IPSWICH WANDERERS v. NEWMARKET TOWN

RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE

SATURDAY 21ST OCTOBER 2006

Wanderers returned to league action after a break of two weeks that followed the great performance in the FA Vase. Newly appointed assistant manager, Gary Bennett, was in the technical area to cast his eye over proceedings, with today’s opponents sitting in 6th place in the league.

Neither side got off to a roaring start, both toying with each other to size up the strength of the other. Lee Owen had a free kick in the early minutes cleared and Lilley, for the visitors, crossed across the face of goal without ever threatening it. In the 8th minute a mistake in the Newmarket defence let in Dean Tournay-Godfrey who ran 20yds and square the ball to Rene Swann but Werthman got in a last ditch tackle to save the day. There followed a spell of Wanderers pressure through a series of corners and free kicks but the Newmarket defence looked solid. During this, Lee Owen’s chipped pass was flicked on by Marc Lowe but Banthrope got to the ball before Paul Westren. Next a poor clearance fell to Rene Swann on the edge of the area and his lob came off the angle of post and bar. Then Lee Owen’s deep cross found Ricky Martin who pulled the ball back to Rene Swann and his header was tipped over the bar by Banthrope.

On 38 mins, Newmarket broke the length of the field and Pettit shot into the side netting with the Wanderers defence stretched. Then it was all Wanderers until the referee blew his whistle for the break, with Davidson bringing down Lee Owen in full flight on the edge of the area. Ricky Martin’s precision kick was punched away and there followed a series of six Wanderers corners from one of which Alan Mills bounced the ball off the top of the bar. An uninspiring half ended with Wanderers not getting just reward for their attacking efforts against a competent Newmarket back line.

Ipswich Wanderers 0 Newmarket Town 0

Almost from the restart, Lee Smith went down injured near the corner flag but was able to continue, if somewhat gingerly, after treatment. (note to FIFA – when are you going to do away with that silly rule about leaving the field after treatment??!!). On 56 mins, Lee Owen’s free kick curled across the face of goal with neither Sean Bell, Ricky Martin or Dean Tournay-Godfrey able to get a touch. Newmarket had started brightly but Wanderers played themselves back into the game and the pattern of the first half was repeated.

In a rehearsal of what was to come later, Olive was allowed to run 20 yds into the Wanderers area but, this time, Jamie Stannard comfortably saved his shot. The home ‘keeper was in action a little later, gathering Abbs’ corner when under pressure. Then Wanderers launched an attack which ended with Neil Shade’s cross landing in the top netting.

The game was won on 71 mins when Olive broke free again and Neil Shade’s desperate lunge brought the Newmarket forward crashing to the ground inside the area. The Wanderers defender, who had, 3 mins earlier, come on as substitute, trudged off with a red card waving at his retreating form and he did not stay to watch Abbs step up to send Jamie Stannard the wrong way and the ball into the back of the net.

It was almost level on 80 mins as the crowd in the stand had a great view of Danny Smy’s direct free kick bound for the top corner, until Banthrope’s fingertips managed to deflect it round the post. From the corner, Simon Hyde donated the match ball to a resident’s garden at the Kesgrave end.

Wanderers lost their way for a while after the goal but played with more confidence towards the end. Banthrope ended a great game for him by saving Simon Hyde’s header, but it always looked as if one goal was going to be enough to settle the game, and so it turned out. The difference between 6th and 17th did not look the great but Wanderers need to regain their confidence to dominate games and gain some much needed league points.

1 Jamie Stannard

2 Lee Smith (sub 67)

3 Mark Goldfinch

4 Sean Bell

5 Alan Mills

6 Lee Owen (sub 64)

7 Marc Lowe

8 Paul Westren (sub 61)

9 Rene Swann

10 Dean Tournay-Godfrey

11 Ricky Martin

12 Simon Hyde (sub 61)

14 Danny Smy (sub 64)

15 Terry Layton

16 Matthew Cunningham

17 Neil Shade (sub 67)

Goals: none

Bookings: Shade (sent off 71)