MARCH TOWN UNITED v. IPSWICH WANDERERS

RIDGEONS LEAGUE DIV 1 – 12TH FEBRUARY 2005

This was a game that Wanderers needed to win in order to keep their promotion hopes alive. March, in 3rd place, were equally desperate to take all three points; a draw would not do either side any good. The strong, gusty wind did not make the playing of quality football any easier but the surface was drying out and in good condition.

Both teams started nervously but it was March who kept Wanderers pinned in their own half for the best part of 5 minutes. When they did break out, Rene Swann cleverly allowed to ball to run past the defenders but Anker, in the March goal did well to keep the ball out of the net. Moments later, Dean Tournay-Godfrey turned sharply to shoot inside the area but Anker was equal to it. From a mis-hit Wanderers corner after 29 minutes Brand, for March, broke free from defence and won the race with Tom Childs, the sole defender but lobbed his shot just wide with Jamie Satnnard coming out to narrow the angle. Wanderers were making too many mistakes in defence and midfield and were wasting too many opportunities to grasp control of the game.

Ricky Martin and then Dean Tournay-Godfrey tested the ‘keeper from long range and then, after 39 minutes, Jorrell Hurd put the ball over the bar from 6 yards. With seconds to go in the half David Grimwood’s  shot from outside the area was tipped on to the post by Anker and the referee’s whistle brought a frustrating half to an end.

March Town United 0 Ipswich Wanderers 0

With only two minutes of the second half gone, Anker mis-timed a clearance kick and Dean Tournay-Godfrey was on hand to side-foot the ball into an empty net. Moments later, the same player was through on goal but this time Anker was able to deflect the shot for a corner. The playing surface was very slippery from the torrential rain that had stated at the end of the first half but had petered out as the second commenced and several players were finding it difficult to keep their feet. Wanderers had come out the more determined side but March still looked capable of levelling the score as they launched a series of attacks. The Wanderers defence was looking fragile at times but resisted all of March’s efforts. Mark Goldfinch was replaced due to a thigh strain, and March used their substitutes in an attempt to change the course of the game. Both sides had chances to add to the score but both ‘keepers, Anker in particular, were having fine games.

It was a tense last few minutes as March strove for the equaliser but Wanderers held firm to take all the points and to establish a three point lead at the top of the table.