DISS TOWN v. IPSWICH WANDERERS

RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE

SATURDAY 24TH MARCH 2007

It was a thoroughly miserable day, with grey skies, a biting cold wind and persistent drizzle but Diss were in buoyant mood, parading their new management team of Pual Tong and Nick Cook. Wanderers were without Rene Swann, who had transferred to Whitton during the week, to follow Matthew Cunningham, so Gary Bennett and Dean Tournay-Godfrey were on goal scoring duties.

It did not take long for the first goal to come, but it fell to Paul Betson after 3 minutes following a one-two with Gary Bennett who had slipped a back heel through the defender’s legs for the goal scorer to run on to and thunder into the goal via the underside of the bar. Diss’ first chance came on 7 mins when Lawrence hit a long range shot well wide, but otherwise, they were not showing much enterprise and giving the new manager something to think about.

On 10 mins, Dean Tournay-Godfrey’s quick thinking set Gareth Jones down the right, but his run into the box was halted by weight of Diss numbers. He did manage to get the ball to Paul Betson whose half volley was gathered by Church in the Diss goal. Diss were offering little resistance, allowing Wanderers to move the ball about the park at will, but the standard of passing was not what could be expected and threats on goal were intermittent.

Casual defending by Wanderers on 15 mins let in Hatton but Mark Goldfinch cleared the danger but it was Hatton again who was allowed to shoot, with the ball landing in an adjacent field! Church then looked on as a shot from Marcus Hering came off the boot of Andrew and looped over the bar. The clearance upfield, from the corner, was taken on by Lawrence whose shot was palmed onto the top netting by Jamie Stannard, to give Diss their first corner of the game on 22 mins. Wanderers quickly broke out of defence with Lee Owen getting the ball back from Gary Bennett and Paul Betson threading a pass to Dean Tournay-Godfrey, but just inches too far in front of him. Gareth Jones crossed from the right which Gary Bennett flicked on for Paul Betson but the Wanderers’ winger shot high when he had an unobstructed view of the goal.

Diss were now dealing comfortable with the visitors’ aerial attack but it was a different story with the ball played on the ground. Gary Bennett was in plenty of space when he received the ball from Lee Owen and he was able to return the favour as the run was continued into the box and Lee Owen was able to sidefoot past Church 2 minutes before the interval to double his side’s lead.

Diss Town 0 Ipswich Wanderers 2

Gareth Jones had two bites of the cherry on 53 mins, the first from Dean Tournay-Godfrey’s cross from the left when he was unable to outjump Andrews and then, as the ball went to the far side of the area, was just inches away from Lee Owen’s delicate chipped cross. Then Gary Bennett broke from the half way line and threaded a pass through to Gareth Jones, but the latter’s shot was weak and straight at Church. With the game becoming more end to end, Angel raced down the left and Wood squared the ball to Poole, who just lost the race to the ball with Jamie Stannard. Dean Tournay-Godfrey was free and clear on 59 mins, bearing down on goal, but Garnham got in a very timely tackle to save an almost certain 3rd goal. The Diss defender was injured in the process and had to receive lengthy treatment and, as a result of the perculiar rule that penalises the injured player’s team, had to sit out on the touchline as Wanderers, through Gareth Jones, Gary Bennett and Dean Tournay-Godfrey all had attempts on goal, the last one clipping the top of the bar.

On the hour, both sides started to make substitutions and this injected some enthusiasm into the game. Danny Smy, whose direct running at the defence, and Louie Farrington, who joined him on the right, added an extra dimension to the Wanderers game, but it was the Diss subs that really made a difference, raising the tempo of their play and taking the game to Wanderers’ defence. Previously almost a spectator, Jamie Stannard was called into action to defend a series of corners and free kicks as Diss pressed the final third for the pitch in their attempt to get back into the game.

At the other end, Paul Betson’s corner was back headed by Sean Bell at the near post and McManus cleared off the line with a firm boot. Then Angels free kick, from 30 yds, was pushed round the post by Jamie Stannard and a subsequent foul by Gareth Jones gave the Diss winger a second chance from almost the same spot, this time going straight across the area for a goal kick.

On 85 mins, Louie Farrington picked up the ball from Danny Smy and raced 30 yds into the Diss area before winning a corner off Andrews, but Diss were soon back at the other end for a 10 minute spell in the opposition half. Angel was foiled by the foot of Marcus Hering when a goal looked a certainty but it was Wanderers who finished the game in attack, with Danny Smy, Louie Farrington and Marcus Hering all having shots at goal.

Diss Town 0 Ipswich Wanderers 2

1 Jamie Stannard

2 Marcus Hering

3 Mark Goldfinch

4 Sean Bell

5 Neil Shade

6 Marc Lowe

7 Gareth Jones

8 Lee Owen (sub 63)

9 Dean Tournay-Godfrey (sub 61)

10 Gary Bennett (sub 79)

11 Paul Betson

12 Louie Farrington (sub 63)

14 Danny Smy (sub 61)

15 Jamie Alsop

16 Sam Banya (sub 79)

17 Keiron Francis

Goals: Paul Betson 3, Lee Owen 43

Bookings: none