Abandoned games. Don’t you just love them?! For the hopping anoraks out there here are some questions you might be able to answer whilst reading this ramble: (1) Other than for a serious injury and bad weather, can you list some other reasons why your chosen game has been abandoned? (2) What’s the latest time that the game you have been watching has been stopped? (3) And finally, in spite of the call-off has the subsequent match result ever stood?! Good luck with that. Don’t worry there’s no need for a postcard as the results won’t be published...unless of course...!

Today I'm on the Norfolk Junior Cup trail once again. As many of you may already know this is one of my favourite local football competitions offering the great chance for teams from different leagues the opportunity to play each other and keep alive the dream of playing for silverware next May (at Carrow Road, home of Norwich City FC). My chosen game is a potential cracker as Haven Bridge United FC current leaders of the Great Yarmouth and District League Division 1 are taking on Mundford FC from the Anglian Combination League Division 2.

On a dull and overcast afternoon I arrive in good time for the early afternoon kick off at the modest Beaconsfield Recreation ground located off Sandown Road. It’s a pretty basic venue found tucked away amongst a myriad of back to back semis that form a local housing estate being only a stone’s throw from the sea front and the highly regarded Wellesley historic home to Great Yarmouth Town FC, members of the Eastern Counties League.

A large wrought iron gate opens out onto the sprawling playing fields that consist of four council pitches and a central cricket square bordered by perimeter walls, trees, a path and a large number of wooden benches. Along the left hand side a large communal brick changing pavilion is shared by all players and officials taking part in matches during the afternoon. A full-time groundsman is on hand to sort out the available pitches and accommodation, writing the details on white marker boards displayed next to each entrance door. Today other local clubs Great Yarmouth International and Caister Roma Reserves are also playing at home today using the adjoining pitches for their GY&DL fixtures.

Haven Bridge United Football Club play its games on the pitch nearest to the main entrance gate (referred to as pitch #2). Being marked out at the end of the field it has more of an enclosed feeling with the local residential buildings providing a much needed wind break from the chilly sea air. Floodlights affixed to a couple of wooden masts behind the top goal allow the players to train here during midweek. Interestingly a sign with the words ‘No Ball Games’ is posted close by! Standing on the path nearest to the right side line you can just about pick out (between the roof tops) the floodlights and beautifully ornate main stand from near neighbours Great Yarmouth Town FC. There’s neither a perimeter rope nor facilities for spectators and players at pitch side. But to be perfecly honest I’ve not come here for that, it’s all about the game and nothing else today!

So what I can I tell you about Haven Bridge United Football Club. Formed as recently as two years ago when goal keeper Torean Malloy and assistant manager Carl Butler (ex- Gorleston FC) decided to meet in the Haven Bridge pub (the sponsors) in the town and set up a new team. Incredibly it’s been a story of instant success for one of the county’s youngest clubs having done the treble lifting the GY&DL Division 2 title, league cup and Norfolk Primary Cup (beating X in the final) at the first attempt last season. To date the club already leads Division 1 over the perennial champions Catfield FC (the only other GY&DL side also left in the NJC). Interestingly both sides will meet here for the first time in what will be a crunch game next weekend.

To reach this stage in the competition United (playing for the first time in the Junior Cup) had already beaten (R1) Worsted (NENL) 2-0; (R2) Gressenhall (C&SNL) 3-0 and (R3) Circle Anglia (N&DSL) 6-2. Mundford had got here on the back of some impressive high-scoring victories over (R1) North Elmham (C&SNL) 10-2; (R2) Norwich Medics (N&DSL) 4-1 and (R3) Norton Athletic (L&DL) 8-2. Incredibly both teams had each played ties involving clubs from three different league competitions and today continued the same trend. It was therefore being billed as a massive game with much pre-match excitement according to the respective social networking accounts!! Neither side had ever reached the quarter-finals before so a bit of history was ready to be made.

It was the visitors (nicknamed The Stags) who had the first real scoring chance when a through ball from Cameron Mcisaac found Ben Coe (10) who failed to hit the target dragging his shot wide of the goal. Moments later a Coe (12) free kick on the left managed to evade everyone including the home keeper before smashing off the crossbar and out for a goal kick. Midway through the half United took advantage of a poor clearance from Jon Maslin when pacey winger Ollie McCarhy (22) cut in and shot wide.

After the break United captain McCarthy (52) flashed a headed just wide of the post with Clements excellently tipping over a long range free kick. A good counter attack saw the winger one on one but again failed to beat the impressive keeper. The home side then had a couple of late penalty appeals turned down following a blatant dive by the Haven Bridge forward and when defender Mcisaac made a clumsy challenge trying to clear the ball just inside the penalty area. In the dying seconds and in fading light Coe (90) hit the woodwork once again with a long range free kick.

After a brief discussion between the referee & both managers it was agreed that the teams would carry on and play extra time despite the poor visibility. The best effort in the first period saw captain Richard Williams (95)head just over from close range as Clements again made a top save to deny the hosts at the other end. With it now becoming increasingly harder to see the ball and another period of extra time still to play, the referee finally made the sensible decision to stop the game on 105 minutes. I just couldn’t believe it! Can you imagine the disappointment as I trudged back to the car. I’ve been to several abandoned games before but never seen one stopped this late on and for bad light. I was totally gutted.

A crowd of over forty was in attendance with many Stags' fans making the long two hour journey over from West Norfolk. The strong cross-winds and sticky pitch conditions obviously spoiled the chances of allowing close control and making any decent passing at times. As expected the club does not issue programmes or provide refreshments. I was very grateful to match referee Paul Emblem for providing those all important team line ups before the game started.

On the way home we made a quick pit stop outside the Wellesley where the hosts were entertaining Diss Town in a Norfolk Senior Cup game (result 2-5). In the time it takes to say Football Grounds In Focus I nipped in through the unmanned main gate and into the clubhouse to purchase the latest copy of the Bloaters matchday programme. I couldn't stop to watch the game either as a fish and chip supper in Beccles awaited. It was definitely worth the wait too!

Returning home I was still left scratching my head about today’s match. Was it an abandoned game or did the result still stand? Indeed the various league and club websites referring to the cup tie reported conflicting results. A match review on the Mundford FC site suggested that the abandoned game would have to be replayed once again; the results on the GY&DL site said ‘Result Pending’ but the Norfolk FA listed the score as 0-0. What is more I wondered if I could count the game as ‘done’ and finally tick off the ground? Confused? I certainly was.

In an attempt to resolve this issue I sent an E-Mail to ever helpful Steve Hemp at the Norfolk FA (see link below) a couple of days later. He promptly replied too with the following message attached:

‘Hi Martin, I’m glad you enjoyed the game between Haven Bridge United and Mundford. Although the game was technically abandoned at half time of extra time our Cup Rules state that should extra time either not start or be completed then the match is a replay the following the week at the away team’s ground, so in effect the result at 90 minutes stands so I would go with 0-0. There is a replay at Mundford this Saturday (kick off 1.30pm) to decide the winner of the tie. I hope this is of help to you however should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me, Kind Regards, Steve’

So there you go. My fears were finally allayed and it was definitely a case of ground done. Phew! It really had certainly been one of the most eventful hopping days out to say the least. The joys of the taking in Norfolk Junior Cup ties continue (just!)...have fun wherever you go!

For the record it was Mundford FC who beat Haven Bridge United 3-2 at The Glebe in the NJC Round 4 replay on 01/12/12 and will now travel to play Acle United Reserves in the Quarter-Final tie on 05/12/12. Good luck to them.