IPSWICH WANDERERS v. BOWERS AND PITSEA

FA VASE 1ST QUALIFYING ROUND

SATURDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER 2005

The atmosphere in the ground before the game was very quiet which may have reflected the size of the crowd who turned out to watch this FA Vase game against Essex Senior League opposition. Jason Dozzell rested himself and Dean Tournay-Godfrey was not yet back to full fitness.

The early stages of the game were played in midfield and the only goalmouth action was by Jorrell Hurd, on 5 mins when he ran into the box box failed to get in a shot and, at the other end, when Fergus chipped a shot over both Jamie Stannard and the bar. Then Marron blazed over after 13 mins but neither ‘keeper was being unduly troubled and they had relatively little to do. On 18 mins, Rene Swann’s clever back flick nearly set up Keith Hetherington but Guest was able to clear for a corner. From Jamie Baker’s kick the ball was taken off the head of Marc Lowe by Wayman in the Bowers goal and, back at the other end a slip by Chris Tracey gave Lander a chance to shoot but Jamie Stannard watched it go wide.

The game was lacking passion and excitement and was not at all like the Wanderers crowd had come to expect from a cup tie. Wanderers were in control of the game and it seemed that they were biding their time before they could be bothered to score. Jorrell Hurd took a corner on 32 mins which Keith Hetherington met with his head when unmarked but steered it wide. Then there was a scramble in the Bowers area as Rene Swann, Jamie Baker, Marc Lowe and Keith Hetherington all attempted to put the ball in the net, but stout defending denied them. Jamie Baker sent a free kick into the area to keep up the pressure and Keith Hetherington was in a good position to flick the ball goalward, but Wayman was alert to the danger and gathered safely.

With 40 mins gone, Bowers had a brief foray into the Wanderers area and after some good play Marron ended the attack with a weak shot that Jamie Stannard had no trouble dealing with. I was a very muted performance from both sides and the game desperately needed a goal in the second half the liven things up.

Ipswich Wanderers 0 Bowers & Pitsea 0

From the restart Wanderers continued they dominance of the game with Jamie Baker unlucky not to bundle the ball across the line following Jorrell Hurd’s cross into the box and Marc Lowe’s short pass. On 51 mins Rene Swann broke the deadlock when he collected the ball outside the area and ran through to round Wayman and fire into the top of the net. Keith Hetherington had a great chance minutes later from Rene Swann’s chip over the defence which he attempted to volley.

Bowers did not seem to have enough to get back into the game and they lapsed into defensive errors which only put more pressure on them. Wanderers continued to attack, looking for the second goal to make the tie secure, and they look to have succeeded when Jorrell Hurd passed deep for Rene Swann to hit the ball back across the area to Marc Lowe at the far post. His header was narrowly wide with Wayman struggling to get across to it. With 15 minutes left, Wanderers dropped their defensive guard and allowed Bowers to enjoy a brief spell of attack during which the defence found it difficult to clear their lines. However, the game returned in Wanderers favour on 80 mins as Keith Hetherington turned and shot for goal but Wayman tipped it over for a corner. From this, Wayman’s fumble gave Keith Hetherington a free header to double Wanderers’ lead and put the game beyond Bowers’ reach.

Before the end, Rene Swann had the ball in the net, from Ricky Martin’s cross, but was adjudged to have been offside and the game ended with a comfortable, if laboured win and a trip to Northampton Spencer in the next round.