Thurlow Nunn Premier Felixstowe & Walton 0 Wroxham 1 Wroxham substitute Craig Bussens came off the bench to score the game’s only goal with ten minutes left, and end the Seasiders’ unbeaten home record, writes Chris Ryan.
New Wroxham boss and former Sudbury chief Jamie Godbold, who took charge of the Yachtsmen earlier this month, saw his side hold on to claim all three points with ten men after Tom Matthews had picked up two yellow cards late in the first half.
Referee Adrian Sannerude produced seven yellow cards, two of them shown to Wroxham’s Matthews, in a first half which saw both sides create openings without either keeper seriously tested.
Wroxham stretched the home defence with a quick and accurate passing game, with Payton Swatman influential in their build up play and Dan Davis produced a timely tackle in the home area to deny Swatman a strike on goal.
Danny Crump was well behind a shot from Matthews, and palmed Connor Ingram’s free kick over the home bar as Wroxham threatened, with McRae in the visitors’ goal saving from Kye Ruel before Matthews received his marching orders five minutes before the half time whistle.
Ingram saw his curling free kick go narrowly wide of Felixstowe’s far post after Crump was adjudged to have handled outside his area, and Smith had a goal bound effort blocked by Jamal Wiggins at the expense of a corner before the home side looked to make their extra man advantage tell. Swatman twice made goal-line clearances to deny Chaplin and Bennett, with Powell, Ford and Ruel all seeing goal bound shots blocked by a determined and well organised Wroxham defence.
With 15 minutes remaining, a double substitution saw Bond and Bussens introduced, with Bussens making the decisive impact just two minutes later.
He broke quickly after a Felixstowe attack broke down, Swatman and Ingram linking well on the right to deliver the ball to the far post for Bussens to score with virtually his first touch on 79 minutes.
The home side pressed for a reply, with goalkeeper Crump up for the final corner of the game, culminating in Sam Ford firing wide and Wroxham holding on for the win.
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