Ipswich Wanderers 1 – 1 Woodbridge Town Reserves

Suffolk Women's League

Sunday 4th March 2007

Sponsored by ARL School of Motoring

After a wet week with many games called off in the Ipswich area Sunday gave the impression the weather would improve.  This was the case until 30 minutes before kick-off when the rain started again.  Wanderers were without the absent Holden and Baker.  Finnegan was injured allowing Sadler to resume at full back.

Woodbridge started the brighter chasing everything from the first whistle whilst Wanderers were caught on the back foot.  White in goal had to dive at the striker’s feet a number of times; on one occasion she almost aquaplaned out of her area.  The home side’s first effort came after 12 minutes but Hayward’s weak free kick from 25 yards was easily dealt with by the Woodbridge keeper.  Woodbridge could have taken the lead when White could not hold onto a long range effort but she managed a good save from the follow up shot.

Wanderers then took the lead on 30 minutes.  Hayward’s long throw was not dealt with by the defence and the ball travelled through to Raven who calmly passed the ball into the net from 10 yards.

Woodbridge equalised shortly before half-time when a Wanderers defender was drawn into the midfield to clear the loose ball.  Unfortunately it fell to a Woodbridge player who played the ball straight through the defence for the striker to run onto.  She duly despatched a low shot to the keepers left for the equaliser.

HT :: Wanderers 1 Woodbridge 1

Where Wanderers looked a little lack-lustre in the first half, during the second they looked different side.  They were competing for every ball, the movement was good and, most importantly, they were having attempts at goal.

But this extra effort did come at a price.  As the half wore on, Wanderers had not taken their chances and were visibly tiring.  Woodbridge were pushing bodies forward and the game was becoming stretched.  The best chance of the half fell to Middle, but under pressure from the defender, her toe poke came off the post and the chance was lost.  The heavy pitch was affecting all the players with both Clear and Raven succumbing to cramp.  With 5 minutes to go Jeffries replaced Clear.

Both sets of players, not to mention the supporters, were pleased to hear the final whistle allowing them to take refuge from the rain in the clubhouse.

FT :: Wanderers 1 Woodbridge 1

Manager’s player of the match: Liz Sadler