Wanderers Hit 5 Past Blofield

Tuesday 18th August 2015
Blofield United 1 - 5 Wanderers
By James Pipe…

On Tuesday evening, Mulbarton travelled to Blofield to take on 6 time sterry cup winner Blofield, after the success of Friday evening Gaskin was only forced into one change, with Jake Clifford pulling out through injury and Cauldron Aldrige deputising in his absence.
It was Mulbarton who started the brighter and came out with the fast and attacking brand of football that had served them so well on Friday evening. In the first 10 minutes Mulbarton forced the home keeper into action a number of times, but none of these truly threatened. After this opening spell the tide seemed to turn, Blofield showed their vast experience and grabbed a foothold in the game. The Beavers dominated the possession count, with Mulbarton allowing them to play and attack at will. The back five however defended commendably with Ramsbottom, Sutcliffe, Reading and Bland standing firm and the only clear cut chance was a snap shot from a winger which looked destined to find the bottom corner only for Aldridge to turn it around the post.

H/T 0-0

After some choice words at half time by manager Gaskin, Mulbarton came out energised. More belief and desire was being shown but this over-enthusiasm led to an innocuous looking free kick from 30 yards after an overzealous challenge from Curtis. From the resulting set piece the Blofield captain Matty Banham found the top corner and the Beavers led 1-0.

This however only seemed to spur on the Wanderers and they kept their hunger and desire and were rewarded after a swift counter attack; Freemantle found space and played an exquisite through ball to Pipe, his pace took him away from the Blofield defender who then clipped Pipe’s heels as he was about to pull the trigger. This resulted in a penalty and a red card for the Blofield skipper and Blofield’s situation became worse when Pipe calmly dispatched his penalty.

Five minutes later Mulbarton took the lead. A free kick from 30 yards out was taken by Farrow, spotting the keeper leaving his near post completely free the midfielder arrowed a shot in hard and low inside the post on the unguarded side.

The momentum was now firmly with Mulbarton and when Jamie Butler burst forward and played through Pipe, his over hit cross found Freemantle, who jinked and skipped past two players before making it 3-1 with a shot to the bottom left hand corner. Three soon became four, Butler was released by Curtis and his cross was unfortunately turned into his own goal by the Blofield defender.

The pick of the goals however was the fifth. Mulbarton pressure forced the Blofield defence to give the ball away in their own half, Calvin Butler passed to Farrow in space and from a full 30 yards out, and without hesitation his first time left footed strike flew into the top right hand corner and sealed an emphatic second half performance. Mulbarton still had time for substitute Babb to come close, as well as Curtis and Doggett having shots blocked.

Man of the Match – Josh Farrow. Though not at his best in the first half, an improved performance in the second and two sublime goals earned the midfielder the supporters’ vote.

Mulbarton's 100 percent start to the season will be fully tested this Saturday as they welcome reigning champions Acle United, who have also won their first two fixtures.

Wanderers: Aldridge, Ramsbottom (Pattison 80), Bland, Sutcliffe, Reading, J Butler, Doggett, Farrow, Curtis, Pipe (Babb 75), Freemantle (C Butler 75)