Ipswich Wanderers Women  v. Ipswich Town Women

Suffolk Women's League

Sunday 29th October 2006

It was hard to believe that B.S.T. had ended at 2 am that morning, for it was an afternoon of glorious sunshine with above average temperature of 20 degrees.  The Wanderers team were sporting their new kit of Amber Shirts, Black Shorts and socks, while the Town team played in their traditional White Shirts, Blue Shorts and socks.

Right from the first whistle the Town women charged into the Wanderers half with an air of confidence, piling pressure on the home side defence which resulted in a goal in the second minute. A fierce shot by Sarah Hainsworth into the goalmouth was stopped and dropped by the Wanderers keeper, into the path of Chrissy Rogers who sidefooted the ball into the back of the net. Town continued to apply the pressure and looked determined to repeat the result of their first encounter when they beat the Wanderers side 6-2 in the opening game of the season, but they didn’t allow for the brilliance of the Zoe White, the Wanderers ‘keeper, who pulled off some miraculous saves.

Against the run of play, Wanderers no.6, Claire Ellis sent a long ball down the righthand side which found Roxanne Middle. Having beaten two Town defenders, she crossed the ball into the Town penalty area for Claire Turnbull to hammer into the Town net and level the score at 1-1, in the 9th minute.

This rather surprised the Town team and from the re-start applied even more pressure on the Wanderers defence. From a Town throw in, a long ball was thrown into the Wanderers penalty area, received by Town no.8, Kez Burman who slotted past Zoe White while she and the Wanderers defenders were ball watching and appealing for off-side. The referee, quite rightly pointed out that Burman could not be offside from a ‘throw-in’ and awarded the goal in the 25th minute. The Wanderers side regrouped and matched the visitors in all departments for the rest of the first half with both goalkeepers pulling off some exciting saves.

H. T.  Wanderers 1       Town 2

The Town side were passing the ball around confidently and before long started to pressure the Wanderers defence once again but the home side were defiant. Claire Ellis, the Wanderers no.6 had just returned to the team after a leg injury but proved her fitness and determination by the numerous tackles she was constantly involved in. Halfway through this period she headed off the goal line to deny Claire Rogers her second goal, with Zoe White beaten and grounded in the six yard box. Town called for a renewed effort by substituting Simone Doxey for Jo-anne Coleman, Jemma Yartson for no.9 Sarah Hainsworth and Georgie Garwin for Heather Andrews at no.5.

The pace of the game was starting to tell but the Wanderers were gaining in confidence and were making surging advances down both sides, sending in some breath taking crosses looking for the equaliser, only to be denied by the Town ‘keeper who was in great form.

Wanderers then sent on Keira Finnegan for no.8 Charlotte Hayward and Sarah Holden for no.3 Claire Jeffreys. The home side continued their assault on the Town penalty area for the final 10 minutes only to be denied by the Town ‘keeper and the referees final whistle.

F.T.  Wanderers 1      Town 2

The Teams :-

Wanderers :-  Z. White, J. Mann, C. Jeffreys, D. Clear, C. Drew, C. Ellis, E. Sadler, C. Hayward, R. Middle, S. Fox, C. Turnbull.         Subs: K. Finnegan, S. Holden

Ipswich Town:-  K. Laughlin, C. Duncan, C. Rogers, J-A Coleman, H. Andrews, V. Studd, K. Burman, B. Liles, S. Hainsworth, K. Parnell, K. Hogan.  Subs: S. Doxey, J. Yartson, G. Garwin.

Referee:-      Mr. Kevin Honey