IPSWICH WANDERERS v. WOODBRIDGE TOWN

RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE

TUESDAY 12TH DECEMBER 2006

Sam Banya was given a start, in preference to Rene Swann, but otherwise the team was unchanged from the FA Vase winning side last Saturday.

Woodbridge were early in to attack when Blake took the ball off the toes of team mate Francis, stole a march on the home defence but his final shot was weak. Not to be outdone, Wanderers went one better with their first foray into Woodbridge territory when Dean Tournay-Godfrey headed the ball into the from Ricky Martin’s cross, but the flag had already been raised by the assistant referee for offside. Then Francis made a run towards the Wanderers’ area and shot just over from the edge of the ‘D’. At the other end, Fabio Botti picked up a long pass from Ricky Martin and pulled the ball back into the area where Sam Banya stepped over it, allowing Lee Owen to shoot, which was blocked. 5 minutes had yet to elapse and it was obvious that this game was not going to end as a nil-nil draw!

Francis and Blake were looking menacing with the ball at their feet and it was these two who nearly got the first goal as the former’s deep cross from the right reached the diminutive no. 9 at the far post where his header was blocked by Jamie Stannard’s body at close range. The Wanderers’ ‘keeper managed to gather the loose ball to end the danger but with Woodbridge getting into their stride and their impressive passing game, the Wanderers defence was being pulled apart. Dean Tournay-Godfrey worked hard to make room for a shot, evading 2 defenders in the process, but the ball flashed across the face of goal for a goal kick. On 20 mins Sam Banya seemed to have a good shout for a penalty as he appeared to be held back in the area, but the referee waved play on and the ball eventually went for a corner. Lee Owen’s kick was headed on by Sean Bell and Dean Tournay-Godfrey beat Garnham to the ball but headed over. The lively Berry capitalised on a rare mistake by Mark Goldfinch to outstip the rest of the defence but his shot went over the bar with Jamie Stannard covering.

Woodbridge took the lead on 23 mins when Louie Farrington lost the ball to Francis who immediately sent Seaman away to shoot just under the bar. This lead lasted less than a few minutes as Wanderers were back at the other end to earn a corner and, with almost a repeat of the previous set piece, Sean Bell headed on Lee Owen’s corner and Dean Tournay-Godfrey was on target this time as he again beat Garnham to the ball at the far post.

A nasty looking collision in midfield between Berry and Marc Lowe resulted in the former receiving attention and the latter receiving a yellow card but the game was being played in a good, although determined spirit and the referee was in control. Seaman and Berry, for Woodbridge, were now finding plenty of room down their left to terrorise the Wanderers back line but Wanderers seemed in control of midfield. As the half came to a close, Seaman’s cross from the left wrongfooted Marc Lowe, allowing Berry a brief sight of goal but, in the end, he was unable to get a shot in. Then Dean Tournay-Godfrey set Sam Banya up in a good position but Garnham was not troubled by a shot. Then Ricky Martin halted a promising looking run from Francis but Blake was free on the edge of the area and Jamie Stannard had to race to the ball to clear the danger, with a little help from Sean Bell.

Ipswich Wanderers 1 Woodbridge Town 1

There were still people making their way back to their positions from the half time refreshments when Ricky Martin was quick to take advantage of a fumble by Garnham as he dealt with a cross to hammer his side into the lead.

Fabio Botti had been replaced by Paul Betson, with Ricky Martin now operating down the right. It was from this side the Louie Farrington chipped a pass over the defence for Dean Tournay-Godfrey to beat the offside trap and lob the ‘keeper, but the ball bounced just wide. Wanderers now looked comfortable with their lead and the sting seemed to have been drawn from the Woodbridge attack. Garnham was putting in a great display to make up for his earlier error, the first save being a full length effort from a shot by Dean Tournay-Godfrey that had come off Monaghan on its way.

On the hour Woodbridge came back into the game when Seaman, who was tormenting Louie Farrington down the flank, sent over a deep cross to give Blake a chance with his head that went wide. Then Berry’s free kick from just inside the Wanderers’ half was long to the far post where Francis rose above Neil Shade to get a header in. Woodbridge continued to attack, with Berry and Francis working a free kick between them but the former’s shot was off target. Then a delightful move, on the break saw Neil Shade curl in a cross which Marc Lowe stooped to head but Garnham managed to get a hand to it and send the ball past the post for a corner.

By 80 mins, Woodbridge seemed to have run out of attacking options although Monaghan, Seaman and Berry , down the left still carried a threat. On 85 mins, Rene Swann charged in from the left but overran the ball. He recovered it by the near post, at the feet of Garnham, but the young ‘keeper managed to smother it on the line. The he denied Rene Swann again when in a one on one situation with the Wanderers’ top scorer. Lee Owen, Dean Tournay-Godfrey, Neil Shade and Marc Lowe all had a chance to settle to game, but a last minute substitution by Woodbridge proved to be a master stoke. As the game entered added time, Berry sent over a free kick and the newly introduced Read nipped in to plant the ball in the back of the net to earn a draw.

Woodbridge’s Garnham had certainly been the star of the second half, but Wanderers had lacked the killer instinct to kill the game and take all three points.

Ipswich Wanderers 2 Woodbridge Town 2

1 Jamie Stannard

2 Louie Farrington

3 Sean Bell

4 Mark Goldfinch

5 Neil Shade

6 Fabio Botti (sub 46)

7 Lee Owen

8 Marc Lowe

9 Sam Banya (sub 56)

10 Dean Tournay-Godfrey

11 Ricky Martin (sub 76)

12 Matthew Cunningham (sub 76)

14 Paul Betson (sub 46)

15 Rene Swann (sub 56)

16 Lee Smith

17 Gary Bennett

Goals: Tournay-Godfrey, Martin

Bookings: Lowe, Farrington, Goldfinch, Owen