Great Wakering Rovers 2-3 Wroxham

(Gordon 73’ (p), Easterford 88’: Bussens 18’, 80’, Gilfedder 20’)

From Burroughs Park

Ryman North

By DAN THUROGOOD

GREAT Wakering Rovers were on the wrong end of a five-goal thriller as a late surge was not enough to save them from what could be a costly defeat against bottom club Wroxham.

Wroxham scored twice in two minutes in the first-half to race into a half-time lead before Wakering made a fight of it to nearly come away with an unlikely point.

And manager Keith Wilson said he had to take some of the blame.

“I will have to take blame for some of the first-half,” he said. “We went 3-5-2 and it didn’t quite work as well as I’d have liked. We gave away three really cheap goals and it's something we need to improve. The boys are gutted in the dressing room.

“Everyone around us has lost so it would have been a massive three points if we could had got them.”

Wakering had the better of the two sides and former Bowers & Pitsea man Scott Pethers went close five minutes in, firing just past the post.

But Wroxham hit back and surged ahead. Bussens grabbed the first as he closed down Kye Jude, and executed a calm finish into the bottom right-hand corner.

Straight from the kick-off, Cruise Nyadzayo applied pressure to win back the ball and Ross Gilfedder’s 25-yard effort dipped and flew past Ryan Emery.

Before half-time Jake Gordon’s 25 yard volley stung the palms of Elliot Pride but he pushed it away well as Rhys Fall was ready to pounce on the re-bound.

Early in the second-half Bussens nearly added his second, but for an excellent block by John Easterford.

The home side kept going and were trying to forget a way back into the clash, with Fatt taking a touch past Ben Lewis but his effort from the edge of the box found only the goalkeepers arms.

But they were to get back into it, as substitute Joe Paxman won a penalty with around 20 minutes remaining. Gordon stepped up for the hosts and duly despatched from 12 yards.

But Bussens added his second with 10 minutes left. As Wakering pushed forward, the striker profited from the good work of pacy winger Nyadzayo to tap home.

Easterford pulled a goal back with two minutes to go but it was too late.

Great Wakering Rovers: Emery, Ring, Nottage, Jude (Paxman), Easterford, Beale, Pethers, Kee, Gordon, Fatts (Barnett), Sackey (Butterworth)