IPSWICH WANDERERS v THETFORD TOWN

RIDGEONS LEAGUE DIV 1 – 26TH APRIL 2005

Wanderers needed 3 points from this game against 2nd from bottom Thetford to ensure promotion. Earlier in the season Wanderers had dropped 2 points on their trip to Norfolk and they could not afford the same lapse this evening.

Wanderers were pressuring the Thetford defence right from the whistle and Rene Swann had two clear chances in the 1st 6 minutes. On 12 minutes Mark Goldfinch surged forward with the ball at his feet but he was denied the chance to shoot by Richards’ timely tackle.

Wanderers took the lead on 27 minutes after Snowdon, in the Thetford goal, mishandled a high cross from Rene Swann under pressure from Ricky Martin and the ball bounced over the line. A minute later a trip on Martin just outside the area was penalised with a free kick which Dean Tournay- Godfrey took quickly whilst the wall and ‘keeper were still organising themselves. The game certainly needed a goal by this time and two was a bonus, but, in the circumstances, this was somewhat unfortunate for a Thetford side who had worked hard to stifle Wanderers’ dominance.

Snowden did well to deny Rene Swann on 36 minutes and the bar saved Thetford from Matthew Cunningham’s header from the resultant corner. Then Dean Tournay- Godfrey blasted over from close range to end the attack. Mark Goldfinch ventured forward again on 40 minutes and was fouled in the act of shooting. Dean Tournay- Godfrey was unable to penetrate the 6 man wall but earned a corner which was easily cleared by the Thetford defence. Wanderers ended the half with a display of passing and movement but they could consider themselves fortunate to be two goals up.

Ipswich Wanderers 2 Thetford Town 0

The first serious attack of the 2nd half was on 57 minutes when Rene Swann laid the ball off for Paul Westren to shoot and he brought a fine diving save from Snowdon. Wanderers were in complete control, allowing Thetford the occasional attack where Missen, Taylor and Armeda looked useful, but not seeming able to add to their goal tally. As in the first half, the game desperately needed a goal to lift the tempo but with Thetford’s resilient defence and their lack of punch in attack, this looked unlikely.

On 68 minutes, Ricky Martin was on the end of a slick move as he burst through the Thetford defence but Snowdon deflected his shot for a corner. Then Dean Tournay- Godfrey was through on goal but his square ball to Rene Swann was half cleared by Crawshaw.

Wanderers were playing some neat football again but it was lacking that final decisive pass; Thetford had nothing to offer except a solid defence and the final minutes were played out in stalemate.

Wanderers had secured promotion with these three points but would have to wait for their remaining two games for the chance to clinch the championship and to score their 100th league goal.