Many things have to happen for a football match to happen. The lines are drawn on the pitch, the net goes up and the clubhouse is opened up. The players and fans arrive and wait to see what unfolds. Unfortunately for the Yachtsmen this season, a few more things have happened far to regularly. They start well, make some good chances, most are missed, they tire, they let in a goal or two in the last 20 minutes and then they lose, usually by the odd goal. Today was painfully no different, as a good performance and courageous effort went unrewarded and ultimately ended in relegation.
Wroxham started the match mirroring England's 3-4-3 formation from earlier in the week. Elliot Pride had Adam Plumstead, Stefanno Mallardo and Matt Halliday in front of him with Jack Guyton and Tom Rampling playing wing back. In midfield were Matt Cook and Ben Lewis with Aristote Amisi Kamaneno and Kevin Coyle either side of Ross Gilfedder up top.
Aveley gathered for the obligatory pre match huddle, and they kicked off in bright sunshine but a strong breeze blowing towards the Kenny Cook stand. The early possession and attacks were from the visitors, but no chances were made as the Yachtsmen stood firm.
The first chance came from a mistake from the Millers keeper and captain Lamar Johnson. He rushed out to make a clearance but miscued the ball straight to Kevin Coyle. He chanced his arm from the half way line, but his effort was just over the bar. It was definitely a heart in mouth moment for the visiting keeper.
Aveley produced the next chance. A ball in from the right from winger Aldaberto Pinto was met by loanee Mason Bloomfield but he couldn't get over the ball so his effort went over the bar.
Joe Clark playing full back for Aveley had a busy first 15 minutes, he rounded Guyton twice, and the gave the ball away to Ben Lewis and conceded a corner. It came to nothing, but Clark was having a great tussle Guyton down the Wroxham right.
In a game of few chances, Wroxham threw a guilt edged one away on 30 minutes. Matt Cook delivered a sumptuous ball in from the left and it reached Tom Rampling at the back post who had got clear of his marker. His effort from inside the 6 yard box somehow managed to go wide, when scoring appeared easier. When it's not your day, it's not your day!
On 34 minutes Elliot Pride had a crazy 10 seconds. A cross came in and Pride went to claim. A hairy moment followed when he spilled the ball, but he managed to gather before any problems arose. He quickly released the ball to Lewis, but he was his doing his bootlace at the time, and Wroxham were immediately under pressure. Cue panic, but the defence dealt with the ball in quickly and the danger was snuffed out.
Referee Abby Marriott also wanted to follows Prides lead as she too had a crazy 2 minutes. She first penalised Mallardo in a dangerous position for what looked a perfect challenge. His reaction earned him a word, and the free kick was ultimately dealt with. As Wroxham broke to the other end a great ball in saw Gilfedder challenging with Clark for the ball, and the defender looked to have punched the ball clear. The referee was unmoved, Gilfedder was gobsmacked!!
The half drew to a close with both teams working hard, and Wroxham feeling they were right in the game. Results elsewhere had the Yachtsmen relegated, so the needed to really go for it n the next period.
The Yachtsmen didn't disappoint and were right on the front foot from the off. A great effort from Rampling was parried out to Kamaneno but unfortunately his effort went straight to the relieved Johnson.
The match was starting to open up but chances were at a premium. On 60 minutes the Millers had the ball in the net, but the giant Hussien Jaffa was clearly offside as he put the ball away.
From the resulting clearance Gilfedder looked to get away, and Johnson came out to clear but slipped. The Aveley captain just managed to get his footing back to clear before the number 9 could make anything of the error.
On 70 minutes the game was in the balance. The Yachtsmen sensed fresh legs might be needed and subs started to get ready. It had the feel of a game that would be settled by one goal.
Wroxham hoped the team stealing the points would be them. A ball into the box was spilled by Johnson, but he pressured Coyle well and blocked his effort. The ball rebounded to Rampling, but he couldn't capitalise as Aveley regained their shape and then cleared.
On 80 minutes came the killer blow. Ben Lewis fouled in midfield and was booked. Aveley had pressured Wroxham for 5 minutes, and this free kick was part of the squeeze that the Yachtsmen were feeling. The ball in found Mason Bloomfield at the near post and he bundled the ball home. Kris Newby of Aveley was sure it was an own goal, but however you look at it Wroxham were behind when they could or even should have been 2 up.
Wroxham rang the changes with some late subs. Jack Newman came on for Matt Cook and his half volley from distance found the keeper who dealt easily. Wroxham had to chance things now, and they made another chance soon after. Gilfedder was released again but 2 Aveley defenders dispossessed his, unfairly from the home sides perspective, but Marriott again was uninterested.
As the game fizzled out, Aveley had the last chance. Sub Peart one on one with Pride found the home keeper still alert and he produced a fine stop.
The game finished with Wroxham relegated, and the visitors rubbing their noses in it. A little pushing and shoving at full time, but the fight was over. The Yachtsmen will need to go again next season to see if they can return to this level again sooner rather than later