HISTON RESERVES 0 v. IPSWICH WANDERERS 1

RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE

SATURDAY 21ST JANUARY 2006

It was a gloriously sunny afternoon but the Histon pitch looked very soft and was cutting up badly during the warm-ups. Manager Jason Dozzell regained his place at no.5 and gave a first start to Sam Banya, partnering him up front with Keith Hetherington. This meant that leading scorers Rene Swann and Dean Tournay-Godfrey were given the substitutes suits.

Keith Hetherington was in fine form in the first half, causing problems for the Histon defence with some deft footwork and determined play and in the 3rd minute he brought a save from Hulyer with a long range shot. Histon relied upon a physical game to contain a Wanderers side that were moving the ball about the uneven surface with ease with the result that the referee was getting good value for money out of his whistle.

Wanderers scored the only goal of the game on 15 mins when David Grimwood took a corner from the left and hit it deep to the back of the box. Captain Marc Lowe, back from suspension, leapt above the defence to nod down to Chris Tracey on the 6yd line and the impressive defender powerfully hit his shot, via a number of defenders legs, past a wrongfooted Hulyer. Keith Hetherington  nearly increased the lead a few minutes later when his deft flick set himself up for a shot that went just wide of the post. Wanderers continued to dominate the game with David Grimwood,  Bradley Barber and Marc Lowe running the midfield and setting up opportunities for Sam Banya and Keith Hetherington with cultured passing play and one-touch football.

Mintus was worked hard in the Histon defence but dealt with most of what the visitors had to throw at him. Gutzmore had the only on target shot of the first half for Histon who were definitely on the back foot and not looking as though they would gain any advantage from their style of play.

Good play again by Keith Hetherington on 42 mins set up Sam Banya but Hulyer was alert and save the shot on the line.

Histon Reserves 0 Ipswich Wanderers 1

Hammond ended a promising early move from Histon, receiving a pass from Harte, by toe-poking the ball weakly at Stannard. Substitute Harte was looking very lively and causing the Wanderers back line a number of problems. Hammond and Ben Saud joined in and Histon suddenly looked a more competitive outfit.

Then, on 61 mins, Flitton almost put through his own goal when back heading a David Grimwood corner but Hulyer was alert to this, and Bradley Barber’s free kick a few minutes later, both of which he punched clear.

As the minutes ticked away both sides made full use of their substitute allocation in an attempt to get the next goal, with David Grimwood, shooting high and wide, having the best chance on 83 mins to increase Wanderers’ lead. Both sides used their allocation of substitutes in an attempt to get the next goal and, although this opened up play, scoring chances seemed few and far between as the defences were well and truly in control.

A few of the ‘experienced’ legs were aching after 90 mins on the heavy surface but it was a return to form for Wanderers who thoroughly deserved their 3 points.