First Defeat of the Season

Mulbarton suffered their first defeat in the Premier Division at the hands of defending champions Acle United, although they will rue their missed chances.

Wanderers were still missing the injured Payne-Wilkins and Challen and this week added Curtis, Doggett and Farrow to the unavailability list. There was a welcome return for Dale Simpson who had finally served his suspension from last season.

The game started at a laboured pace with neither side really having any fluidity in their passing. It was Acle who came closest to taking the lead on 7 minutes when Sam Barham found himself completely unmarked and headed wide from 7 yards.

Again, after this no team really took the game by the throat and both shared possession with no chances being created in the soaring heat. It wasn’t until after 20 minutes that Wanderers started to create; a quick break from Simpson in midfield found Calvin Butler out wide and his pinpoint cross was headed wide by Freemantle. Two minutes later, the same scenario again as a cross from a swift Mulbarton counter attack found Jamie Butler who was unable to convert from 6 yards.

A visiting centre half was robbed of possession and Babb ran at pace and cut inside to find Pipe’s run; he dinked the ball over the centre half who brought him down resulting in a penalty (but strangely no card). Pipe stepped up to take the penalty but his effort was well saved by Cruickshank in goal.

At the other end Wanderers’ stopper Jake Clifford, who had already been floored by an Acle player in a previous set piece was then knocked unconscious after being elbowed in the ribs and falling awkwardly to the floor. We had no choice but to replace him with Ben Fisher, an outfield substitute for the remaining 60 minutes. Jake went to hospital and was diagnosed with concussion and bruising but should be up and running again soon.

Acle swung in a few more crosses which flashed wide before they punished the hosts for their missed chances; a quick break and a free header found Amis at the back post and despite Reading’s best efforts to clear the ball it hit the striker and rebounded over the line to give the visitors a half time lead.

HT Wanderers 0-1 Acle

Acle dominated possession in the second half with Wanderers huffing and puffing but unable to create any chances of note save for several corners and a couple of free kicks which didn’t amount to anything. As the heat increased the quality of the football being played by both teams had suffered and the only time Acle tested the stand-in keeper was with a tame scuffed effort which Fisher pushed around the post.

With five minutes remaining the champions took the ball to the corners, maintained possession and saw the game out to hold on for the win.

FT Wanderers 0-1 Acle

Mulbarton will feel disappointed that they didn’t get something from this game considering the three golden opportunities they had in the first half, though Acle proved why they have been so successful in recent seasons by taking the lead and holding on comfortably for the second half. Better fitness levels in the Mulbarton ranks would have helped them apply pressure on the A’s in the second half but it wasn’t to be and now we must take this defeat as a lesson to learn from for future games.

Man of the Match – Richard Reading. Another outstanding performance from the youngster at centre half.