HARWICH & PARKESTON v. IPSWICH WANDERERS

RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE

TUESDAY 15TH AUGUST 2006

Manager John Clarkson made several changes in personnel and formation from the team that lost to Wroxham last Saturday, the most surprising being that of putting Marc Lowe, for so long the rock that sat in front of the defence, up front to partner Rene Swann. A burst of rain during the warm-up livened up the pitch but did nothing to dampen the spirits of the teams as they started full throttle at each others goal.

Balls over and round the Harwich defence found Rene Swann continuing his renaissance as a striker and it was in less than 4 mins from the kick off that he rounded the ‘keeper, Griggs M, but had the ball taken off his toes by Eagle. Then Harwich broke to the other end with a man over but Mark Goldfinch raced back to complete the saving tackle.

Rene Swann was finding room on the right and it was from a slick passing move that he outpaced Towse, squared the ball across the area and found Marc Lowe perfectly positioned to sidefoot home unchallenged.

Seconds later, but only after Harwich had put together a dangerous looking move of their own, Ricky Martin found Rene Swann free on the right again and he, and Marc Lowe, produced a carbon copy of the first goal to put Wanderers 2 up. Harwich almost immediately got back into the game, first, nearly, from Morley who hit the post with a fierce shot but then, on 12 mins, when Griggs R clattered a shot against the underside of the crossbar and it was adjudged to have crossed the goal line before coming back into play.

Both sides were relishing the zippy, damp surface and the ability to knock the ball about to provide a feast of intelligent football. Play ebbed and flowed down both wings with Rene Swann, on 19 mins, unfortunate not to get on the score sheet after he had broken the offside trap and rounded Griggs M, only for Eagle, again, to dispossess him. Ricky Martin was taking every opportunity to run at the home defence and his shot from distance on 30 mins was only just wide with the ‘keeper at full stretch. Harwich were by no means out of the game, with Carmichael and Morley always looking dangerous in and around the Wanderers area and keeping the visitors’ defence more than busy.

However, the third Wanderers goal on 31 mins, from Rene Swann following a good interchange with David Grimwood and Marc Lowe, seemed to be one too many for Harwich, as they never seemed to recover from the unrewarded effort of the first 30 mins. Jamie Baker sent over a curling shot from wide that went inches wide of the post with Griggs M groping for the ball. The Harwich forwards had run out of ideas and steam as the Wanderers defence settled into the game and, just to rub salt into open wounds, Ricky Martin at last got one of his shots on target on 42 mins to give the visitors a comfortable lead at the half.

Harwich & Parkeston 1 Ipswich Wanderers 4

A visibly exhausted Jamie Baker was replaced by Terry Layton as the half started and the former full back took the place of Ricky Martin who switched to the left wing. This had an immediate effect as the pacey wingman slipped a ball through for Marc Lowe to see his shot saved by the ‘keepers legs. On 56 mins Marc Lowe won his first Wanderers hat-trick when a less than perfect pass, following a defensive error, reached him and he had to battle hard against Towse to find enough room to shoot from a narrow angle.

Not many minutes later and the combination of Lee Smith and Terry Layton won the ball on the half way line, Simon Hyde released Rene Swann through the offside trap and the, earlier, provider got his 2nd of the game by lobbing Griggs M from the edge of the area.

Harwich were looking a very dejected side but they must have brightened slightly when they managed to break into the Wanderers half and Carmichael put in a shot which curled round the wrong side of the post. However, David Grimwood soon put paid to any comeback thoughts they may have had on 70 mins by picking up the pieces of Lee Owen’s run into the box and firing home through a sea of defenders legs. Rene Swann nearly made it 8 when his snap shot looked goal bound until Griggs M hand saved to set up a Harwich attack which Jamie Stannard  ended with his first touch of the second half, claiming the ball after a good run by the speedy Griggs R.

Lee Owen did make it 8 for Wanderers on 80 mins after Ricky Martin had won the ball in the tackle and the tousled haired midfielder’s shot was too strong for the Harwich ‘keeper.

The Wanderers defence relaxed slightly and Carmichael got in a shot, Griggs R was continuing to show his speed to cause some problems but that just about ended the Harwich response. In the last few minutes of the game Chris Sadler had a shot well saved, Brannon’s poor clearance was picked up by Ricky Martin who shot wide and Lee Owen had his shot pushed onto the bar as Wanderers queued up to add to the goalfest.

Wanderers had shown two sides of their game in two consecutive matches, resolute defence and an unwillingness to be physically intimidated and, against Harwich, a cruel attacking streak and a need to completely dominate the opposition with slick passing football.

Harwich & Parkeston 1 Ipswich Wanderers 4

1 Jamie Stannard

2 Lee Smith

3 Neil Shade (C)

4 Matthew Cunningham

5 David Grimwood

6 Mark Goldfinch

7 Simon Hyde (sub 69)

8 Ricky Martin

9 Rene Swann

10 Marc Lowe (sub 64)

11 Jamie Baker (sub 46)

12 Chris Sadler (sub 69)

14 Alan Mills

15 Lee Owen (sub 64)

16 Danny Smy

17 Terry Layton (sub 46)

Goals: Lowe 3, Swann 2, Martin, Grimwood, Owen.