17th October Heacham V Norwich Utd U21

For the third home game on the roll both teams lined up on a very wet and grey day in west Norfolk. No sooner had the game kicked off than the rain ceased and the sun came out. The pitch was slick and in great condition.

Heacham were looking to recover from their mid-week defeat in the cup with a solid performance today. With Some fresh new faces in the team due to injuries.

Both teams started and were trying to play their own game. Norwich Utd trying to pass the ball out but struggling with Heacham’s pressing. Heacham then played the ball neatly up the pitch with resulting in a long range shot from Isaac Linford that just went the wrong side of the crossbar for a goal kick.

The next twenty minutes was spent mostly in the centre of the pitch with very little chances to speak of from either side, with Heacham becoming subdued and calls from Matt Goss and other senior players to get the team going. Norwich finally got their first corner after 24 minutes which was wasted and went behind for a goal kick. From the resulting goal kick the ball is played neatly by Heacham up the pitch with Jack Defty heading the ball down and Fletcher Toll lashing the ball past the despairing dive of the Norwich Utd goalkeeper. 1-0 Heacham. This then spurred Heacham on with Adam Reeve shooting just over the cross bar.
Then 33 minutes into the first half with Heacham on the ascendancy Norwich broke down the right with a smart cross met by the Norwich player coming back off the cross bar to a Norwich player who headed in neatly 1-1.
Norwich with the confidence of the goal then began to push forward with two corners coming to nothing while again Adam Reeve found himself with time to shoot at the other end which was safely gathered by the goalkeeper. Norwich then had a couple of half chance’s with a ball across the area turned out for a corner which came to nothing and Adam Reeve again being fouled with the resulting free kick just looping over the cross bar, Heacham playing out the first half strongly.

Heacham started the second half in a very positive manner gaining a corner early on that found Royce Rawlings in the centre of the goal but couldn’t dig the ball out and eventually cleared away. The game then became a little more open with both Heacham and Norwich enjoying possession with corners at both ends of the pitch coming to nothing. Heacham had a more steely approach, with the team more vocal and getting in tackles with Brad Key again having a solid game in midfield.

Heacham then began to dominate more, forcing a series of corners which with just under ten minutes into the second half Heacham finally made their possession pay with a curling corner from Brad Key headed across the area by Royce Rawlings and a smart header by the impressive Ed Tann to make it 2-1 to Heacham. John Flanagan then had a great chance put through by the impressive Fletcher Toll only to see his shot go out for a corner. He then began to start testing the Norwich defence with a series of runs at them using his strength to get round and seeing his shot go over the crossbar. He then saw a thunderous shot come back off the goalkeeper who managed to gather the ball at the second attempt.
With Heacham more and more dominating the play, the ball was spread out to Heacham’s left and Adam Reeve picked out an early pass to Jack Defty in the penalty area who turns neatly and slides the ball home for the third for Heacham.

Norwich continued to try and play football and became frustrated with the strength of the Heacham midfield both on and off the ball. As the second half went into the last ten minutes it was evident that Norwich were beginning to tire. John Flanagan continued to frustrate the Norwich defence running directly at the defence and having a series of shots blocked. A series of free kicks saw John Flanagan shot just creeping wide of the post with the goalkeeper not moving. Norwich then found themselves in the Heacham half with a couple of shots at goal Royce Rawlings throwing himself in the way of one and the other going out for a goal kick. Then with ten minutes left on the clock john Flanagan finds himself one on one with the goalkeeper only to see his chip over the goalkeeper go just wide. At the other end Norwich saw a shot from nowhere come back off the post which was probably their best chance of the second half. Then with time running down Heacham cleared from a free kick with Adam Reeve playing the ball down the left side, John Flanagan turned his man ran in on goal rounded the goal keeper superbly and rolled the ball in the net from a difficult angle. The end of the half saw Heacham comfortably on top with their fitness showing through. A well-deserved win for Heacham with special mention to some of the younger players making their debuts and in particular the impressive Fletcher Toll all having fine games.

Man of the Match was John Flanagan