left post from 20 yards out.
The first goal of the day was symptomatic of Wroxhams early play. A mistake on 8 minutes from Saker gave the ball away to Gregory Moorse, who drove towards the Wroxham area taking on and beating Olly Humphries too easily as the full back backed off. With this much time and space, Moorse got the message that he was under no pressure, so he picked his spot from 25 yards, finding the right hand corner with aplomb.
Waltham Abbey were now on top, with the 78 in attendance wondering if the team had turned up too. Billy Holland went close next for the visitors. He got past two defenders far too easily but was closed down by Pride who made the save. The rebound was not cleared properly and the ball came back into Moorse, but his hopes of another goal were dashed as he shot over.
The Yachtsmen were making far too many errors. After giving the ball away in midfield for the umpteenth time the ball found Darrelle Russell in the area, who turned and got a shot away which was blocked and cleared.
By this stage the Yachtsmen were holding inquests on the pitch. But despite the finger pointing little improved. On 15 minutes, Ben Lewis fouled Moorse just outside the Wroxham area. Despite his protests it seemed he was lucky to escape a yellow card. Macauley Jones lined stepped up to take the kick and found the right corner again with a superb effort. Pride got his hand to it, but it was a second brilliant finish of the day.
On 23 minutes things got even worse for the Yachtsmen. As they struggled to get a foothold, a Waltham Abbey pass was played into Holland. He produced a beautifully weighted chipped pass into Russell who lifted his finish over Pride.
With a mountain to climb the Yachtsmen finally awoke from their slumbers. A long ball for Bussens to chase led to a penalty shout as he came together with Ben Glasgow, but the referee was not interested. The pressure was on though and the ball finally reached Newman, but his shot on target was blocked and cleared.
Newman was later guilty of a foul on Billy Holland in another dangerous position. Jones attempted to repeat the dose but his effort was just over the bar this time.
Wroxham were starting to get into the game now as Waltham Abbey took their foot off the gas. A ball in from Bussens who was one of the few bright sparks for the Yachtsmen on the day, just evaded Schaar in the box, a deflection off one of the covering defenders fell into the welcoming arms of James Pullin in the Visitors goal.
But even with the game seemingly won, Waltham Abbey almost got a fourth. Holland again linked with Moorse but his shot this time was deflected by Pride onto his post, and then cleared away by Adam Plumstead.
When you have a bad day you can shrug your shoulders and get over it. Terrible days have things happen that make you laugh, or cry, or both! Today was not different! A Yachtsmen break saw Bussens deliver a great ball in to find Newman. His touch was not straight enough to get over the goal line as it was cleared just before it could dribble over the line.
On the other end of the scale was Wroxhams collective first half sloppiness which was evidenced just before the break. A long ball through should have been dealt with by Pride, but he instead asked Plumstead to see the ball out for a goal kick. He could not manage this and Macauley Jones was able to win the ball and cross. Mallardo should have cleared this cross easily, but he miscued straight to "Andres Townsend" lookalike Michael Spencer who cross found Moorse, but his effort was saved by Pride.
Thankfully the half time whistle came to end a poor half for the home team. The only fear was what was maybe to come?!
The Yachtsmen made a change at half time. Jack Guyton came on for Olly Humphries who was probably happy to come off after trying to mark Moorse in the first half.
The second half had a very slow start. The courageous Bussens pressing well high up the field and showing commitment to the cause. The effort came to nothing but it was good to see.
More good play saw Blake Saker win a free kick level with edge of the area from the Yachtsmen left. Newman delivered a good ball but Plumstead was only able to guide the ball over the bar.
Waltham Abbey brought on Anjani Carrington for Jack Daveney, and the lively sub almost added another sublime goal. Running half the length of the pitch leaving Yachtsmen in his wake he got into a shooting position inside the area, but he put his effort just wide of Pride's post.
Wroxham put together their best move of the game on 70 minutes. A set of 10 intricate passes finished with sub Fowkes pulling the ball back to Newman, but his effort was blocked.
Moorse was replaced on 79 minutes and he showed his eagerness for more as he was not happy. His manager gave him a stern talking too, and he will need to produce the goods another day.
On 86 minutes Lewis was finally booked for a foul. He had avoided a card several times, but this coupled with his frustrations saw some surly exchanges between the two teams and the home bench. Maybe the Yachtsmen would have been wise not to wind up their visitors as the ball from the free kick came to Carrington in the box. He out muscled Mallardo and beat Pride.
The bad day had one final surprise. Adam Plumstead received his marching orders for a secnd yellow card after a foul on Gavin Suddeil.
When the final whistle came, 21st place and safety felt like a million miles away for the clearly deflated Yachtsmen. But the games come thick and fast and they will have to be ready to battle when their collective minds turn to Kings Lynn Town in the Norfolk Senior Cup.