LOWESTOFT TOWN v. IPSWICH WANDERERS

RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE

SATURDAY 2ND DECEMBER 2006

With there being still several players out with injuries and non-availability, the line-up for this very tough game had an unfamiliar look about it. The pitch was in reasonable condition, given the atrocious weather over the past few days, although a little heavy.

Lowestoft started the better and it was soon obvious that the Wanderers defence were going to be in for a busy time and that would be no room for feint hearts.

Lowestoft had the clearest of chances on 7 mins when King reached the byline and crossed for Woodrow who was unmarked in the middle of the area. His header could have been more powerful and better directed as it was reachable by Jamie Stannard, stretching to his left, to palm the ball onto the post and the danger was cleared by Mark Goldfinch. The home side continued to put pressure on the Wanderers defence, forcing the midfield to come back to help out and leaving the two strikers isolated upfield.

Woodrow broke free on 15 mins but his shot was weak and easily gathered. Then Ricky Martin’s free kick, taken from the right, floated over defenders and attackers alike, wrong footing Reynolds in the Lowestoft goal and coming out off the far post. Ricky Martin was in action again two mins later, this time with a mazy run from the halfway line, taking several lucky rebounds off defenders legs, before shooting inches wide.

The match was now a much more competitive affair in midfield, with Wanderers movin the ball about well, but Lowestoft looked dangerous everytime they moved forward. On 24 mins, a backpass from Potter was too far away from Reynolds and Rene Swann was inches away from nicking the ball in front of goal. Then King sent a lovely ball over the defence into the path of Poppy down the left, but Mark Goldfinch was alert and cleared to ball. Then Rene Swann got round Potter on the byline but could not get a shot in.

Lowestoft got the goal they had been threatening on 30 mins when Poppy’s free kick was parried by Jamie Stannard and King was the first to react and hammer the ball into the roof of the net. This signalled a renewed onslaught on the Wanderers goal with Godbold operating on the left and slipping a peach of a pass inside the fullback to McKenna, whose shot was cleared with Jamie Stannard covering his near post. Wanderers responded with a nice build up down their right which ended with Gary Bebnnett’s fierce shot being tipped away by Reynolds. Lowestoft were pulling Wanderers this way and that and Hough’s shot, on 40 mins, was goalbound until it hit the back of King and was cleared. Then Jamie Stannard raced out to smother the ball at the feet of Poppy as the home side again broke through the back line.

Lowestoft Town 1 Ipswich Wanderers 0

Wanderers went further behind with 3 mins of the second half gone when a long through ball reached Hough who crossed for McKenna. The ball was partially cleared but it fell to Woodrow who fired home from 15yds. Then Ben Miller and McKenna were in a tussle in the area and the ball ran for Poppy who shot wide. Lee Smith was not having much luck playing down the right wing and was moved inside at a double substitution was made; Fabio Botti and Dean Tournay-Godfrey replacing Ben Miller and Rene Swann. Lowestoft made it 3 on the hour when a free kick, involving Hough and Godbold, on the edge of the area was floated across for an unmarked King to run onto, giving Jamie Stannard no chance.

Wanderers were unlucky not to get one back 7 mins later when Ricky Martin’s long shot, having picked up a loose ball in midfield, rebounded off the bar, with Reynolds beaten. Lowestoft completed their scoring on 72 mins, with King getting his hat-trick, capitalising on a Wanderers error of giving the ball away on the halfway line. The visitors continued to be under attack, with Poppy racing in from the left, to be thwarted by Jamie Stannard who charged out to block his shot and gather the ball at the 2nd attempt.

There were great cheers from the home supporters as Cockrill sauntered up from defence to try his luck from 40yds, then watching as the shot went well wide. Poppy was finding acres of space on the right wing and fed the ball to McAleese whose shot was deflected for a corner. It was clear that both sides were tiring on the heavy pitch for the last 10-15 mins, resulting in the only booking of the game for a foul which earned Wanderers a free kick on the edge of the ‘D’. Dean Tournay-Godfrey stepped over the ball and Fabio Botti chipped into the 6yd box where Reynolds could only parry the ball, and Ricky Martin was on hand to run in a consolation goal.

Wanderers had received a thorough examination by the likely league champions and would have been disappointed at the scoreline. It was a battling display, especially from Sean Bell and Mark Goldfinch, with Jamie Stannard on good form to keep the score down.

Lowestoft Town 4 Ipswich Wanderers 1