IPSWICH WANDERERS WOMEN v. IPSWICH TOWN LADIES RESERVES

NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK CUP

SATURDAY 19TH NOVEMBER 2006

Wanderers were without key players for the visit of a strong Ipswich Town side in the second round of the Norfolk and Suffolk Cup.  This enabled Keira Finnegan and Emma Baker to make their first starts for the home side.

The opening exchanges set the tone for the whole match.  Town were confidently knocking the ball around and through the Wanderers players who spent a lot of time chasing shadows.

Town were expecting an easy win but found it difficult to break down a resolute Wanderers defence.  The back five were collectively putting in their best performance of the season and it took Town almost 25 minutes to break the deadlock. A lapse on the Wandererers midfield allowed the Town player to evade several challenges and shot from the edge of the box. Zoe White could only parry the shot which was tapped in by the Town striker. The second goal came a few minutes later with another powerful shot from the edge of the box.

Wanderers chances were few and far between.  Finnegan, as the lone striker, did her best to hold hold the ball up but the midfield could never support her quickly enough.

Half-time Wanderers 0 - Ipswich Town 2

Finnegan was withdrawn at half-time due to a calf injury and replaced by Turnbull.

Town soon made it 3 with some good passing around the edge of the Wanderers area resulting in a neat finish to the bottom corner. 

Some crunching tackles from Julia Mann and Danni Clear in the centre of defence kept the score fairly respectable but Wanderers were now tiring and the 4th and 5th soon followed. The 6th was an easy tap in as White and Mann collided in the 6 yard box.

A free kick in the dying seconds by Turnbull was easily gathered by the Town keeper.

Final score Wanderers 0 - Ipswich Town Reserves 6.

Ipswich Town had expected a very easy game but Wanderers frustrated them for long periods.  Baker, upfront by herself in the second half, worked extremely hard as did the 2 full backs.  Despite the score it was a good performance and the girls can go into the next game against Shotley looking for a good win.

The Wanderers manager’s player of the match was awarded to Danni Clear.