Match 24. Cornard United v Great Yarmouth Town

Saturday 2^nd February 2013 @3pm

Eastern Counties League Division One

CORNARD UNITED 0-5 GREAT YARMOUTH TOWN

Blackhouse Lane, Gt Cornard

Admission: Nil

Programme: Nil

Attendance: 21 (15 h/c)

Food: Nil

Drink: Coffee in a proper mug, £1

With Cornard United rock bottom of the league, I thought I would get the ground in while still at Step 6.  On arrival, it seems as though they are already adjusting to future life at Step 7 or below.  The turnstile was shut and the entry gained through the club building.  No-one to take any gate money, no programmes produced, and the club bar unmanned throughout.  The only sale item was at half time when tea and coffee was available, thanks to the home side number 8, still in his kit having played the first 45 minutes but subbed to take the key hot liquid responsibility.  He looks well into his forties but did a great job for the dozen travelling Bloaters support/committee and the 3 neutrals.

The ground has a seated stand straddling the halfway line on the far touchline, whereas the changing rooms and club facilities is opposite on the near touchline, with a covered overhang for standing supporters and the dugouts in front.

It looks as though the whole club is in a state.  The older white haired chubby man on the bench was moaning about getting a team together.  He mustered 12 hardly souls for this one and was auditioning for the Grumpy Old Man award, when after his own player kicked the ball away, had a poke at the visiting right back for asking for another match ball.  The other man I believe was manager Paul Grainger, who is a larger than life character in all sorts of ways.  He at least had some humour when told not to speak to him so loud by the linesman.  “I’ll text you next time” was Pauls reply.  I thought Great Yarmouth players showed great restraint throughout the game as some of the home side, clearly tried to antagonise, bully and get physical with them.  The only blot being a petulant back kick from the captain, that got him sent off, together with the home number 11 “Jerome”, who was sent off for grabbing the Yarmouth captain by the throat and clearly losing his rag.  This was not an isolated incident, as the home number 3 and 9 both “offered to take it outside” after the game, during the second half.  Cornard unsurprisingly, finished the game with 9 men after a two footed air challenge giving the ref little option even though he got the ball first.

I expected a few goals here with Cornard pointless to date. It took 7 minutes for the first goal. A cross by Crux whizzed by both Cornard centre backs for Forbes to tap in at the far post.  On 12 minutes a penalty was awarded after Jones legs were unceremoniously taken from him. The right back scored from the spot kick.  A further goal was ruled out for offside and then the cross bar and each post were hit in a 10 minute attacking spell towards the end of the half.  ALthough only having a quarter of possession, Cornard did muster a couple of good attacks with the goalkeeper saving twice from free kicks. Another cross field pass found Forbes to add a third goal with a low shot just before half time. 

In the second half, after the double red card, Watts scored an excellent goal by turning from the right with his back to goal then unleashing a left footed shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.  Both benches got a little confused when the match became 9 v 10 as instructions for a 3-4-3 formation puzzled the players and dugout.  Forbes completed his hat trick with 5 minutes left when the ball was pulled back outside the box and he hit it first time into the top corner.

Like I wrote earlier, Cornard United desperately need and injection of cash, resources and players to even survive the season.