John Cushion Replays are needed in the FA Cup preliminary round ties involving Ridgeons League sides Wroxham and Yarmouth, Dereham Town, Lowestoft and Mildenhall and Wisbech after Saturday draws.

John Cushion

Replays are needed in the FA Cup preliminary round ties involving Ridgeons League sides Wroxham and Yarmouth, Dereham Town, Lowestoft and Mildenhall and Wisbech after Saturday draws.

t GREAT YARMOUTH 2, WROXHAM 2

Although not quite on the scale of the 1999 great escape, when Yarmouth came back from 3-0 down to beat Tilbury 5-3 at the same stage of the competition, the underdog Bloaters still did magnificently to claw back a two-goal deficit and draw with the more experienced Yachtsmen.

After Alex Notman and player-manager Damian Hilton had established a 2-0 lead in only 22 minutes, there could not have been many who would have given the Bloaters a prayer.

But Yarmouth joint managers Paul Tong and Kevin Cruickshank have got their youngsters so well-attuned and fit that they never give up.

As in the match nine years ago, it was goalscorer-extraordinaire Stewart Roach who started the fight-back with a splendid goal that had the crowd in its feet in the 35th minute. Two minutes later, the Bloaters drew level. Scott Woodcock's corner aimed at the back post was not dealt with by the Wroxham defence and Yarmouth centre-back Adey Ager poked home by the post.

The game fell away a little after the break as the hot conditions took their toll but there were still plenty of chances for both sides. Yarmouth's Gareth Palmer headed over from close range, and Notman went close with a free kick that came back off the bar only for substitute Steven Harley to see his follow-up header saved by Elliot Pride in the Bloaters' goal.

Nick Crawley was playing his last game for Yarmouth for the forseeable future, having taken a new job in Guernsey, but as he left the field the home supporters in the 190 crowd were on their feet again, giving him a standing ovation, grateful for his contribution to the club's recent improvement.

Wroxham manager Damian Hilton was naturally disappointed with the result but credited Yarmouth. “They dug in, raised their game and had a little bit of quality in Roachy to get back in it. But we're still in the hat and will be in more familiar surroundings in Tuesday's replay.”

Great Yarmouth Town: Pride, Sewell, Savage, Palmer, Ager, Darby, Lamb, Sullivan, Roach, Crawley, Woodcock. Substitutes: Gorbould, Thompson, Bartley, Reed, Hilton.

Wroxham: Thornton, Goff, Howes, Challen, P Hilton, Key, White, Lemmon, Crane, Notman, Gilmore, Substitutes: Harley, Carus, Wines, A Cook, P Cook.

Referee: N Phillips, Ely.

t DEREHAM TOWN 2, STAMFORD 2

Dereham manager Matty Henman started with the same line-up that netted five in midweek against Ely.

The Magpies made a fantastic start when defender DEAN MILLER dropped a ball from keeper Pledger, following Terrington's deep free-kick before slotting home in the third minute.

Northern League Stamford immediately pressed for the leveller with Watson heading into Higgs' arms.

Taylor and Gray both sent 30-yard drives but whistling over the home crossbar as the visitors piled forward.

In the 18th minute a brilliant block by Ollie Willis denied Cunnington as he looked set to score.

Dereham began to settle with Beaumont delivering a pacey cross from the right that just eluded the lunging Mowbray.

Minutes later Smith fired through a ruck of players into the keeper's arms. The Magpies were now asking the questions and Beaumont hit a superb left foot curler onto the Stamford crossbar, from a quality build up with Mowbray lobbing the rebound over the top when well placed in the 27th minute.

Fine play by Beaumont, Howell and Willis earned Dereham a corner.

Stamford cleared their line launching a quick break that was thwarted by Garner's interception.

Stamford were testing the home defence with some dangerous crosses and Cotton volleyed into Higgs' arms at the far post following Kirk's ball from the left.

In the 40th minute defender Pearson headed weakly at Higgs as the visitors threatened again.

Stamford equalised shortly before half-time through defender SHAUN PEARSON, tapping home another quality Kirk cross to make it all square at the break.

Dereham came close to netting at the start of the second half when defender Taylor nearly sliced Mowbray's weak shot into his own net after the striker had won the ball off the keeper.

Play was fierce and competitive, with little time to dwell on the ball. Mowbray placed a lob across the visiting keeper which was just wide, following a long ball down the left, before the Magpies won a corner after Beaumont's close-range effort in the 60th minute, but Stamford cleared the line from the resultant flag kick.

Higgs made a great save from Cunnington's 30-yard curler.

Minutes later, the Magpies regained the lead. Ollie Willis's cross from the right was headed out to CRAIG TERRINGTON, whose powerful left-foot volley entered the net via the underside of the crossbar in the 62nd minute.

Dereham created another chance with Beaumont playing a neat one-two with Howell before drilling a shot just wide.

Barrett then came within inches of reaching Howell's deep centre from the right as the Magpies pressurised their higher league opponents once more.

From their next venture forward, defender Miller collided with the post and had to be replaced by Sam Willis, with the versatile Barrett dropping back into the defence.

In the 77th minute, Terrington fumbled when trying to defend, but a ball that keeper Higgs should have easily claimed allowed Stamford skipper CHRIS GRAY the opportunity to place the ball into an empty net for the equaliser.

Smith tried a speculative 35-yard drive which sailed over the top. Dereham then won a corner, but Stamford stood firm.

Play remained competitive in the closing stages and the game could have gone either way.

In the seventh minute of injury time, Stamford won a free-kick just outside the box and home keeper Higgs made a fine save from Kirk's curler.

The match finished with a hard-fought draw, with the two teams replaying at Stamford on Tuesday evening.

Dereham: J Higgs, O Willis, S Garner, P Cousins, D Miller, D Beaumont, N Howell, A Smith, S Mowbray, G Barrett, C Terrington. Subs: S Willis, B Furlong, G Hunt, J Brien, N Baker.

Stamford: I Pledger, T Guiney, D Hallons, S Taylor, S Pearson, R Watson, D Cotton, C Gray, A Cunnington, P Stebbings, T Kirk. Subs: R White, C Goodman, J Bewers, T Whitby, M Davies.

Referee: Mr J Steel from Sutton.

t FAKENHAM 0, BOSTON TOWN 4

Fakenham had strong claims for a third-minute penalty for hand-ball from Julian Delicata's shot turned down, the home forward booked for his protests.

The Ghosts fell behind after 10 minutes. Paul Goodhand was allowed far too much time on the edge of the box to set up MARK FOSTER for a simple goal.

Fakenham fans were hailing a 14th-minute equaliser but Liam Campbell's powerful header was ruled out for a push.

A 28th-minute Boston corner led to their second goal, MILES MASON firing home on the turn from 12 yards.

Gary Bull sent a header just over the Fakenham bar a minute later.

At the other end Ben Darby broke through the Boston defence but slid his shot wide in the 40th minute.

Fakenham keeper Daniel Stockdale made a fine low save before the Ghosts had two edge of area free-kicks.

The first was hit into the wall, the follow-up shot going wide, and the second was hit tamely at the keeper.

Fakenham failed to cope with a 73rd minute corner, the ball falling kindly for MASON to crack home Boston's third.

Two minutes later a Boston shot came back off the bar and LAZLO LOMAS followed up with the visitors fourth.

Fakenham: Stockdale, Whittred, Woodhouse, Tagg, Haynes, Bamford, Cole, Betts, Darby, Delicata, Campbell.

Subs: Hooks, Fenwick, Critten, King, Goff.

Boston Town: Jones, Lambley, Price, Foster, Pinner, Collins, Lovas, Goodhand, Mason, Bull, Kennedy.

Subs: Iley, McCallister, Ogden, Pascu, Blakey, Smith.

t NEWMARKET TOWN 3, THETFORD TOWN 1

Luke Wheeler, aged 16, made his debut in goal for Thetford against Newmarket.

Thetford stunned unbeaten Newmarket by taking the lead after five minutes when Skipp found SAM BRYANT on the far post.

Thetford nearly went further ahead when Kwame Jones held the ball up beautifully for Greg Devlin to test Newmarket keeper Lee Hulyer.

Young Wheeler did superbly to come out and pluck crosses off the heads of Vowden and Eadey respectively.

A controversial refereeing decision gifted Newmarket with an undeserved equaliser from a free- kick against Devlin, VOWDEN rose to head home.

This inspired Newmarket and they looked very dangerous on set pieces.

AARON RUTTER out-jumped Brewer at the far post to put Newmarket 2-1 up.

After 25 minutes Kwame Jones was booked after complaining about a bad refereeing decision. Newmarket's robust long ball was causing Thetford problems.

However Sam Bryant headed just over and Greg Devlin fizzed a shot narrowly wide as Thetford started to get back in the game.

Greg Devlin was sent off at the start of the second half which gave Thetford Town an uphill task.

t GORLESTON 1, GODMANCHESTER 1

This was a very hard-fought game between two sides that are towards the top of the table.

Gorleston had a great chance early on when Chad Pillar hit the bar with a header from close range.

Gorleston had the better of things and created the better chances but Godmanchester, who appear a much stronger side this season, went ahead after 30 minutes when BOON scored with a long-range shot.

Gorleston still continued to create chances and just prior to the interval they got the equaliser when a good move down the left saw REGAN

HARMAN move inside and beat the goalkeeper with a low shot into the far corner.

Gorleston pressed very hard in the second half but despite hitting the bar and having some other good chances they were unable to make this count.

It was a good entertaining match on an afternoon in which the weather was more suited to cricket.