HALSTEAD TOWN 1 v. IPSWICH WANDERERS 7

RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE

SATURDAY 7TH JANUARY 2006

Early morning rain and snow had made the Halstead pitch look very heavy and there was a damp mist hanging over the ground. Manager Jason Dozzell dropped himself to the bench and Alan Mills came in at right back.

From the outset both sides tried to play passing, attractive football and, by and large, they served up entertaining fare. As early as the first minute David Grimwwod found room down the right and crossed from the corner flag, only to see Dean Tournay-Godfrey mis-connect with his shot when in a good position. For Halstead Nyasaki looked lively and his long range shot on 9 mins skidded off the slippy surface and gave Jamie Stannard something to think about. Then Wanderers took the lead on 11 mins as Marc Lowe took advantage of slack marking from Jamie Baker’s free kick to blast the ball high into the net.

3 mins later Jamie Baker had a golden opportunity to get his name on the score sheet when Rene Swann squared the ball in the area, instead of shooting, but Pentney pulled off a good save. Pentney thought he had done enough when saving a chip shot from David Grimwood moments later but the Wanderers midfield star picked up the rebound and shot wide of the still grounded Halstead ‘keeper. Halstead were by no means out of the game as they continued to push forward but with Mark Goldfinch and Chris Tracey on top form, there seemed no way past. Parker did manage to beat Jamie Stannard to a corner on 24 mins but his header flew over the bar.

Then, on 30 mins, Halstead took advantage of a piece of good fortune and started to play, and attack, with more eagerness and confidence. The referee had spotted a bit of pushing in the area and awarded a penalty, much to the home sides’ disgust. Up stepped penalty king Dean Tournay-Godfrey but his shot was anticipated by Pentney who dived to his right to make a save at the foot of the post. At the other end Lee’s free kick was tipped over the bar by Jamie Stannard but the home side wasted the resultant corner. Just before half time the referee again awarded Wanderers a penalty, this time for handball. Although both Dean Tournay-Godfrey and Pentney chose the same place as the first kick, the shot was struck with more power and the home ‘keeper was unable to keep it out.

Halstead Town 0 Ipswich Wanderers 3

Wanderers wasted no time in getting into attack again with David Grimwood setting up Rene Swann for the latter to fire just wide in the 1st minute. Then Bradley Barber sent a perfect ball inside the fullback for Jamie Baker but Pentney pulled off a great save. Wanderers were now stroking the ball around with fine, one touch moves, such as on 52 mins when, from defence, the ball travelled to Rene Swann, David Grimwood and ended with Jamie Baker’s shot being cleared. Then Keith Hetherington and Sam Banya replaced Marc Lowe and Dean Tournay-Godfrey and the loss of these two players had an immediate detrimental effect on Wanderers play. Halstead found so much more room in midfield that they started to attack with a will and soon the Wanderers defence came under pressure. On 56 mins Harper chipped the ball into the area for Johnstone to shoot and Mark Goldfinch headed off the line. The rebound fell to Johnstone again and this time he made no mistake.

Halstead were now playing with a confidence that looked to threaten the two goal lead as Wanderers struggled to adjust their pattern of play. Nyasaki was finding more room down the right and his deep cross to Parker was shot just wide. On 65 mins, Lee’s free kick was punched over by Jamie Stannard and the corner fell to Johnstone who fancied his chances from outside the area but missed the target. On 70 mins Jamie Stannard did well to hold a fierce shot by Bodkin as Halstead continued to attack but Wanderers came back into the game with an assured goal by Sam Banya when he received Mark Goldfinch’s free kick 30yds out and hit the ball over the ‘keeper. This knocked the stuffing out of Halstead and the same player added the fifth when Alan Mills received his own throw back from David Grimwood and crossed into a melee of players in the area where the Wanderers substitute was the first to get a touch and the ball rolled agonisingly slowly over the line.

Wanderers were now back in charge with Halstead looking very sorry for themselves. Pentney was still on form, saving from a great shot by Ricky Martin, but unable to do anything the sixth goal as David Grimwood’s cross from a short corner was flicked on by Chris Tracey and bundled in by Rene Swann. Bradley Barber cracked in the final goal from 30yds which Pentney got a hand to but could only help it into the top of the net.

Now six games unbeaten, Wanderers are looking more confident and assured in their play and can look forward to a happy 2006.