IPSWICH WANDERERS RESERVES v. AFC SUDBURY RESERVES

RIDGEONS RESERVE LEAGUE CUP GROUP 1

SATURDAY 26TH AUGUST 2006

The reserves welcomed an experienced AFC Sudbury team of players who had "been then and done it" at Premier and First Division level to Humber Doucy Lane for their first competitive game of the new season.  With a number of players flying the nest to pastures new during the close season, the Wanderers squad only had one player from last seasons group but were helped with the experience of Jamie Baker & Keith Hetherington coming in for 90 minutes from the first team.  Due to holiday
commitments and injury the Wanderers squad included an number of new signings made on the Thursday night before the game who all performed to a high standard. 

With the game level after 20 minutes AFC took a quick two goal lead.  With two questionable tackles from behind by a couple of AFC players, which may on a different day, and according to the letter of the law seen a different colour card shown, Wanderers managed to get back into the game thanks to the pairing of Adam Potter and Keith Hetherington up front.  "Potts" collected the ball on the half way line and with a maize run got to the six yard box of the AFC defence and
managed to slot the ball to "Hetherington", taking one touch to set the ball and the other to smash it into the back of the net.  With the confidence now injected into the Wanderers team their game play quickened and started to give the experience AFC team a run for their money.  With half time fast approaching, AFC managed to get a corner, which resulted in great skill in the set piece taker managing to bend the ball like Beckham directly into the far top corner of the goal.  With the whistle blown, both teams left the field although it could be said, despite the score line, the Wanderers were the happier of the teams.

Ipswich Wanderers Reserves 1 AFC Sudbury Reserves 3

Wanderers  started the second half as they finished the first, in high tempo and
could have had a questionable penalty, but it wasn’t to be.  With the Wanderers now pushing for goals to get back into the game, they came up against an AFC keeper who was on the top of his game and made some world class saves.  Probably against the run of play AFC increased their lead, but Wanderers continued to believe and got the goal they probably deserved when the ball again fell to the feet of "Hetherington", who again made no mistake.  In a very high scoring game, the crowd was continuing to be entertained by both teams, and dispute the score line AFC continued to push forward.  After a melee in the box a shot was taken by an AFC player which unfortunately hit a Wanderers players arm, who maintains to this day, that he was behind the by-line and the goal should have been given.  However, due to power of the shot and the quickness of the game, the referee determined, and according to the letter of the law, that the player had stopped a goal scoring
opportunity and a straight red card was shown, which disappointing for the game and may be a little inconsistence of the official due to the two dangerous tackles made in the first half.  With Wanderers now down to ten men, AFC took advantage of their extra man and with their experience and knowledge continued to create chances finishing the game with eight goals to their credit to that of the Wanderers two.
Unfortunately, the score line doesn't really reflect the game but the supporters and management team of Dowding, Holland and Parsley must have been happy with character and believe shown by the Wanderers team, and their continued effort throughout the 90 minutes. 

With a new crop of players now with signed to club and a transitional period taking place, it is hoped that the squad will gel together sooner, rather than later, and there is great cause for optimism this season as the players and team continues to develop.  It was also fantastic to see a number of the committee members and hard core fans at the game to support the reserves, and it is hoped this long continues starting with this Saturday's home game against Bury.

Ipswich Wanderers Reserves 2 AFC Sudbury Reserves 8

1 Francis Poole

2 Chris Moore

3 Anthony Johnson

4 Nick Pleasance

5 Stephen Double

6 Jamie Baker

7 Michael Velzian

8 Marcel Bagley

9 Adam Potter

10 Keith Hetherington

11 Sarvio Moore

12 Tom Cooke

14 Dean Gray

15

16 Lewis Driver

17 Richard Dunne