Wanderers Win on Non-League Day

Mulbarton returned to action today after an extended break looking for their first win of the season. We welcomed newly promoted Stalham Town to Mulberry park in what promised to be a competitive match.

The First Team were privileged to have match day mascots with them from the youth teams, and the young Wanderers were excellent ball boys throughout – taking part in a half time penalty shootout and all going home happy with bags of sweets. A raffle was benefited by prizes from local businesses such as Bare Naked Foods, Example Hair Salon and PGA Professional Joe Lambert at Wensum Valley Golf Club. All of this, plus a “pay what you like” scheme at the gate boosted the crowd to around 120 which made for a great occasion for the club.

Mulbarton began the game with 3 changes; new signing Kierron Rose joining the management team of Self and Thompson in the starting line-up.

From kick off Mulbarton tried to take the game to Stalham with some well-structured play but with the final pass or shot not quite finding the intended target.

In the 11th minute Mulbarton got the breakthrough. With some good play down the right the ball found its way inside to Josh Farrow whose through-pass found the on rushing Thompson, he avoided one tackle and fired a left footed shot that Nicholls the Stalham keeper saved well. Fortunately for Mulbarton this fell to Jamie Smith who drilled his finish into the roof of the net to give Mulbarton the lead.

This settled the home side and the next 5-10mins they pressed and attacked creating good chances that they didn't take.

Stalham then came into the game looking to release the dangerous Cheese whenever they could. This posed a good a weapon for Stalham as Cheese's all action style will cause problems for every side in the league this season.

In this period Josh Guiness was called into action to make 2 good saves to deny Stalham. The 2nd tipping a shot bound for the top corner onto the woodwork.

Both sides battled out the remainder of the half to leave it 1-0 to Mulbarton at the break.

The 2nd half followed a similar pattern with Stalham having to come out to get something from the game and looking to use Cheese for this and Mulbarton looking to control the game and play their way around the opposition.

Shortly into the 2nd half Mulbarton go in down the left hand side of the Stalhan defence with Thompson releasing Smith, whose powerful run and cross picked out the arriving Self from midfield. Self chose not to shoot first time and back heeled a pass with his second touch into the path of the on-rushing Farrow who dragged his finish across the goal and wide with a good chance to double the lead going begging.

Curtis replaced Appleton on 65mins adding a different dimension to the attack and Payne-Wilkins replace Self on 75mins with Self. Both players freshening up midfield and attack.

The half continued to ebb and flow with both sides trying to score the next goal. Mulbarton looked comfortable and on 77th minute extended their lead with a very good passing move. Kierron Rose, Jamie Smith and Ross Durrant linked very well down the left, exchanging passes to find Durrant on the corner of the Stalham area. Durrant jinked passed 2 players and found Farrow’s run. Farrow took a touch to settle himself and smashed a left footed shot in at the near post.

82min Farrow was replaced by Priest.

As all honest sides do Stalham pressed to get a goal in the hope of getting something from the game. They pushed more men forward and put the ball in the box at every opportunity. They earned themselves a corner in the 88th minute that was delivered into the mass of bodies and nodded down and into the Mulbarton net at the far post by Tom McCarthy.

This made for a tight last few minutes but Mulbarton managed the time well and saw out the game to get their first 3 points of the season in front of another good crowd.

Supporters MOTM Dan Henery