GREAT YARMOUTH TOWN VISIT STONEYLANDS TOMORROW AFTERNOON (April 04, 2008)

Long Melford v Great Yarmouth Town (Sat 5 April 2008)

K.L. Theobald

D.J. Bigg

M. Bigg

Great Yarmouth Town make the long trip from the Norfolk coast tomorrow hoping to get back to winning ways. The Bloaters have lost their last two matches at Tiptree United (0-2) and Hadleigh United (1-2), but before that were in superb form – a fantastic 4-2 win at promotion hopefuls Halstead Town sandwiched between solid home victories over Downham Town (2-1) and March Town United (5-0). However, the win at Halstead remains the Bloaters’ solitary away win since December 22^nd, when Yarmouth won 3-2 at Stowmarket Town.

The Yarmouth team stepping out at Stoneylands tomorrow is undoubtedly stronger than the side we beat 1-0 at the Wellesley Recreation Ground back in October. On that occasion, a Carl Daw strike in the first half was enough to beat a Yarmouth side that hadn’t scored a goal in over 360 minutes of league football.

Kevin Cruickshank replaced Nick Banham as manager in December and since then the Bloaters have made big steps forward including sealing the return of former Yarmouth favourite Stewart Roach in January. Roach signed from Leiston where he had been a prolific goalscorer in the Premier, and he also enjoyed success at Lowestoft Town. Roach scored 122 goals in 197 games in his first spell at Yarmouth in the 1990’s, and since returning to the club has scored 9 goals in just 10 starts.

Strike partner Nicky Crawley has scored 11 goals in 13 appearances, so we will have to play very well at the back tomorrow to keep the deadly duo quiet. Between them Roach and Crawley have amassed 20 of the 28 goals scored since Cruickshank was appointed manager.

A number of new signings have joined recently, former favourite Ben Le Compte has returned after a spell away from the club and Brazilian Bruno Correia ( who the Bloaters had to obtain international clearance to sign ) has also joined.

Player To Watch…NICKY CRAWLEY

Crawley’s incredible goalscoring record speaks for itself. His club were so impressed by his form since joining from Caister at the end of 2007 that in January he became the first Great Yarmouth Town player to be offered a contract since Stewart Roach left to join Lowestoft in 2000. Crawley accepted the offer and put pen to paper, he has continued to score goals on a regular basis including a hat-trick in the 5-0 home win against March Town United last month.

Our Reserves are without a fixture tomorrow - their next match is at home to Stanway Rovers Reserves on Saturday 12 April.

The Colts Committee have arranged another Work Party tomorrow to finish off clearing the last lot of rubbish and trees from the piece of land which is to become our new Mini Soccer/Training Pitch. The fun starts at 9am.

Voting for the 1st Team Supporters' Player of the Year takes place at tomorrow's match. Supporters will be asked for their 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice from a list of eligible players which can be found here.

On Sunday we host the final of the Umbro Suffolk Minor Cup. The match between Cornard United Youth (U15) and Cockfield United Youth (U15) kicks off at Stoneylands at 2.15pm.

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