HISTON RESERVES v. IPSWICH WANDERERS

RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE

SATURDAY 31ST MARCH 2007

Wanderers put new signing Tom English straight into the starting line up but Marcus Hering, Jamie Alsop and Dean Tournay-Godfrey were unavailable. It was a lovely warm, sunny afternoon but there was a strong wind blowing across the pitch to take to heat out of the sun.

Wanderers gained possession right from Histon’s kick off but the home side’s break from their own half reminded the visitors that, despite a string of 8 straight defeats, Histon were not necessarily going to be an easy pushover. On 5 mins, Gareth Jones had a mishit shot from 20yds and then, from a corner, a header at the back post that went just wide. Histon were showing good build up to their infrequent attacks but the final ball lacked quality.

On 14 mins, Paul Betson broke quickly from midfield and crossed to the near post where Tom English was inches away from connecting with the ball, not that it mattered as the assistant had raised his flag for offside. Then Dalby had a shot charged down by Mark Goldfinch as Wanderers struggled to clear their lines. Back at the other end, Upcott brought off a great tackle, inside his area, to halt Gary Bennett in his tracks, and then Davies raced off his line to block Lee Owen’s shot. From the corner, Marc Lowe had two attempts to control the ball and then sent in a shot that was not that far wide. Louie Farrington was struggling with an injury and had to be replaced, on 14 mins, by Danny Smy.

By the half hour, play was restricted mainly to the Histon half with Wanderers concentrating on their passing game, but this was not creating many clear cut scoring chances. A half chance fell to Tom English on the 6yd line and his semi-bicycle kick surprised Davies, who could only push the ball away for a corner. Lee Owen broke down the right and crossed to the far post where Tom English’s header was straight at Davies, but, again, he was offside.

On 35 mins, Tom English’s habit of straying offside cost Wanderers a goal when Danny Smy’s shot, from the edge of the area, was back-flicked into the goal, and then disallowed. In the next attack, Danny Smy cut inside to shoot, but Davies gathered safely. By the interval, Histon were hardly getting out of their half but Wanderers were not making their dominance pay off in front of goal.

Histon Reserves 0 Ipswich Wanderers 0

Wanderers continued to attack and a quickly taken short corner by Danny Smy to Paul Betson resulted in a deep cross finding Gareth Jones’ head, but the header was inches too high. The Wanderers got the goal they had been threatening for 54 mins when Gary Bennett helped on a cross from the right to Paul Betson, just inside the Histon area and he volleyed it into the top corner with Davies static on his line. Then the same player got his second but needed two attempts to do so. The first was a one touch control and shot which Davies parried and the second, from the rebound, was a right foot stab into the net with the Histon defence standing watching.

On the hour, Murray surprised Jamie Stannard, and the crowd, with a snap shot from 30yds, that the Wanderers ‘keeper had to palm over the bar after the Histon centre forward had won an aerial duel with Mark Goldfinch. Then Tom English received a perfect ball from Gary Bennett, dropping onto the penalty spot and the debutant swivelled to shoot to bring a fine reflex save from Davies.

Dalby escaped the attentions of Neil Shade and crossed for Murray whose header from 6 yards out, was straight at Jamie Stannard. Histon were now showing themselves as more of an attacking force, with Jamie having to do more in this last 15 mins that in the whole of the first half.

On 74 mins, the Wanderers’ ‘keeper really did earn his clean sheet, and the acknowledgement of Histon’s Flack, with a remarkable double save from a point blank range header. Ben Saud’s cross from the right found Flack on his own on the 6yd line and Jamie Stannard somehow managed to palm the ball upward, but it was still goalbound, until he launched himself up and back to push the ball over the bar. Flack was the first to pat the ‘keeper on the back in recognition of a fine piece of goalkeeping.

Histon lost the ball just inside their half with a rebound to Sam Banya who ran, unimpeded, into the Histon area, but his shot was weak and directed at Davies. Then Lee Owen tiptoed his way through the Histon defence but Davies was equal to his shot from a narrow angle. The home side immediately broke upfield and Dalby’s shot cannoned off Murray for a goal kick. Then Sam Banya battled for the ball on the halfway line and won out over three Histon players to send Danny Smy on a mazy run to the 6yd box. Davies forced him wide and Upcott was able to get in to block the shot at the near post.

Histon finished strongly but ended being well beaten by the better team.

Histon Reserves 0 Ipswich Wanderers 2

1 Jamie Stannard

2 Louie Farrington (sub 14)

3 Mark Goldfinch

4 Sean Bell

5 Neil Shade

6 Marc Lowe

7 Gareth Jones

8 Lee Owen

9 Gary Bennett (sub 66)

10 Tom English (sub 73)

11 Paul Betson

12 Sam Banya (sub 66)

14 Danny Smy (sub 14)

15 Keiron Francis (sub 73)

16

17

Goals: Paul Betson 54, 58.

Bookings: Gareth Jones