IPSWICH WANDERERS 1 v. KINGS LYNN RESERVES 0

RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE

SATURDAY 25TH MARCH 2006

The warm spring sunshine soon gave way to the familiar cold wind and cloud which seemed to depress the players, as the game never really got going as a spectacle. Marc Lowe was back for Wanderers and Sam Banya was missing, having been transferred to AFC Sudbury the night before.

Forshaw was the first player, on 8 mins, to even attempt an effort on goal as both sides started very slowly. Jamie Stannard’s misdirected thrown clearance, on 14 mins, put pressure on the home defence, but White’s weak header was easily saved by the ‘keeper.

Rene Swann ran down a weak back pass from Miller and Dean Tournay-Godfrey picked up McAnally’s miskick and then miscued his own hurried shot. Wanderers were finding a route through with the ball over defence and when Rene Swann again challenged the ‘keeper, McAnally only half cleared. With Rene Swann still making his way back, he was in an offside position when the ball came back over the defence and, with everyone waiting for the whistle, Dean Tournay-Godfrey nipped in to sidefoot into the net. Rene Swann was adjudged to be not interfering with play and the current interpretation of the offside laws was shown to be at fault.

The referee was controlling the game well and was not minded to brandish his yellow card, even after a dangerous looking ‘foot up’ incident involving Bradley Barber, McAnally and a 50/50 ball. Marc Lowe was showing why he is such an integral part of the Wanderers side and his determination, on 32 mins, won him the ball which he then crossed for Jermaine Harewood. McAnally was alert to the move and managed to make an interception.

Jamie Stannard was called into action as the half drew to an end when he tipped West’s 30 yd free kick over the bar and then tidied up from the corner. The home defence was looking comfortable and the midfield in control.

Ipswich Wanderers 1 Kings Lynn Reserves 0

With 5 mins of the second half gone, Forshaw outfought Chris Tracey to win the ball on the byline and set up a cross for Keegan. The latter’s shot was easily saved by Jamie Stannard, as was the one from West a few minutes later. Wanderers’ best move of the game came on 63 mins when Bradley Barber set Dean Tournay-Godfrey free down the right and the Wanderers’ striker’s cross was stepped over by Paul Westren, but Rene Swann was unable to capitalise on this smart move.

There was the hint of urgency as a Lynn free kick was scrambled away and then the visitors mounted a series of attacks which came to nought. Ricky Martin and Keith Hetherington came on to give more pace down the left flank and to add a bit more variety to the attack. The visitors ended the game with McCallum, from distance, forcing Jamie Stannard into another fingertip save but they did not really threaten, at any time in the game, to challange Wanderers’ dominance, relying almost solely on long range shots for their attempts on goal.

For Wanderers, Keith Hetherington was inches away from a Terry Layton cross and Mark Goldfinch headed onto the bar from a corner and, although they worked hard enough, seemed to lack the drive from midfield and down the flanks that was evident earlier in the season.

Not the most exciting of games, but it ended a two game losing run, the worst sequence for two seasons, and kept Wanderers in 6th place.