WISBECH TOWN v. IPSWICH WANDERERS

RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE

SATURDAY 17TH MARCH 2007

Sam Banya was the only player missing from the squad for this game at the Fenlanders, on a warm sunny, but windy afternoon. The wind was blowing straight down the pitch, favouring Wanderers in the first half, but they would have to face the sun in the second. Wisbech had not won a game at home in 6 attempts and Wanderers had not won, home or away, for 5 games, so a draw seemed to be on the cards before the game kicked off.

In the early exchanges, play was restricted to 10 yds either side of the half way line, then Wisbech took the game to the Wanderers end. Cobb, looking very lively, was giving Mark Goldfinch plenty to do whilst D Jimson had a shot charged down on the edge of the area by Sean Bell. Despite Wisbech having the majority of possession in the Wanderers half, it was the visitors who won the first corner of the game on 10 mins.

Then play returned to the midfield areas until Wanderers moved upfield on 16 mins but did not look to particularly threaten the Wisbech goal. The ball came out to Lee Owen on the corner of the penalty area and he unleashed a fierce shot that flew past a diving Conroy into the top far corner of the net. The Wanderers supporters were overjoyed at this, coming as it did, so unexpectedly.

Wisbech continued to press forward, Lodge having a free kick that Jamie Stannard punched clear and Oswin lobbing a ball over the bar when he should have done better. Cobb and Goldfinch were having a great battle with the Wanderers defender generally getting the upper hand. Wanderers were giving away too many free kicks 30-40 yds out and putting pressure on themselves, but it was fortunate that Wisbech were lacking in any ideas other than to put balls into Jamie Stannard, Mark Goldfinch and Sean Bell for them to clear.

Wanderers also seemed to be lacking in attacking ideas, pumping high balls into the Wisbech area for McNeil and Oswin, with very little approach play. On 34 mins Dean Tournay-Godfrey was set up for a shot by Lee Owen but it was mis-hit and misdirected. Then Wisbech’s best move so far started with Appleby on the halfway line, setting Lodge free to pass Marcus Hering and to square to Cobb whose shot flicked off the outside of the far post. This stirred the home side into action with a series of attacks that all came to nought.

Then, Dean Tournay-Godfrey was again set up to shoot after determined play in the left corner by Le Owen and this time the ball cannoned off the post. Wisbech gave away a free kick on the edge of their area and Dean Tournay-Godfrey’s free kick, round the wall, was gathered by Conroy on his line. Mark Goldifnch tidied up the Wisbech clearance and took the ball to the halfway line where, in front of the dugouts, he was hacked down, unceremoniously, by Mc Neil. There was a brief flaring of tempers by players not involved in the incident, after which the half time whistle was blown.

Wisbech Town 0 Ipswich Wanderers 1

Wisbech were straight into attack from the whistle with Cook’s cross from the right finding D Jimson unmarked on the 6yd line but Jamie Stannard pulled out a great one-handed save to deny the home side’s top scorer. Then Marcus Hering broke down the right and Gareth Jones’ shot came off the bar in an all-action start to the second half.

On 55 mins, Marc Lowe gave away a free kick 25yds out but Lodge sent the kick way out of the ground. Cook was involved in the next Wisbech move, with Oswin sending in a cross for D Jimson to head in the direction of the goal but Jamie Stannard held the ball comfortably a chest height. On the hour, McNeil fell ackwardly  and needed lengthy treatment on is back, but was able to continue. Then Wanderers put together a flowing move down the pitch, starting with Lee Owen, to Paul Betson down the left, slipped inside to Gary Bennett and then on to Gareth Jones whose shot was blasted over the bar with no defender in sight. Then Wisbech won their first corner of the game, which Jamie Stannard easily dealt with. Cobb then evaded the offside trap but the Wanderers’ ‘keeper was far enough off his line to clear the danger on the edge of the area.

Gareth Jones brought down Oswin from behind and was lucky not to receive a caution and, from the free kick, Kennedy’s shot was saved low down by Jamie Stannard. On 75 mins, Wisbech, with the wind at their backs, were having a prolonged spell in the Wanderers’ half and almost got the equaliser when McNeil’s shot from the centre circle was back headed by Neil Shade and Jamie Stannard had to react qhickly to flick the ball over the bar. Lodge sent over 3 corners in quick succession, twice Jamie Stannard saving from D Jimson’s headers, before Danny Smy broke to the other end and, from a narrow angle, shot just wide. As Gareth Jones and ‘keeper Conroy tangled just outside  the Wisbech area, Danny Smy Latched on to the loose ball but his sidefooted shot towards an empty goal was cleared by Cook.

On 86 mins, with time running out, Wisbech caused panic in the Wanderers’ area, as the ball bobbled about and the visitors struggled to clear their lines. Cobb again broke free but this time the assistant’s flag was raised and the final whistle confirmed Wisbech’s continued poor home form but gave 3 welcome points to Wanderers, for whom Jamie Stannard was outstanding.

Wisbech Town 0 Ipswich Wanderers 1