TIPTREE UNITED v. IPSWICH WANDERERS

RIDGEONS LEAGUE DIV 1 – 30TH APRIL 2005

Wanderers loyal band of travelling supporters were hoping to see their team secure the league title with a win over Tiptree Utd who, for their final home game of the season, had arranged warm, sunny weather and pre-match entertainment.

In the first 10 minutes Wanderers attacked, hardly allowing Tiptree out of their half, with Rene Swann having a fierce shot blocked and Ricky Martin’s going narrowly wide. It was Rene Swann who opened the scoring on 12 minutes when he slid in to hammer home a square pass from Dean Tournay-Godfrey in the 6yd box.

It was fitting that the club’s leading scorer should score the 100th goal of the season. There was plenty of goalmouth action on 17 minutes a Wanderers pummelled the Tiptree defence and a goal was saved only by the post and several defenders' outstretched legs. Wanderers ‘keeper Jamie Stannard has his first touch of the ball on 21 minutes, merely to tidy up a back pass.

Then Rene Swann was through on goal but was stopped by a timely tackle by Tiptree Player of the Season Armitage. Tom Childs blazed the ball out of the ground on 30 minutes after Rene Swann had got the ball tangled in his feet when in a good position.

Tiptree won a pair of corners on 33 minutes and Jamie Stannard did well to punch clear when under pressure from Rochester. Then Wooton dived to save at the feet of Rene Swann to prevent a certain goal but was not so lucky on 38 minutes as Rene Swann evaded him and squared the ball for an advancing Ricky Martin to sidefoot home into an empty net. On the stroke of half time Rochester had a good chance to get back into the game but Jamie Stannard saved comfortably.

HT: Tiptree Utd 0 Ipswich Wanderers 2

Tiptree started the second half looking a much more determined side, with Bryan seeing more of the ball in the first 5 minutes than he had in the whole of the first half. On 55 minutes Ricks and Rochester combined well down the right to set up a chance for Armitage but he shot wide from close range. By 65 minutes, Wanderers had taken control again but Tiptree could still look dangerous when moving forward into the Wanderers' half, especially through Ricks and Bryan. On 79 minutes Wanderers increased their lead when Dean Tournay-Godfrey picked up a long clearance from Terry Layton and ran through to shoot from a narrow angle past Wooton. On 83 minutes the ‘keeper dived to save one handed from Dean Tournay-Godfrey’s snap shot but Paul Westren was just unable to reach the rebound. Rickes and Bryan continued to give Jamie Stannard plenty to do whilst Dean Tournay-Godfrey and Dean Offord were lively at the other end.

However, at the final whistle, Wanderers had proved themselves to be too good for Tiptree and the players celebrated vociferously the winning of the League Championship.

FT: Tiptree Utd 0 Ipswich Wanderers 3