Two Wins In A Row

Wanderers welcomed Long Stratton to Mulberry Park hoping to push on after their excellent win over North Walsham Town the week before. We were without Mark Appleton but were able to welcome Dale Simpson back to the team.
Wanderers started well and were working hard to win the ball back from Stratton each time they were in possession. It didn’t take long before we took the lead when Simpson showed great vision to spot a back pass from midfield to defence followed by great pace to intercept the ball, bare down on the goalkeeper and work his shot past the stopper.
John Curtis, a former Long Stratton player, was causing problems up front and he was brought down a number of times for free-kicks in and around the penalty area which didn’t come to anything. He had a strong shout for a penalty when he skilfully beat his marker on the right of the penalty area, drove to the byline and just before he could make a cross was knocked off balance by a Stratton defender. “Burt” did well to stay on his feet but unbalanced he was unable to get his shot away and the referee ignored the pleas for a penalty kick.
Curtis was to have the last laugh though, plucking a Clifford goal kick out of the air before turning and chipping the Stratton keeper from the edge of the penalty area to make it 2-0.
Half Time – Mulbarton 2-0 Long Stratton
The second half was made tighter than it needed to be thanks to some poor decision making in the attacking half and the fact that Stratton had significantly raised their game. Simpson was found in good positions on at least two occasions but when one-on-one with the keeper he was unable to find the target.
Challen was almost guilty of gifting the visitors a goal when he misjudged a back header to Clifford though thankfully the goalkeeper was sharp enough to keep out the shot with a smart reflex save.
As time wore on Mulbarton freshened the team up with their substitutes and sought to manage the game, which they did to good effect, limiting opportunities for the visitors and ending the game as comfortable 2-0 winners.
Full Time – Mulbarton 2-0 Long Stratton
Harmony Home Improvements Man of the Match – John Curtis. A constant threat throughout the game and his goal on twenty five minutes was well deserved.