Wroxham were drawn against Sterry Cup holders Acle who needed to win after losing at Long Stratton on Saturday and were in danger of slipping away from the pace-setters despite games in hand. The home side also needed points as they started bottom of the table and six points behind Stratton to whom they also lost in their last game giving away a two goal lead.
Kingsley Barnes returned in goal wearing a Petr Cech style protective skull cap following the concussion injury he had in the Senior KO Cup game with Caister 3 weeks ago. Wroxham also brought in some more senior players for this key game.
But it was Acle who raised their game causing Wroxham to defend for the opening 20 minutes. Thehome side’s best chance came on 21 minutes when Jamie Forshaw received the ball 10 y ards out but Acle’s keeper Foreman made an important block save to deny him.
A poor clearance by Barnes seemed to have given Acle a good chance of taking the lead but the Wroxham keeper made a good recovery to deny the visitors.
Although there were few clear chances Matt Halliday started a move from midway in his own half to get into the penalty area and when the ball was returned to him his volley was fired over in the 42nd minute.
Then the Wroxham defender went in the referee’s notebook after a professional foul holding back Sam Bryant who had clearly beaten him.
But despite Acle having the advantage of more possession there were no goals at half time.
HT Wroxham Res 0 Acle Utd 0
Acle were still looking the sharper side in the second half and were beginning to create more chances. Barnes dived bravely at an attacker’s feet to turn the ball round on 65 minutes. From the resulting corner Wroxham were unable to clear and the loose ball fell for Charlie Bartram who fired back through a forest of players into the net to give Acle the lead
Wroxham took off Forshaw and Halliday to give the younger players a chance of getting back. They almost did so when a great cross from Bradley Spooner on the by line found Gavin Lemmon at the far post but it was just too high for Lemmon to get leverage and direction as his header hit the side netting.
Although Wroxham were pressing Acle scored a second on 85 minutes when Jason Cole’s long ball found Sam Bryant who rounded Barnes and hit the net.
Wroxham did not give up and pulled one goal back in the 89th minute as again good work by Spooner & Attree set up a tap in for Danny Rogers.
But it was too late to get an equaliser and more points were dropped