Vital victory for Watton

With no fixture for Watton United first team this week after their important 1-0 win away at Corton, the focus turned to the Reserves.

They had a relegation 'six pointer' at Caister Reserves in Anglian Combination Division Four.

The win moves Watton above Long Stratton Reserves, and closer to their aim of staying in Anglian Combination Division Four.

With Watton again plagued by three late call-offs for an away game, managers Hunt and Hayward must have been left wondering what more they can do to get a full squad of 14 to travel away in this league.

Caister scored in the opening minutes, when Watton's stand-in goalkeeper Huckle believed an offside decision to have been given, and stopped with the ball still in play to let Caister in to score.

Watton soon came back into the game, creating good chances, with Luke Jones and Lee Hillier both close to scoring. A goal was controversially not given, though the ball appeared to be over the line.

Watton pushed the home side and soon created a penalty chance with Danny Robinson calmly netting.

Soon after Watton took the lead with a well-taken goal from the free-scoring Luke Jones.

At the interval manager Hunt urged Watton's young team to persist with their fast-paced attacking game, and the calming influence of Bloomfield and Fincham in midfield shouldered much of the opening play in the second half.

The hosts drew level, but the next 30 minutes was to become the most enthralling half of football for the reserves this campaign.

Jones showed his attacking prowess by scoring twice more from some good work from Rayner on the left, but not without Caister getting themselves on the scoresheet again.

It was end-to-end football but then Robinson scored two more to match Luke Jones's hat-trick, and Kevin Bloomfield achieved a brace of goals as the game continued at a frantic pace to the final whistle.

Congratulations must go to the 11 players who made the long journey to Caister, and enormous credit for such an impressive and vital win.