IPSWICH WANDERERS v. LONG MELFORD

RIDGEONS LEAGUE DIV 1 – 19TH FEBRUARY 2005

The first snows of the year were in the air and the pitch looked in fair condition but would probably not stand too much more moisture. David Grimwood had not returned from university and Ricky Martin was injured so Daniel Buck and Paul Westren started.

Long Melford started the brighter and looked dangerous every time they moved forward, Grant and Jones looking particularly menacing as each had a fierce shot fly past the post. Rene Swann and Dean Tournay-Godfrey were busy up front for Wanderers  but they were unable to pose any serious threat on the Melford goal. It was on 19 minutes that, after some neat footwork in the middle of the field, Jason Dozzell played the ball out to Paul Westren on the right who advanced a few paces and slotted a precision ball inside the defender for Rene Swann to run on to and he squared his pass for Dean Tournay-Godfrey to sidefoot home from no more than  a couple of yards. Long Melford were by no means out of the games, and Smith, Jones and Grant all had shots or headers on target or just wide and were giving the Wanderers defence a torrid time. Jorrell Hurd was a thorn in the Long Melford side, constantly swapping wings and running at the defence. On 40 minutes, following his excellent midfield work, Dean Tournay-Godfrey was set free down the right and powered into the box. His square ball to Rene Swann looked to have set up a certain goal, but the final shot was off target. Moments later, Dean Tournay-Godfrey again broke into the box but Powling recovered ground and made a last-ditch tackle before a shot could be unleased. As the half time whistle sounded, Wanderers could feel themselves lucky to be ahead, although the margin should have been greater than one.

Ipswich Wanderers 1 Long Melford 0

Right from the whistle, Wanderers were on the attack and forcing Long Melford back into their penalty area. Frost, in the Melford goal, was being kept busy by Dean Tournay-Godfrey, who had several shots which the ‘keeper did well to deal with. The referee was not dealing well with the frustrations that both sides were showing and a series of decisions aroused much controversy both on and off the pitch and the yellow card was shown to players of both sides with the Long Melford manager, Darren Pratt, being spoken to after an appeal for a penalty was turned down. Jorrell Hurd had jinked his way into the area on 63 minutes, only to be brought down by Arnold. The kick was taken from inside the ‘D’ and Dean Tournay-Godfrey hit a ferocious shot which Frost did well to stop, but not hold, at the foot of the near post. Paul Westren reacted first and tapped in the rebound. More yellow cards ensued, Jorrell Hurd went off, apparently injured and Long Melford pulled a goal back after sloppy defending by Wanderers. On 75 minutes a free kick, just on the edge of the area was chipped in by Glitz and headed home by Powling after Smith’s flick on.

This signalled a period of intense pressure as Long Melford sought the equalizer but Wanderers were resolute in their defending. With full time rapidly approaching, Paul Westren lobbed the ball over the Long Melford defence for Rene Swann to run on to. He outpaced the defenders but was tripped by Frost as he went past him. The ‘keeper was sent off and Dean Tournay-Godfrey, breaking with penalty-taking tradition, stepped up to hammer the ball to Marlow’s right and secure a somewhat flattering victory.