There was little action of note in the opening 20 minutes. But then after being pulled down, Tom Rampling, flighted in a free kick which was punched away by Cromer ‘keeper Jake Munday only as far as Lewis Rivett who lobbed the ball back but was just over the bar.
An unlucky bounce for Charlie Norman who was trying to clear the ball enabled a Cromer attacker to get away at the by line to cross for No 10 whose header hit the bar but Wroxham cleared.
A good move by Wroxham started by Bradley Spooner set Jack Lincoln away whose dangerous cross was cleared behind for a corner.
Then on 23 minutes Jordan Attree was brought down and Spooner and Rampling lined up to take the free kick on the edge of the area but Rampling’s kick was way over.
Wroxham were now playing much better and began to take a foothold on a difficult playing surface. Some clever trickery by Spooner almost opened up the home defence. The same player was also involved in another good move but his final shot was straight at the keeper.
The visitors took a deserved lead in the 43rd minute. A great run by Lincoln down the left saw his get past two defenders before cross towards goal where Jordan Attree beat Munday to the ball and slid it under the keeper to open the scoring.
HT Cromer Town 0 Wroxham Res 1
After the break Cromer made two substitutions to liven up their performance. You could say it did as David Harwood was only on the pitch for less than two minutes before he received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Jack Guyton who required treatment before re-starting.
Wroxham had a couple of chances when Spooner’s shot was saved by the keeper who then turned his next effort onto the post and behind for a corner.
Then Cromer were down to 9 men for a short period as Sam Grady fell heavily on his arm socket. It was obvious he was in pain from a dislocation which was put back by physio Les Frary. Although Grady was able to continue for a few moments he had to come off and was taken to the hospital opposite for a check-up.
This disruption seemed to have an effect on the young Wroxham players who started to panic as Cromer applied more pressure. They equalised on 65 minutes when former Yachtsmen Karl Horton used his experience as the Wroxham players back off to use the space created to get in a superb curler from 25 yards that sailed into the top corner giving Kingsley Barnes no chance although up til that moment, he had little to do.
The goal seemed to knock the confidence out of the visitors who then had Barnes to thank for an excellent save to deny No 10. The as Cromer piled on the pressure another effort was cleared off the line and a further effort went over the bar when it seemed easier to score.
Although Wroxham regained some composure towards the end they had to settle for a draw.