Report

Caister vets saw their last realistic chance of silverware disappear after a creditable 5 – 2 defeat at home to Premier Division Bungay in the Semi Finals of the Shield.  Caister matched their illustrious opponents for the majority of the match and had key decisions not gone against them then the scoreline would have been much more indicative of the balance of play.  Caister started on the front foot and Wayne Hunter was put through only to see his effort blocked twice.  Bungay scored from their first attack when the ball was played out to the winger who appeared to control it with his arm before crossing to the back post where it was superbly volleyed home.  Caister remained in the ascendancy and appeared to be denied a clear penalty.  Martin Jacobs was put through and his heavy first touch took the ball past the keeper who made no contact with the ball and only succeeded in taking out Jacobs.  They did soon draw level when Paul Jacobs headed home a free kick at the back post.  Caister then lost Hunter to injury and then his replacement Dan Sims also had to go off shortly afterwards after suffering a bad knee injury.    Everyone at the club wishes him well.  The lengthy stoppage seemed to affect Caister as Bungay scored twice in the space of a couple of minutes.  The second was a well-worked break after Caister lost possession on the halfway line and the third was a stunning strike from an acute angle.  Caister again fought back and Bowman won possession and fed Richard Fruin who knocked it back to Matty Wells whose return pass released Fruin to beat the keeper.  This remained the score at the break with Caister desperately unlucky to be behind having had the most clear chances.  The game continued to ebb and flow but Bungay gained a crucial 2 goal cushion with a close range finish.  Caister then brought on Andy Gooda who had crawled off his sick bed to provide cover due to Caister’s early injuries.  Fruin then produced a delightful cross which Bowman was unable to get over heading over the bar and then Bowman dummied a cut back only for Martin Jacobs to see his effort from 8 yards superbly blocked.  Bowman then beat the keeper to a Gooda free kick with the keeper clattering into him but again Caister were denied a penalty.  Bungay added an undeserved 5^th when a corner took a couple of ricochets before it was clearly controlled by the forward with his hand before he finished well.  M.O.M. Fruin.  This was a superb performance by Caister and if they take this form into their last 2 league games then they still have a slim chance of gaining promotion.

Caister’s next match is on 15/4 at home to Kings Head Loddon.  This is a 2:30 KO.  Meet at the Caister field at 1:15.