Yarmouth won their second consecutive home league match in dramatic fashion at the Wellesley.

Leading scorer Jake Reed notched his first goal in four months to give the Bloaters the lead in the 33rd minute,

Keeper Michael Hilton was dismissed five minutes from the interval for a rash act, losing his cool and pushing the visitors’ Lee Grimwood to the ground; fortunately it was outside the area and so was not further punished by a penalty kick.

Midfielder Dominic Smith took over in goal and produced an amazing second half man-of-the-match performance that helped win the game for Yarmouth.

Chris Duffy, with his first senior goal, extended the home lead in the 48th minute via a bullet header from Scott Woodcock’s free-kick but Brantham hit back immediately through the dangerous Ollie Mann who turned and shot in one movement.

The scores were levelled after 65 minutes when a Brantham corner took a deflection off a Yarmouth head and Adam Bloss headed home into the top corner.

With a strengthening wind behind them, Brantham exerted increasing pressure but Smith, whose only previous experience in goal came in one youth game, held firm against everything else the visitors threw at him. and the indomitable spirit of the never-say-die Bloaters provided a thrilling finish when, six minutes from time,

Scott Woodcock took a surprise shot from way out right and the ball ended up in the back of the net via a defender’s toe as he vainly attempted to clear.

The result should put the Bloaters in good heart for Tuesday’s League Cup second round tie with Kirkley & Pakefield at the Wellesley (7.45).