CLACTON TOWN 0 IPSWICH WANDERERS 6

Ridgeons League Premier Division

Tuesday 23rd August 2005

It was a pleasant summers evening for the trip to the Rush Green Bowl, although floodlights were needed from the kick off. Matthew Cunningham was rested on the bench and Bradley Barber returned to midfield.

It took just 3 minutes for Wanderers to score the first goal, Jason Dozzell’s free kick being headed back across the area for Marc Lowe to take advantage of a deflection off Lesiak in the Clacton defence and stoke the ball beyond the ‘keepers reach. A few moments later, Keith Hetherington drew ironic cheers from “The Bus Shelter” when he shot wide with his first touch on his return to his former club. It was obvious, even at this early stage, that Clacton’s financial troubles from last season had left them with a side that would struggle in the lower division, let alone the Premier and, as ex Clacton player Alan Mills, is quoted as saying after the game “It was horrible to see how a top-six side has fallen like it has.  I got no pleasure tonight in coming back here and winning by such a big margin.”

It was open season on the Clacton goal with shots coming in from all sides but Wanderers were missing the final ball to turn their complete dominance into goals. On 17 mins this changed as Dean Tournay-Godfrey’s header from a throw-in was not cleared and Jamie Baker slammed the ball into the roof of the net from close range. A couple of minutes later Alan Mills passed to Dean Tournay-Godfrey who laid it off to David Grimwood and his shot from 30 yds was just wide of the mark. Jamie Baker’s corner was put just wide by Keith Hetherington, with appeals for handball not given. Then, on 33 mins, Jamie Baker’s cross from the left was headed just over by Dean Tournay-Godfrey.

Clacton earned their first corner on 37 mins when clever dribbling by Hillier forced Mark Goldfinch into a hasty challenge. Two more goals came in the final 5 mins of the half, firstly when Dean Tournay-Godfrey ran strongly down the right to get to the byline, hit a low, hard cross and David Grimwood sidefooted home from close range. Dean Tournay-Godfrey again made progress into the Clacton box, this time down the left, and, after turning his marker, hit a sweet shot into the net from 8 yds. In between these, Jamie Stannard had been hurried into a diving save from a shot by Hillier.

Clacton Town 0 Ipswich Wanderers 4.

Jason Dozzell and Dean Tournay-Godfrey did not come out for the 2nd half, their replacements being Rene Swann and Mark Francis. The former wasted no time in pressuring the Clacton defence with one shot skimming the bar and another run into the box being stopped only by desperate tackling by Daniels and Gove. Jamie Baker’s inswinging corner was tipped over by Fleming in the Clacton goal and then one from David Grimwood was blasted high and wide by Jamie Baker. Marc Lowe was given a well earned rest on 51 mins when he was replaced by Jorrell Hurd, then, on 56 mins, Wanderers increased their lead when Keith Hetherington’s run into the box left Rene Swann’s shot blocked, but from the rebound he went wide and hit the ball into the roof of the net, over Fleming’s head.

Fleming was replaced by Harrowing on 62 mins due to an ankle injury and he was called into action almost immediately to save at point blank range from a header by Mark Goldfinch from David Grimwood’s corner. What turned out to be the final goal of the game came on  65 mins when good interpassing between Jamie Baker and David Grimwood switched play to the left and the latter’s first time cross was headed over Harrowing’s head by Rene Swann.

Clacton had a couple of chances in isolated attacks as Wanderers relaxed in the final minutes; Daniels free kick going for a corner after a mix up between Jamie Stannard and Alan Mills and a Hillier cross was headed just wide by Hughes.

An impressive performance to get the job done with a minimum of fuss and an excellent chance for Rene Swann  to stake his claim to a place in the next starting line up.