SWAFFHAM TOWN v. IPSWICH WANDERERS

RIDGEONS LEAGUE DIV 1 – 26TH FEBRUARY 2005

Norfolk seemed to have avoided the worst of the midweek snow but persistent rain during the morning had left the pitch looking likely to cut up badly and make it difficult for the players. With Lowe and Westren unavailable, Buck and Martin regained their places and new signing Matthew Cunningham was on the bench.

Wanderers kicked off and Dozzell pumped a long ball upfield for Terry Layton to chase and square to Rene Swann. His first shot rebounded off Cockerill in the Swaffham goal and went into the net at the second attempt. There was an initial dispute as to whether this was an own goal, but Rene Swann cleared this up after the game. From the restart confusion between Mark Goldfinch and Jamie Stannard in the Wanderers defence allowed Hunter to cross from the byeline and Polski to sidefoot into an empty net to bring the scores level. Hardly two minutes of the game had elapsed and those exiting the clubhouse late had missed all the action!

Both sides then struggled to keep their feet and come to terms with the very squelchy and treacherous surface, with the defences having the most problems. Jorrell Hurd, Rene Swann and Dean Tournay-Godfrey all had attempts for Wanderers and were having the best of the conditions at the top of the incline. Then on 16 minutes a throw-in form Terry Layton, deep in the Swaffham half, was cleverly flicked on by Daniel Buck for Rene Swann, who evaded his marker and shot under Cockerill. 5 minutes later, Toll crossed for Hawes to head goalward and Jamie Stannard did well to tip the ball over the bar. From the resultant corner Toll shot and Mark Goldfinch was on the line to clear the danger. Almost immediately, Jorrell Hurd picked the ball up on the half way line and ran at Swaffham to the edge of the area where he unleashed a deep cross - or was it a shot? - because it curled over Cockerill into the far corner of the net. Fortunately further rain did not materialise but the conditions were far from ideal although in the corners some reasonable play was possible. A long clearance from a Wanderers corner left Toll free to cross for Hawes who brought the ball down in the area but it stuck under his feet and was eventually cleared.

Swaffham were coming back into the game as they used the slope and the conditions to their advantage but Wanderers were in control and continued to attack with Terry Layton and Rene Swann coming close.

Swaffham Town 1 Ipswich Wanderers 3

With 4 minutes of the second half gone Wanderers effectively sealed their victory when Rene Swann was put through with just the ‘keeper to beat but the ball was held up in the mud and partially cleared. Daniel Buck was on hand to lob the defence and score his side’s 4th. Shortly after this Rene Swann again had just the ‘keeper to beat but put the ball wide. Wanderers’ persistent attacks down the slope were causing Swaffham problems and these were added to when Hemeter was sent off for a second bookable foul on Jorrell Hurd. There followed a flurry of yellow cards, including one for Cockerill in goal for Swaffham for handling a back pass; from the indirect free kick, Dean Tournay-Godfrey chipped the wall and the ‘keeper. A 6th goal looked certain on 76 minutes when Ricky Martin’s square cross found Dean Tournay-Godfrey unmarked on the penalty spot but as he raised his foot to shoot, a defender took the ball away.

The remainder of the game was played reluctantly by both sides, anxious to leave the mud and the cold behind, and the last 5 minutes had a touch of farce about them as Hunter was sent off for words said to the referee and Rene Swann knocked in a couple more as the Swaffham defence collapsed, unable to cope with the mud and the loss of two players. The scoreline was not a true reflection of the game, but, in truth, Wanderers looked the outfit far more capable of dealing with the conditions and the opposition.