Wanderers Progress in the Senior Cup

Mulbarton travelled to a strong Spixworth side in the 2nd round of the senior cup.

Mulbarton made 1 change to the side that beat Long Stratton last week, with Tom Wright replacing Guiness in goal. We would like to thank Dereham for their cooperation in allow Tom to sign and play.

Spixworth got the game under way and started the brighter and moved the ball well, on 10mins this resulted in them getting down the left of the visitors. Cutting in and shooting towards the near post. Wright parried well but unfortunately hitting Matty Banham and bobbling into the net as he covered his attacker. Not the start Mulbarton wanted but they immediately tweaked their shape to get better pressure on the midfield of Spixworth and this almost instantly worked for Mulbarton.

Mulbarton attacked down their left and forced a throw in level with the home sides area. This gave Henery to launch a throw into the box, this reached the near post where it was nodded down. Smith picked the ball up and swiveled and pinged a lovely finish into the far corner.

Mulbarton with their tales up were picking up more first and second balls and this gave Altay the opportunity to releasd the impressive Palmer down the right hand side and in turn he slid Smith down the side of the Spixworth area who fired across the six yard box for Thompson to slot home.

This lead was short lived as a sharp break away from Spixworth got them in down their right, the ball was pulled back to Cooke who turned and fired the home side level.

However this didn't deter Wanderers, who to a man was putting in a very good performance. Mulbarton raided down the right again with Palmer evading a couple of tackles before laying the ball off to Altay who released the again lively Thompson who strode away from the Spixworth defence to calmly slot home for his second and Wanderers 3rd. In the follow ten minutes Mulbarton created more chances with the running of thompson and Altay being released by Durrant and Smith respectively only for the chances to be fired into the side netting by both players. At the other end the Mulbarton defence were holding strong in the main but on the odd occasion they gave an opportunity to a Spixworth player, debutant Wright made a smart stop and was sharp off his line.

The final action of the half saw Palmer beat his marker again down the right only to be taken down for a free kick. This allowed Self to delivery a wicked cross into the the 6 yard box that the Spixworth defenders didn't want to touch allowing Henery to stoop and head home.

The second half began similar to how the first ended with Mulbarton setting up well and frustrating the home side before releasing the forwards and widemen.

Mulbarton won a spate of early corners and created a couple of half chances for the lively Altay.

10 mins into the 2nd half Palmer again showed great feet t beat his man and again win Wanderers a free kick in a dangerous area. Similar to the first half this gave Self the chance to whip another cross into the corridor of uncertainty and it lived up to its name, when the pacey delivery was turned into his own net by a Spixworth defender.

This gave Mulbarton a comfortable cushion and allowed them to soaked up some pressure and frustrate the home side, who too their credit pushed players on and changed shape and never stopped trying to get forward. This gave Tom Wright the opportunity to show his speed of thought to rush from his goal and snuff out a Spixworth through pass.

This inevitably saw Spixworth pushing on, leaving gaps at the back that Mulbarton exploited to get the forwards into. This created good chances for Self and Appleton who fired straight at the home keeper from just inside the area.

Thompson went close to his hattrick with a rasping volley from the edge of the area and in turn Self went close with 2 efforts from distance that just went past either post.

Mulbarton saw out the remained of the game with real togetherness and work ethic.

MOTM = Miles Palmer