KIRKLEY 0 v. IPSWICH WANDERERS 2

RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE

SATURDAY 5TH NOVEMBER 2005

Wanderers kicked off with the 11 who started at Cockfosters last week, which meant that Lee Smith, Chris Tracey, Keith Hetherington and Jamie Baker were on the bench. Wanderers began very lively with Rene Swann turning in the area on 7 mins to see his shot cleared off the line by Durrant. Kirkley were not to be outdone and on 17 mins Chenery blasted Durrant’s free kick into the sidenetting. Kirkley were perhaps edging ahead on possession but, as both sides settled down to their tasks, the ball was being stroked around and producing some action at both ends. One example of this was on 21 mins when first time passing involved Ricky Martin, Bardley Barber, Alan Mills, Bradley Barber again before it was back to Ricky Martin who volleyed wide.  However, the final 10 mins of the half belonged to the home side as they pounded the Wanderers defence. First Highfield crossed from the byline for Humphries to graze the crossbar from close range when under pressure from Jason Dozzell and then Chenery had a backheader go just wide. Jamie Stannard was instrumental in repulsing these attacks, commanding his area and plucking the ball, on numerous occasions, from the heads of the attackers. Wanderers made a comeback in the last minute when a swift break from defence left Jorrell Hurd chipping the ‘keeper Attridge who just managed to get a hand to the ball and Bradley Barber’s free kick was tipped over from Marc Lowe’s header. This turned out to be Kirkley’s last chance to stamp their authority on the game as Wanderers took control after the interval.

Kirkley 0 Ipswich Wanderers 0

Attridge was soon in action after the break, tipping Ricky Martin’s shot round the post and then clearing at his feet, with help from Colman. But then Ricky Martin volleyed Wanderers into the lead on 55 mins from after Jorrell Hurd’s corner was only half cleared by the Kirley defence. 15 mins later Kirkley were nearly level when Jamie Stannard dropped the ball when gathering a cross under pressure but was able to gather safely at the feet of a crowd of players. On 82 mins the game was effectively won as Bradley Barber floated his free kick high over the wall, defenders, attackers and ‘keeper but just under the bar. It was a dramatic moment as Bardley Barber, still smarting from having his similar free kick at Cockfosters declared an OG, was the first to challenge anyone to do the same to this one!

In the dying moments of the game Jamie Stannard was again in action, punching clear from the head of Stokeld and then Attridge saved from Rene Swann who was through on his own.

This was a game that was dominated by the two defences, with neither set of forwards being given many chances, and as testified by the fact that both goals were long range efforts from midfielders. Jamie Stannard gave a towering performance, making his presence felt dealing with the high balls knocked into the area to Kirkley’s two front men and ensuring that he gained his seventh clean sheet (the highest in the Premier) from eleven league games (this being the third in a row), and having conceded only six in all (the five at Mildenhall was when he out through illness!).