LEISTON 1 IPSWICH WANDERERS 0

The warm glow of a setting sun bathed the expanse of Leiston’s ground in an orange light but it was yellow that was the colour that dominated this game. After no more than 3 touches of the ball, referee Hayto had put Jamie Baker in his book for what he regarded as a reckless tackle. By the end of the game Terry Layton had joined him, along with 3 Leiston players. This game was played in the same determined way by both sides, as had the game at Soham which garnered 6 bookings, but these were not  rough, bad tempered matches, just ones played in a competitive, uncompromising spirit which, in this case, provided excellent entertainment for the 176 paying customers.

Jason Dozzell rested himself after aggravating his foot injury at Soham, allowing Matthew Cunningham in at left back and Alan Mills onto the bench. Mark Goldfinch moved back into the centre of the defence to partner Chris Tracey.

Leiston had the best of the first 20 mins, moving the ball around and putting pressure on the visitors defence. The closest they got to goal was on 12 mins when Jamie Stannard had to rush to the edge of his area to parry the ball at the feet of an on-rushing Selby. Wanderers gradually found their feet and on 20 mins a slick passing interchange between David Grimwood, Jamie Baker and Marc Lowe got the ball into the Leiston area where David Grimwood used the outside of his right boot to flick the ball goalward, but it was well saved by Rose. 7 mins later Dean Tournay-Godfrey found room on the right and hit a low hard cross which found Keith Hetherington at the far post, but he only found the side netting.

The game was fast and furious with, by turns, each side trying to get the edge over the other. All 22 players were constantly involved as the play flowed from end to end, down the wings and through the middle. Wanderers gradually gained the upper hand towards the end of the half, with Keith Hetherington again coming close with a shot from a Jamie Baker cross and Dean Tournay-Godfrey having a shot from some way out which was not that far wide.

Leiston 0 Ipswich Wanderers 0

Wanderers kept up the pressure early in the 2nd half as Jamie Baker sent a free kick dipping towards goal, but Rose was equal to it and tipped it over the bar. Then Leiston came back into the game as Jamie Stannard saved a low shot from Danny George and a series of corners pinned Wanderers back into their half for several minutes. Then, when it was cleared, Jamie Baker sent a long cross to the back post for Dean Tournay-Godfrey to head goalward and gain a corner. On the hour Leiston’s free kick on the edge of the area was blasted high and wide by Dennett.

Rene Swann replaced Keith Hetherington and immediately used his pace to take the ball into the Leiston area. This change signalled a period of Wanderers activity with David Grimwood finding Mark Goldfinch’s head from a corner but, although unmarked, put it over the bar. Moments later, Terry Layton was through on goal but put his shot over. Jorrell Hurd came on for Jamie Baker on 69 mins but, before he could touch the ball, Leiston had taken the lead. On 72 mins Ingles took a free kick which Jamie Stannard saved but the clearance went to Danny George on the right who, profiting from a rebound off Matthew Cunningham’s legs, raced into the box, passed to Driver who cleverly let it run to McGlone who, unmarked, stroked the ball into the net.

‘As you sow, so shall you reap’, as the saying goes. Wanderers got the better of Soham at this stage of the game last Saturday and now the roles were reversed. Ricky Martin replaced Bradley Barber and it was all out attack for the last 15 mins with last season's goal machine of Martin, Swann, Tournay-Godfrey and Hurd peppering the Leiston goal. Twice David Grimwood was able to run into the box, once he squared to Dean Tournay-Godfrey whose fierce shot was tipped round the post by Rose and then shot himself which Rose parried. On 86 mins, Rene Swann ran diagonally from his own half  but his shot from the edge of the area went wide. Jorrell Hurd volleyed a shot from Dean Tournay-Godfrey’s pass to rattle the crossbar and the latter also hit the woodwork as Wanderers launched constant, frenzied attacks.

It was no wonder that Rose, the Leiston ‘keeper, was named man of the match, such was his part in keeping a clean sheet. Donald George, Leiston’s captain and powerful centre half, was heard to breathlessly say afterwards ‘that must have been good to watch!’ It was Donald!!