LEISTON V IPSWICH WANDERERS

RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE

TUESDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2006

Buoyed by the thrashing of Long Melford the previous Saturday, John Clarkson brought back Marc Lowe from suspension, moved Lee Owen along side Rene Swann and relegated Keith Hetherington to the bench.

From the off, Danny Smy was finding plenty of room down the right against ex-Wanderers Childs but it was Jamie Stannard first into action when he dived at the feet of Howard, who was well policed by Mark Goldfinch. Lee Owen had a golden chance on 3 mins to open the scoring when Simon Hyde picked up a poor clearance and put the ball through the defence. With just Moyes in the Leiston goal to beat, he shot wide. This proved a crucial miss as, two minutes later, Stanley put the ball in the net for Leiston to take the lead after Wanderers had failed to clear on several occasions, with the ball bobbling around the area.

Saker made an explosive run down the wing, outstripping the speedy Matthew Cunningham and putting over a low cross which Sean Bell cleared off the toes of Hammond as Leiston were pushing forward relentlessly. Then Wanderers counterattacked with Rene Swann releasing Lee Owen, who was forced wide by Moyes and had to shoot wide. With only 10 mins gone, the game was being played at a furious pace, which was now almost obligatory for matches between these teams.

Wanderers got the equaliser on 20 mins with a piece of quality football when a perfect pass from Lee Owen was into the path of Rene Swann who took two strides and slammed the ball into the net. The referee then needed treatment for an eye injury but was able to continue, although many Wanderers supporters felt that his vision was impaired for the rest of the game!

As the game flowed from end to end there were interesting contests in every area of the pitch; Neil Shade/Dennett, Rene Swann/Donald George, Simon Hyde/Stanley, Matthew Cunningham/Danny George, to name just a few.

Sparkes had a powerful header fly just wide from a Childs free kick and then Leiston had a 3-3 as they broke quickly from defence, but a poor final pass allieviated the danger. Danny Smy had an opportunity to square the ball, with a choice of 3 receipients, but chose instead to shoot wide, whilst Neil Shade’s free kick deep into Leiston territory was met by the head of Simon Hyde but was saved under the bar by Moyes.

As the half came to an end, the referee had to speak to the Wanderers bench about their constant querying of his decisions and then Boardley should have done better but blasted a free kick from a good position high and wide.

Leiston 1 Ipswich Wanderers 1

With Wanderers seemingly still in the dressing room, Boardley put Leiston into the lead on 47 mins, which turned out to be the winning goal. Then, a Da. George header was plucked from under the bar by Jamie Stannard as Leiston surged forward. On the break, Rene Swann squared the ball for Simon Hyde, but his shot was blocked. A short corner was headed wide by Sparkes as Leiston were having the better of the play and then Jamie Stannard had to punch clear a shot/cross from Dennett.

At the other end, Rene Swann was free down the left and pulled a pass back for Lee Owen who shot wide from 20 yds. In an attempt to get a goal back, Keith Hetherington and Dean Tournay-Godfrey were thrown up front to keep Rene Swann company but, with Simon Hyde and an injured Danny Smy coming off, the midfield was depleted and unable to supply the right sort of service to the front men. Leiston took advantage of this by pulling what was left of the Wanderers shape further apart and the visitors were left to shoot from distance when they did get the ball.

Leiston were allowing no time for Wanderers to settle on the ball and their tackling methods incensed the visitor’s bench, especially as the referee continued to wave play on. Eventually, the vocal admonishings by manager John Clarkson led to him being sent from the technical area. Back on the field of play, Dean Tournay-Godfrey had a shot deflected, Keith Hetherington attempted an overhead kick of the rebound and Rene Swann slid in to put the ball just wide. Da. George ran the length of the pitch to put over a cross that an unmarked Driver headed across the face of goal but just wide.

The rest of the game was played out in similar fashion, with Wanderers unable, try as they might, to get a deserved equaliser and Leiston bagging their first home points of the season.

1 Jamie Stannard

2 Neil Shade (c)

3 Daniel Smy (sub 65)

4 Sean Bell

5 Matthew Cunningham

6 Mark Goldfinch

7 Simon Hyde (sub 70)

8 Marc Lowe

9 Rene Swann

10 Lee Owen

11 Ricky Martin

12 Keith Hetherington (sub 65)

14 Lee Smith

15 Ben Miller

16 Terry Layton

17 Dean Tournay-Godfrey (sub 70)

Goals: Swann

Bookings: Smy, Lowe, Owen

               Clarkson (manager) sent off