IPSWICH WANDERERS v. MILDENHALL TOWN

RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE

SATURDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 2006

Manager John Clarkson made several changes to the team following his dissatisfaction with the performance at Leiston in midweek. Ben Miller and Terry Layton were given their first starts since August, playing as wingbacks, new signing Paul Westren went straight into the side in the absence of Lee Owen and Rene Swann was left up front on his own as five were strung across midfield.

Mildenhall went into the lead on 8 minutes, after a period of play, mainly in midfield. Nower took a free kick from inside his own area and pumped the ball long into the Wanderers’ half. Foster beat two defenders before slotting the ball, from an acute angle, between the post and Jamie Stannard. With neither side really threatening another goal with the final pass usually going astray, play was unremarkable and in the middle 2/3rds of the pitch. On 12 mins, Goddard hit a free kick off the wall for a corner and from this, Jamie Stannard gathered safely under his bar. Then Clements showed his skills as he made distance down the right, beating two defenders and crossing for Miles whose shot was weak. Then Nower had to come out of his area to clear from a fast advancing Rene Swann. On 18 mins, Ben Miller made a strong appeal for a penalty as he was brought down right on the line of the penalty area. The referee awarded a free kick which Paul Westren overhit but was only partially cleared. As it was played back in, it was Ben Miller again who challenged with Nower for the ball, which went for a goal kick just past the post.

As Wanderers continued to attack, Paul Westren and Terry Layton worked the ball down the right to an overlapping Neil Shade whose deep, pinpoint cross was headed home from close range by Ben Miller,  giving Nower no chance.

Wanderers struggled to hold possession, giving the ball away too easily and letting passes go astray. When they did get hold of the ball, long passes forward were gobbled up the the Mildenhall defence who were not being put under any pressure by the lone striker, Rene Swann. For Mildenhall, Clements, Docking and Foster were giving the home defence plenty to do.

Ipswich Wanderers 1 Mildenhall Town 1

At the start of the half, Ben Miller hit a free kick into the trees when he should have done better and then Miles tested Jamie Stannard with a free kick from the corner before Mildenhall regained the lead. Goddard’s corner was flicked on by Docking before Jamie Stannard could get to it and Clements was on the back post to bundle the ball over the line. Mark Goldfinch had to be replaced due to a groin injury so Ben Miller came into the back line and Ricky Martin took up his familiar position on the left wing.

Neil Shade was then in all sorts of trouble as he tried to deal with Docking in the 6yd box but Wanderers managed to clear. Then Rush and Eady were involved in a goal line scramble which earned them a corner, but the ball ended in the side netting.

The tactic of playing Rene Swann on his own was obviously not working and the ploy, used at Leiston, of bringing in Keith Hetherington and Dean Tournay-Godfrey was put into operation again, but, as before, reaped no rewards.

It was a frustrating afternoon against a side, although now top of the table, did not look invincible at the back and the Wanderers crowd left thinking of what might have been.

1 Jamie Stannard

2 Neil Shade (c)

3 Mark Goldfinch (sub 56)

4 Sean Bell

5 Matthew Cunningham

6 Paul Westren

7 Terry Layton (sub 75)

8 Simon Hyde (sub 75)

9 Rene Swann

10 Marc Lowe

11 Ben Miller

12 Keith Hetherington (sub 675)

14 Lee Smith

15 Dean Tournay-Godfrey (sub 75)

16 Ricky Martin (sub 56)

17

Goals: Miller

Bookings: none