Super sub Thompson inspires gritty second-half comeback.

The First Team welcomed Acle United to Mulberry Park on Armistice Day looking to continue our good recent run of form. In order to do so we would have to defeat Acle in a league fixture, something we had not achieved in four previous attempts.

There was just one change to the starting line-up that won away to St Andrews as Danny Bland replaced Joel Potter at left-back. Before the game could commence, there was of course an impeccably observed minutes silence to honour the fallen. Lest we forget.

Spectators were still filtering through the gate when the game started but in truth, if anyone was to arrive after 45 minutes they wouldn't have missed much. I think both teams will agree that it wasn't the most entertaining first half and goalscoring opportunities were few and far between.

Mulbarton came close from a couple of corners that were met by Sutcliffe and Curtis respectively. Acle also had a few half chances but both keepers had a quiet half overall with most of the action coming in the middle of the park as both teams tussled for control of the game.

Half-Time | Mulbarton Wanderers 0-0 Acle United

From the restart it was evident that Wanderers had changed formation as we looked to improve the service into George and the game sparked into life early in the second half. Aulert raced down the right flank and played the ball into George but the defence did well to force a wider angle and the shot was dragged wide. Acle then sent the ball straight up the other end and as the ball was played into the area Curtis slipped and was adjudged to have handled the ball by Venables who pointed to the spot. Stephen Drake made no mistake as he confidently stroked the ball home to make it 0-1.

We then made our first substitution with Simpson making way for Bennett. The pressure was building on Acle as we searched for an equaliser but the away side were defending their lead well and showing the kind of spirit they need to reverse their current poor form.

Thompson was then sent on in place of Aulert and made an immediate impact nearly scoring with his first touch but Foreman diverted his effort out of play. Wanderers grabbed the deserved equaliser from the resulting corner as Mark Sutcliffe leaped highest to head the ball through a crowd of players and beyond the keeper to make it 1-1.

Not content with only an equaliser the lads continued to grit their teeth in search of a winner. A couple of chances went begging but then with 15 minutes to go the comeback was complete. Self and George played a neat one-two on the edge of the box before Selfy squared to Ben Thompson who took a touch and rifled the ball into the roof of the net from 6 yards out. 2-1.

It was a real sucker punch for Acle and given their recent form the floodgates could have opened at this point but they can take a lot of heart from the fact they battled on and looked the most likely team to score the next goal. They first had a claim for a second penalty waved away and then in stoppage time forced Tom Wright into two brilliant saves. That's two weekends in a row that our number one has prevented vital points from being snatched from our grasp in the closing stages. What a man.

Full-Time | Mulbarton Wanderers 2-1 Acle United

Man of the Match - Danny Bland