Mattishall take four points over Easter

WITH a Norfolk Senior Cup final at Carrow Road on the horizon, Mattishall came through the Easter weekend with no injury problems from their two Anglian Combination Premier Division games.

On Saturday, they are at home to Cromer with a 2pm kick-off.

Mattishall 1, St Andrews 1

Mattishall on Easter Monday named the same starting 11 as the one that played on Saturday.

The game started at a rather mundane pace but a dangerous free-kick by the Saints from Gauntlet forced Fulcher into an important headed clearance, and from the resulting corner, Hall made a clearance off the line.

A long throw from the visitors Barraclough was punched out by keeper Pledger back to the thrower, and he hit a fine half-volley that rose over the bar.

A long clearance from Pledger saw Wooden control the ball before trying his luck from 30 yards, which saw the Saints' keeper Bettenson make a save. From Harbour's second corner, and following a mel�e, the ball hit Wooden on the goal line and was hacked away.

Next it was the turn of Edwards to try a long-range effort, and it looked as though the ball was going into the net, but again the visitors' keeper just managed to get a touch - and he was the one to end up in the back of the net.

Gauntlet for St Andrews broke away but Lewis chased back and made a fine recovering tackle.

Just as it looked as if the half would end goalless a sublime ball from the veteran Harbour from the left saw Cole get the important touch to put Mattishall 1-0 up. There was not enough time to restart the game.

Mattishall nearly went further ahead when a fine cross by Edwards saw Wooden just fail to get a firm enough contact to divert the ball goalwards.

On the hour Christian Harbour replaced Cole, and with his first touch he laid the ball in the path of Palmer who shot wide when well placed.

From an Anema long throw the ball fell to Hall who saw his goal-bound shot brilliantly saved by keeper Bettenson.

At the other end, following a corner, the referee awarded a harsh penaltyto st Andrews when he penalised Palmer for holding, and Pennell made no mistake from the spot.

Despite this setback for Mattishall, the game continued to switch but neither side looked like getting a winner.

Mattishall 3, Sprowston Athletic 1

AFTER four games against top of the table sides, Mattishall entertained the basement club Sprowston.

They made two changes, bringing back Lovell in place of the unavailable Hill, and Gary Harbour replaced the suspended Hewitt.

Mattishall dominated the early stages and on 10 minutes took the lead when Cole put centre-half Cork under pressure, robbed him and got to the by-line before crossing to Wooden - who took a touch before coolly finishing.

In the next attack Mattishall increased their lead when Edwards again robbed the visitors' back four before shooting, and although keeper Coulton made the save, Cole had little difficulty in knocking the rebound into the empty net.

On 18 minutes a deep Harbour cross just saw the keeper beat Wooden to the ball and then a Lovell free-kick set up Wooden for a header which beat the keeper but was cleared off the line.

A quick break saw Hall get to the by-line before crossing into the box, and the rebound fell to Edwards who forced the overworked Coulton into a sprawling save.

Mattishall completely dominated the opening half-hour but in a rare Athletic attack Armes and Henery combined, the latter forcing home keeper Pledger into a fine save.

From a long Pledger clearance Cole flicked the ball to Palmer, who fed Wooden, and his shot was palmed into the path of Harbour whose goal-bound effort was also saved.

At the other end Pledger was forced into a second fine save when Armes burst through, Mattishall going into the break with a 2-0 lead.

The second half started with the visitors looking to get back into the game but a casual clearance by Coulton was intercepted by Hall, his shot grazing a post before hitting the side netting.

On 62 minutes a Lovell free-kick got a slight touch from Athletic's Sell to beat the keeper and put Mattishall into a commanding 3-0 lead.

On 70 minutes, from a Harbour corner, Anema's header glanced off the top of the bar and bounced to safety.

Athletic were awarded a penalty on 76 minutes when Fulcher was adjudged to have brought down Whiteman, and substitute Large made no mistake.

Mattishall made their first change bringing on Christian Harbour in place of Wooden, and the Harbours combined in the 85th minute when a fine cross field ball by Gary saw Christian beat the offside trap.

But the one-on-one resulted in keeper Coulton making a fine save low down to his left, and the game petered out to give Mattishall another three points.

Mattishall Reserves entertained St Andrews and despite an early Higgins goal fell away to a very disappointing 5-1 defeat.