Wanderers Bounce Back with a Bang

After conceding some goals via set pieces in recent weeks there was a welcome return for some of our taller players Kaine Challen and Danny Bland this week who both came straight into the starting line-up for the visit of North Walsham Town. With Clifford still away we elected to start the versatile John Curtis in goal. McKail and Reading were both away and Simpson was at work but we were able to name Payne-Wilkins in the squad for the first time this season and give spots on the bench to A Team players Ashley “Pastie” Tuckfield and Alex Moyes.
Wanderers started brightly and were the first to have a sight of goal when a cross from the left was met by a first time volley from Appleton who watched his effort fly wide.
Appleton made amends for his miss when he took on a ball down the line from Bland, cut inside and struck the ball in at the keeper’s near post from 18 yards to make it 1-0.
Walsham were looking dangerous on the break with the lively Liam Jackson involved in everything, but he was well marshalled by Challen and Sutcliffe and goalkeeper Curtis was rarely threatened save for a few back-passes which he dealt with in his typical confident fashion.
Appleton struck again for Wanderers’ second. After good combination play from Doggett and Freemantle on the left, the latter surged into the box before playing the ball across the six yard box where Appleton had gotten the right side of his marker to flick the ball into the net with his head.
Half Time – Mulbarton 2-0 North Walsham
Wanderers were expecting an onslaught from the visitors after the break but when that didn’t happen they went about punishing their opposition with some slick attacking football and ruthless finishing. A corner early on was swung in by Farrow and Challen met the ball with enough power to beat both the man on the line and the despairing goalkeeper.
Freemantle, who was playing his best game of the season so far, used his trickery and pace to elude his marker on the corner of the penalty are, cut inside and smashed the ball in off the far post to make it 4-0.
The Angels earned themselves a glimmer of hope in the game when Curtis’ attempt at punching a cross clear was missed and the ball dropped to an unmarked player who squared it to the arriving Jackson for a tap-in.
Changes were made as Moyes was introduced in the middle of the park and Tuckfield was brought on behind Appleton up front. The latter almost had an immediate impact with a blistering shot which was palmed wide by the Walsham keeper, before an almost carbon copy was also saved. The 17 year old then played Appleton clear through and the striker secured his hat trick with a comical goal. From 8 yards out his first shot hit a retreating defender before landing back at his feet for a second bite at the cherry, only to see his second shot bounce back off the goalkeeper before finally tucking away his third attempt.
Tuckfield then scored the goal his debut deserved after a failed clearance from a corner landed at his feet he smashed the ball into the roof of the net from just inside the penalty area.
The final goal was one of the finest I’ve ever seen at Mulberry Park. A slick passage of play which started with Curtis in goal and involved ten players was eventually flicked around the corner by Freemantle on the edge of the box to Appleton who drove to the by-line before cutting the ball back to Freemantle who’s first time finish flew into the top corner.
Full Time – Mulbarton 7-1 North Walsham
Whilst we won’t be getting carried away with the result today we can take a lot of pride in the performance and will take a lot of confidence going into our next few games. All players involved came with the right attitude to put our recent disappointments behind us and we on the side-lines were treated to some excellent team goals.
It was very pleasing to see the likes of Challen and Payne-Wilkins make a return, and to have two young A Team players both come on and make a positive impact on the game shows how strong the club is as a whole and hopefully these guys will continue to develop and eventually become key players for the First Team.
Harmony Home Improvements Man of the Match – A difficult decision this week with Appleton and Freemantle both playing so well, scoring goals and assisting others but the outstanding player for me was Jamie Butler. From central midfield he was a catalyst for much of our play, showing great discipline and work rate as well as helping to organise and motivate his team mates throughout.