IPSWICH WANDERERS v. SAFFRON WALDEN TOWN

RIDGEONS LEAGUE DIV 1 – 5TH FEBRUARY 2005

After two weeks without a game there were fears that the winning momentum may have been lost, especially as our opponents had beaten our promotion rivals, Haverhill Rovers only two weeks ago. The pitch was looking in relatively good condition, given that a week ago the referee had deemed it unplayable, and there was a far covering of sand at the clubhouse end. Jason Dozzell fielded a side that was unchanged from the visit to Fakenham and the crowd of 66 was in exuberant mood, no doubt thrilled with the packed matchday programme and the offer of a £25 prize for a competition with no entry fee!
Saffron Walden exerted early pressure and from a free kick, given away by Tom Childs inside the Wanderers half, Wardley's looping header eluded Jamie Stannard and rebounded off the bar. This early scare galvanised the whole Wanderers team and they gradually played themselves into the game with their now familiar brand of cultured football. On 16 minutes Dean Tournay-Godfrey collected the ball on the edge of the Saffron Walden area and turned through a pack of defenders. He ended on the ground with the referee whistling for a penalty with no obvious dissent from the defenders concerned. As is now the Wanderers' custom, the foulee takes his own penalty kick and this Dean did, planting the ball into the bottom corner of the net just out of the 'keeper Harvey's reach. At this stage of the game, Saffron Walden were by no means being outplayed and the contest was being keenly fought.
On 28 minutes Wanderers played the ball out of defence to the right wing where Terry Layton put in an early, long, deep cross into the area. Rene Swann beat Harvey to the ball and volleyed in Wanderers' second to give them control of the game. The pitch was holding up well and, although by no means ideal, did allow both teams to play exciting football. A good move on 37 minutes, strted by Ricky Martin, ended with Rene Swann firing wide with just Harvey to beat and seconds later he swept down the left, into the area but was again wide with his shot. Wanderers were now in attack mode with Dean Tournay-Godfrey forcing a fine save from Harvey. Saffron Walden finding it difficult to accept some of the referee's decisions, no doubt more out of frustration than poor refereeing.
Ipswich Wanderers 2 Saffron Walden 0

Jorrell Hurd came more to the fore in the early minutes of the second half, twice coming close from inside the box but his influence on the game was not a great as some of those in recent weeks. Rene Swann and S. Barker grappled each other to the ground whilst attempting to gain control of the ball, but there was malice and no cards shown and the game continued in much the same vain as the first half. Wanderers lost concentration and started to mis-direct passes and Saffron Walden ran out of attacking ideas thus reducing the entertainment value and the likelihood of further score. In the dying minutes of the game, Jorrell Hurd was denied what seemed a clear cut penalty appeal when a defender caught his ankle as he made for the goal line. Then David Grimwood's shot forced Harvey to make a fine save and at the other end, Jamie Stannard had to dive full length to keep out a shot from Green. Wanderers remain at the top of the table with Haverhill again losing but Needham Market and March both keeping up their challenge by gaining all three points in their respective games.
Ipswich Wanderers 2 Saffron Walden 0