Back - Dean Palmer (assistant manager), Dave Southern, Brian Hibbert, Nigel Gee, Lawrence Appleton, Clinton Burberry, Matty Metcalf, Richard Churchyard, Mike Lane, Andy Shannon, Tom Fitchew (manager) Front - Dave Darkins, Steve Ryan, Nick Wyer, Jimmy Beckett, Carl Cooper, Shayn Winsor
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Watton 2 Wanderers 5

The Wanderers played their 1st game for a month due to cancellations but this gave some injuries a chance to heal and Mulbarton fielded one of their strongest 11’s

Most of the play was coming down the left with Chris Smith and Jimmy Beckett getting some great balls into the box for Matthew Metcalf and Dave Darkins to attack and it was only going to be a matter of time before the deadlock would be broken. On 15 minutes a superb Jimmy Beckett curling freekick from wide left was met by the head of Dave Darkins who rose above 3 Watton defenders to head home. Darkins scoring his 3rd goal in as many games. Wanderers were dominating possession all over the park and things got even better after 25 minutes when a mix up at the back allowed Matthew Metcalf to slot home from 12 yards for his 4th goal of the season to give Mulbarton a well deserved 2 nil lead. Sadly as against Martham in the previous game Mulbarton took their foot off the pedal and allowed Watton back into the game. 2 sloppy goals meant the half time score was 2 – 2

Now playing down wind Mulbarton got their act together and played some nice interchanging one and two touch football. But it was the Watton who tested the Wanderers keeper Clinton Burberry early on in the 2nd half, Burberry making a couple of great saves to keep it at 2 each. Mulbarton regained the lead on 60 minutes. Dave Darkins scoring his 2nd of the game with a low drive into the bottom right corner from 18 yards. The game was then put out of any doubt with 20 minutes to go. A Shayn Winsor corner was turned in by a Watton defender. In the last minute of the game Mulbarton got their 5th with a solo goal by Richard Churchyard

This was another positive performance. The squad is getting stronger with each game and are becoming recognised as a title contender. Man of the match for his continuous running, man marking and tracking back was Nick Wyer.

Next game is on the 23rd of November at home in the cup to Division 3 out fit Cromer Crabs. 1.30 KO

Martham 1 – 3 Mulbarton Wanderers

The Wanderers got back to winning ways following their early exit from the league cup with a promising performance against Martham. On a difficult sloppy pitch Mulbarton played some nice football, penetrating the Martham defence with ease. The game was only 10 minutes old before the Wanderers were awarded a penalty. Dave Darkins brought down when clean through on goal. Matthew Metcalf stepped up but couldn’t convert. This didn’t dampen the Wanderers spirit. Metcalf and Darkins both looking like they could score a hat full. And it was Matthew Metcalf who finally broke the dead lock finishing from 6 yards after 15 minutes.

Nicky Wyer and Mike Lane were both working tirelessly on the wings providing support for the front 2 but also doing great defensive jobs when needed. The Wanderers’ defence looked solid with Shannon and Churchyard controlling the Martham attack; But it was the front 2 who combined for Mulbarton's 2nd of the game. A superb reverse ball by Darkins into the path of Metcalf who smashed home on the 50th minute.

This should have been the incentive for the Wanderers to go on and get a hat full. However it was Martham who responded scoring almost straight from the kick off following a defensive mix up in the Mulbarton box. The Wanderers rode their luck a little for 10 minutes before sealing the win with their 3rd of the match. This time Metcalf become provider for Dave Darkins who rounded the keeper and coolly slotted home.

All in all this was a positive performance from the Wanderers who are now starting to play some nice football with a good solid shape. Richard Churchyard was picked out by Martham as their Man of the Match. Although Mike Lane won the Managers vote for his constant probing into the Martham defence.

Next game will be away in the shield on the 26th of October against either Dereham or Archant

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Wanderers  1 – 5 Bungay Town Veterans

With 4 key players missing this was always going to be a hard test for Mulbarton playing a team who have been established for 5 years and 3 leagues above them. For the first 30 minutes Mulbarton played the better football and were well worth their 1 nil lead; Dave Darkins notching his 2nd of the season from the penalty spot after Colin Gibbons was brought down.

The game changed when Mulbarton lost 2 more key players before half time to injury. Eventually going down 5 – 1 after goals from Michael Earrye (2), Gary Love (2) and Mick Money

Mulbarton can take a lot of positives from this game as for 40 minutes they matched a side much more estabilished than them. Dave Darkins was the pick of the Mulbarton team.

The Wanderers next game is away to Martham in the league on the 12th of October

Wanderers Veterans 4 – 1 Norwich Hotspur Veterans

Mulbarton Wanderers got their first season in veterans football off to a superb start with a win against Norwich Hotspur

It took just 9 minutes before a great move down the left hand side resulted in a cross to Carl Cooper who headed home from 15 yards. This was just the start Mulbarton were looking for and pushed for a second only to be denied by the woodwork and some good goalkeeping.

They got their well-deserved second goal after half an hour. Matthew Metcalf finished well from inside the box.

Norwich weren’t causing too many problems for the Mulbarton back four but the 3rd goal was always going to be the most important. At that came just a few minutes into the 2nd half. A cross field Carl Cooper ball found Dave Darkins in acres of space who slotted home. The midfield twosome of Steve Ryan and Shayn Winsor worked tremendous hard for the team but it was a Richard Churchyard cross from that right that found Dave Southern whose diving header made it 4 nil.
At 4 nil down Norwich started to play a little bit and found a late consolation goal through captain Paul Guzewich.

All in all it was a very good opening performance and they will be looking to build on that at the next match. This promises to be a much tougher game for the Wanderers against division 1 outfit Bungay in the cup on the 28th of September, 2.30 KO