Anglian Combination Premier: Long Stratton 2-0 Yelverton

26th April 2025

Long Stratton vs Yelverton @ Long Stratton Recreation Ground

Anglian Combination Premier Division (Step 7)

14:15 KO

Free entry

Attendance - approx. 70

Half-time score: Long Stratton 2-0 Yelverton

Goals:

Long Stratton: Smith - 27', 40'

Final Score: Long Stratton 2-0 Yelverton

With Thetford Town's season over I decided to hunt out a new ground to visit, and Long Stratton stood out for me being fairly close, and in the Anglian Combination Premier, a division I always enjoy watching. It was a lovely drive up the A11 and across the beautiful Norfolk countryside, past the Tacolneston transmitter and through some quaint villages in the glorious sun. Before long I was in Long Stratton parking round the corner from the Recreation Ground. The ground is on the side of a field which has a community centre, playground, skate park and basketball courts, a real focal point of the town. The pitch had a permanent fence one side and what looked to be mobile dugouts on the opposite side. The pitch was flat but the grass was on the longer side, but typical for the Anglian Combination. I positioned myself with the sun in my face to enjoy this afternoon's game, got to soak it up when you get the chance.

Before long, both teams had lined up, the hosts Long Stratton in red, with the visitors Yelverton in what I presume to be an away purple strip.

KEY MOMENTS

LS = Long Stratton

YV = Yelverton

8' - LS - Crowe with a ridiculously long throw-in, it is flicked on by the head of a Long Stratton attacker and into the near post where Sam Page's header is pushed onto the post and out for a corner.

14' - LS - A Long Stratton corner is cleared out to Skinner, from at least 35yrds out he loops in the ball, it is dipping in forcing the Yelverton keeper to uncomfortably jump up and turn it over for a corner.

27' - LS - GOAL (1-0) - Another long throw from Crowe, the balls seems to miss everyone in the middle although there was the hint of flick on in, either way the ball bounces out to the captain Kieran Smith on the far-post who on his own slams the ball in from close range, the hosts deservedly into the lead.

40' - LS - GOAL (2-0) - A Long Stratton corner taken by Braddon is cleared back to him, he crosses the ball in again to the far-post, where Kieran Smith was on-hand again to nod in, a fine brace from the captain.

51' - LS - Crowe yet again with that long throw-in, Yelverton struggling to deal with it, Sam Page on it with a flicked header that scoots just wide of the far-post.

56' - LS - Crowe again with that throw-in, this time from a more central position, Sam Page flicks the ball on to Owen Page whose volleyed effort is struck cleanly, but too close to the Yelverton goalkeeper who makes the save.

59' - LS - Long Stratton are awarded a free-kick right at the edge of the box. Tebble steps-up, his free-kick is well struck but the Yelverton keeper is across quickly to make the stop.

70' - LS - Big penalty shout for Long Stratton, as the ball is whipped in Sam Page is blatantly dragged to the ground, the referee is unmoved.

85' - YV - Skinner heads back to keeper Way but does not get enough on it, this allows the Yelverton No.7 to sneak in, he hits the ball immediately but Way had closed down the space and the effort pings off him, Yelverton's best chance of the game.

All-in-all a comfortable victory for the hosts, whilst overall chances for both teams were limited, especially in open play, Long Stratton created the most and were rarely troubled at the back. The main weapon for Long Stratton was undoubtedly that huge throw-in, it caused Yelverton chaos all game, and it was no surprise that the opening goal came from this. Both goals came from captain and centre-back Kieran Smith, lurking at the back post with two fine finishes to seal the victory. The win takes Long Stratton up to 6th, with one game remaining where a win could see them leap-frog over Norwich United to finish the season 5th, although they are facing promotion chasing Wroxham Reserves so it was not going to be easy. With regards to Yelverton, that was their final game of the season, and they end up finishing in 15th place, 2nd from bottom. I do not know how many teams go down from this division, so if more than one then obviously Yelverton will be in Division One next season, with the likes of Thetford Rovers, Brandon Town and also Mundford, who finished bottom of the Premier Division sadly. Overall, a great afternoon, glad I made the trip over and best of luck to both teams next season.

Line-Ups (will complete once FA Full-Time website updated):

LONG STRATTON: Aiden Way, Jake Hayhoe, Jacob Skinner, Toby Groves, Kieran Smith (C), Stephen Crowe, Sam Page, Ryan Tebble, Owen Page, Luca Braddon, Riley Debenham. SUBS: TBA

YELVERTON (alphabetical order): Andrew Cook, Daniel Cook, Philip Coult, James Daniels, Chris Hall, Ben Harding, Matthew Hoeppner, Daniel King, Thomas Pitchell, Luke Sawyer, Oliver Sykes. SUBS: Lewis Clarry, Matthew Nicholls, Andrew Skipper.