COCKFOSTERS 0 IPSWICH WANDERERS 3

FA VASE 1ST ROUND

SATURDAY 29TH OCTOBER 2005

Learning from their previous travels, Wanderers arrived in plenty of time at the compact and cosy Cockfosters ground. The grass was long (it was too wet when the local Council came to cut it!) and the surface soggy which proved difficult for the visitors to play their normal brand of flowing football. Chris Tracey returned to the bench, Ricky Martin was preferred to Jamie Baker at no. 11 and Alan Mills started at left back.

For the first 14 mins, each side was taking the measure of the other and then Alan Mills worked himself a good position down the right and crossed for Dean Tournay-Godfrey to coolly sidefoot home, only to find that the referee’s assistant had raised his flag for offside. Whether it was a deliberate defensive ploy by Cockfosters or sloppy play by Wanderers’ forwards it was difficult to tell but the offside flag was raised quite frequently during the game. Dean Tournay-Godfrey was on target just 2 mins later but an athletic save by Cichowlas denied him a goal. On 19 mins Rene Swann’s cross bounced awkwardly for Marc Lowe in the 6yd box and the ‘keeper gathered safely.

Wanderers were proving themselves to be the better side of the two, Cockfosters being mid-table in the Spartan South Midlands League Div 1, but were unable to inflict the killer touch and score the opening goal. Cockfosters were playing some neat football in midfield but lacked punch up front and restricted themselves to a number of long range shots. Jamie Stannard saved from leading scorer Moniatis, after his determined run into the box, from Pouncett’s free kick on 27 mins. On 33 mins Dean Tournay-Godfrey passed square to Ricky Martin on the corner of the penalty area but the latter’s shot went straight into the arms of Cichowlas. Then Dean Tournay-Godfrey, who was very lively throughout this first period, hit the foot of the post from close range on 40 mins after Ricky Martin had got the ball from a quickly taken free kick. At the other end Oakes’ shot was pushed round the post by Jamie Stannard for a corner and sustained pressure by the home side resulted in two further corners. Undisciplined play by Wanderers had let Cockfosters back into the game towards the end of the first period but the home side were lacking an effective way through the Wanderers defence and the blank scoreline did not reflect the number of chances created by the visitors.

Cockfosters 0 Ipswich Wanderers 0

As the second half started, Wanderers lost their self-discipline for a while and Cockfosters took advantage of this and piled on the pressure. They looked as though they could see victory coming their way as Terry Layton gave the ball straight to Oakes in the area but the Cockfosters no.11 was unable to make the most of this gift.

Jason Dozzell was at the near post to flick on Bradley Barber’s corner as Wanderers regained their composure and then good interplay between Dean Tournay-Godfrey and Marc Lowe gave Rene Swann the chance to shoot. It was again Jamie Stannard that denied leading scorer Moniatis after good work from Steward and O’Brien on the break as the game developed into an end to end struggle. Wanderers breakthrough came on 70 minutes when Bradley Barber floated over a freekick which Steward helped into his own net, via the post. Despite his protestations after the game, Bradley Barber will not see his name on the score sheet, the overwhelming opinion being for an OG.

It took Marc Lowe and Mark Goldfinch to stop Moniatis as Cockfosters fought back but Jorrell Hurd was soon at the other end providing space and ball for Rene Swann to shoot wide.

Rene Swann had several attempts before he was substituted towards the end but not before he had hammered home, on 74 mins, the rebound from Dean Tournay-Godfrey’s shot that Cichowlas had pushed onto the post. Moniatis broke down the right but Jaggers’ shot, when standing in space, was woeful. Then O’Brien’s free kick was headed off the line by Marc Lowe but as Cockfosters pushed forward they left gaps at the back which substitute Jamie Baker exploited and he got a very late 3rd after rounding the ‘keeper 6yds out to emphasise Wanderers’ superiority.

The journey home was most enjoyable, due in part to ‘Old Bob’ at the clubhouse bar, which prompted singing from the old’ns at the front of the coach and talk of a home draw for the next round on 19th November.