Whereas the premises had systems in place to ensure that the nocturnal visitor left empty handed, keeper Louis Johnson was left unprotected as Gareth Palmer stole in to place a downward header into the back of the net.

Free-scoring Yarmouth had the first two opportunities of the game but were then almost undone by the guile and quick thinking of Dale Vince.

Shaping to send a free-kick into the area, Vince instead delivered a perfectly disguised pass down the line which released Paddy Turley to pull the ball back but Shaun French shot over.

Incredibly with so many goals coming from rival strikers Stuart Jopling and Stewart Roach over the years, it was defender Palmer's second of his career which broke the deadlock just before the half-time break.

Yarmouth were down to ten men, as Jake Reed was not ready to replace the injured Adam Sullivan, when Debenham dozed off in the warm sunshine allowing Palmer to plant Scott Woodcock's corner firmly past Louis Johnson.

A seemingly innocuous incident in the second half turned the game in Debenham's favour. Goalkeeper Elliot Pride slipped while taking a goal-kick and after some delay was helped from the pitch.

Without a back-up on the bench, Palmer donned the keeper's gloves.

For all their possession, Debenham failed to test the stand-in keeper but in the 71st minute Palmer should have been beaten.

Yarmouth could not clear Jon Ince's corner and as French drove the ball back in, Jopling was unable to find the required connection.

Neil Gooderham's long throws produced the greatest threat, twice Chris Smith won headers which saw Jon Watt clear in front of his goal line and Vince head wide.

In the tenth minute of stoppage time, Jopling's volley shaved a post.

Debenham LC: Johnson, Powling (K Barker 73), Ince, Gooderham, French, Norman, Turley, Canfer (Kemp 59), Jopling, Heathcote (Smith 59), Vince.

Substitute (unused): Gedny, Watkins

Man Of the match: Matt Norman – Commanding presence at the back

* Debenham LC beat SIL side Stowupland Falcons 4-1 in a friendly on Tuesday night.

The Hornets used the game to give Kevin Barker, Warren Taylor-Holt and, for the first time this season, Ian Gedny some much-needed game time ahead of tomorrow's FA Vase clash with Hadleigh.

Taylor-Holt, back after serving a five-game suspension, will not be available until Tuesday because he is running in The Great North Run.

Barker lasted the full 90 minutes while Gedny, who came on just before the break, hit a post in a comfortable victory for the Hornets.

But the night belonged to Rob Kemp who, following goals from Joel Watkins and an equaliser for the visitors by Chris Pickett, hit a hat-trick.