IPSWICH WANDERERS v. SWAFFHAM TOWN

RIDGEONS LEAGUE DIV 1 - 4TH OCTOBER 2004

Wanderers had to endure pressure from the Swaffham Attack for the first five minutes of the game during which their attempts to play the ball out of defence allowed Hunter to shoot narrowly wide. Wanderers gradually played themselves into the game, winning a series of corners, but it was Swaffham who seemed most dominant.
The Swaffham physio was called into action a number of times, one resulting in Nicol going off injured. Although both goalkeepers were kept busy with goal kicks and clearances, neither goal was particularly threatened as the back lines cut out most dangers. However, somewhat against the run of play on 34 minutes, Marc Lowe took a free kick on the right which was flicked on into the box by Ross Layton for Rene Swann to strike home the rebound off Cook in the Swaffham goal. This goal seemed to inspire Wanderers who launched several attacking moves, including another free kick from Marc Lowe which Paul Westren slid just wide.
Ipswich Wanderers 1 Swaffham Town 0

The sun and warmth of the first half gave way during the interval to persistent rain and cold which necessitated the early use of the floodlights. Wanderers continued their improved form with an early attack which ended with Paul Westren shooting into the side netting. They were now in control of the game, mounting a series of attacks with Paul Westren having several chances but failing to increase the score. It fell to Terry Layton to double Wanderers lead after an hour when, following a series of corners which Swaffham failed to clear, he shot through a forest of legs from the edge of the area.
Wanderers were now commanding all areas of the field and making the best of the wet conditions. These eased after 20 minutes of the half and both the weather and Wanderers play brightened with Rene Swann slotting home a shot under the body of the 'keeper at his near post to bring up Wanderers third. In a rare Swaffham attack, slack marking allowed their forwards to win a corner from which a shot was cleared off the line by Danny Buck with Robbie Stannard, deputising for brother Jamie, well beaten.
Both sides were now making substitutions, Swaffham for tactical and injury reasons, Wanderers in order to rest players and to give other squad members a chance to impress. These changes meant that Wanderers had temporarily relaxed the pressure on the Swaffham goal, but Rene Swann restored the one way traffic, and notched up his hat trick on 78 minutes when he fought his way through a host of defenders to shoot past a diving 'keeper. With just a few minutes left, Ricky Martin broke up a Swaffham move in midfield and ran through to hammer home Wanderers fifth.
Ipswich Wanderers 5 Swaffham Town 0