Taverners Cruise to Victory and Retain Primary Cup

Two goals and a man of the match performance from Sam Brien saw Dereham Taverners cruise to their second Primary Cup success in as many seasons with a

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The Taverners started the brighter of the two sides and got their dream start, with captain Davy Ellis playing the ball down the line to Josh Hewson, who’s teasing delivery was met by Stuart Woodcock who deftly volleyed the ball into the bottom right hand corner.

That goal seemed to have settled the side, with Woodcock almost grabbing his second of the game with 20 minutes on the clock when his drilled volley crashed off the foot of the post, much to the delight of Marham goalkeeper Mark Smith.

Marham continued to find a way back into the match, and had an excellent chance to level the scores. James Owen slid through teammate James Howe who found himself one on one with the keeper but the forward could only strike his effort straight into the goalkeepers hands. This was shortly followed by another Marham attack, with Matthew Sutherland cutting onto his right foot however his speculative effort found the side netting.

This proved to be the only threatening play from the Wanderers in the first half, as Dereham floated a corner into the box, with Sam Brien rising highest to crash his header home off the underside of the crossbar. It turned out to be an eventful spell for Taverners midfielder Sam Brien, as 5 minutes later he curled a wonderful 35-yard strike that left Marham goalkeeper Mark Smith back pedalling, only for it to sail straight into the top corner to give the Taverners a 3-0 lead going to half-time.

The second half proved to be identical to the first, with Dereham dominating much of the play and looking far more threatening in the final third. They would be disappointed with the finishing however, with Josh Hewson and Dean Vann both finding the side netting, spurning several good chances.

Midway through the second half saw the game settle, with Dereham looking comfortable in possession. However there was a moment of sheer brilliance, as Taverners forward Tom Smart found himself on the ball 40-yards from goal, and struck a beautiful long range strike that once again left the Marham goalkeeper flapping, similar to Dereham’s third.

That goal knocked whatever confidence Marham had left, with the Wanderers failing to create a single clear cut opportunity in the second half. Dereham full-back Matt Barden completed the scoring after he curled in a wonderful free-kick onto the crossbar via a fingertip save from Wanderers keeper Mark Smith.

The Taverners continued to push to increase their lead, with substitute Soren Gauntlett with a golden opportunity to make it six; however he could only blaze his effort over the crossbar. That was the last chance of the match, as Dereham lifted the Primary Cup Trophy once again!

Final Score: Marham Wanderers 0 – 5 Dereham Taverners

Line ups:

Marham Wanderers: Mark Smith, Alan Jex, David Jardine, Shane Huges, Euan Pritchard (C), Lee Roberts, Matthew Sutherland, George Westley, James Owen, James Howe & Connor Hutton.

Subs: Richard Ogle, Benjamin Tremayne, Nathan Richards.

 

Dereham Taverners: Sam Davison, Davy Ellis (C), Matt Naylor, Garry Evans, Jamie Ryan, Sam Brien, Tom Smart, Stuart Woodcock, Dean Vann, Josh Hewson & Matt Barden.

Subs: Jason Knight, Soren Gauntlett, Connor Whitehair.

 

Referee: Simon Peach

Assistants: Kevin Batty and Matt Carpenter

Fourth Official: Stuart Rudd

Player of the Match: Sam Brien (Dereham Taverners)