Our squad for this attractive pre season ‘friendly’ was as follows:- Rob Howes; Matty Banham, Karl Mills, Darren Cox; Kris Hart[c]; Danny McKail, James Lacey, Ian Stones, Joe Manning: Ben Morgan, Chris Holmes. Subs: Richard Brett, Liam Barnes, Gareth Moore. Wroxham fielded a strong squad which included last season first team regulars of skipper Graham Challen, Paul Cook, ex Beaver Ross Durrant, Andy Eastaugh, Sean Howes, Gavin Lemmon and Gary Gilmore.

Early play was lively with Blofield showing up well in movement across the field and shaded the first ten minutes. But at a stroke, we went two goals behind offering a gift through a misunderstanding between keeper Howes and skipper Harti, with Paul Cook then capitalising on our shell-shocked state by turning the ball in neatly over our keeper on the left. It was nearly three when again the ball was donated to the Wroxham front line with a sloppy clearance!

Ben Morgan worked well to set up Lacey at the other end but his finishing did not match up, and Karl Mills showed up well with a timely headed clearance in defence. A Chris Holmes purposeful run set up Ben whose shot hit the post, albeit having his claim for a corner being denied by referee Jimmy Beck. Blofield had by now recovered from the early setback and Danny Mac, Chris Holmes and Ben Morgan were all combining well up front to keep the Wroxham defence well on their toes.

Ian Stones came off having suffered an early leg injury and was replaced by Gareth Moore. A Morgan free kick goes just wide at the Norwich end and Ben is then thwarted having been put in well by Holmes. Gareth then marked his arrival by a fine drive which hits the post with the visiting keeper well beaten. On the stroke of half-time Graham Challen nods in Wroxham’s third from close in to produce a 0-3 scoreline, totally unrealistic to the balance of play that spectators have just witnessed.

Joe Manning, who had performed well in the first half, gave way to Brettie. Home keeper Howes then does well in three successive instances in part redemption for his early wayward first half distribution. Mills continues to show up well in the home defence and Banham has already proven what a valuable acquisition he will be to the squad. After 58 minutes, Wroxham move further ahead when Hinton slots in from the left and Howes prevents us going further behind winning a 1 on 1 stuation. Holmes is maintaining his energy up front, working well with Lacey providing bite from mid-field, but fires high over after a fine intrusion into Wroxham territory. Danny Mac then takes a breather and is replaced by Liam Barnes up front on the left.

Paul Cook, again against the run of play, scores his second and Wroxham’s fifth after 70 minutes. A Morgan drive is then blocked and Liam might have done better from close in, but we retained the advantage in this same attack when Brettie was brought down and Ben seized the opportunity to score from the spot, and open our account. Good work by the persistent Harti on 76 minutes sets up Brettie who slldes the ball home from a narrow angle on the right to bring more respectability to the score, which remains 2-5 to the end. Howes preserves this position at the finish by tipping over a long drive from distance, and regains possession from the resulting corner.

Notwithstanding the scoreline, there was much for the home supporters to be encouraged about from this performance, on top of the mid-week game against Gt Yarmouth, and they will look forward to our opening league fixture against Sheringham on 20th August. We were pleased with the visit of Wroxham who provided a good test to the emerging management team in learning about the specific areas requiring attention before we begin in earnest. Thanks to all the helpers with the BBQ arrangements on this fine afternoon

PETER FALGATE