IPSWICH WANDERERS 1 v. LOWESTOFT TOWN 1
RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 28TH JANUARY 2006

A chill wind took the heat out of a gloriously sunny day as 161 hardy souls eagerly awaited this game between the 4th and 5th placed teams. Lowestoft were fresh(?) from their FA Vase defeat the previous Saturday and a mid week game whilst Wanderers had got back to winning ways last week at Histon.
In the early minutes both sides tested the opposition's defence but it was Woodrow for the visitors who had the first strike on target after 4 mins.

Wanderers were trying to work the ball in midfield but their passing was wayward whilst Lowestoft were pumping balls into the area for Chris Tracey and Jason Dozzell to deal with. The game was developing into a bad tempered affair, with tackles flying in somewhat recklessly, which did neither side credit but the football was end to end with Lowestoft having the upper hand as Wanderers struggled in midfield and had not much to offer up front.

McGee was prominent for Lowestoft and he had the best chance of the half on 31 mins when a mishit pass wrongfooted the Wanderers defence and the Lowestoft no.10, suddenly finding himself in a good position, hit his shot wide. Stokeld was left unmarked on 37 mins but he could do no better than his strike partner.
Ipswich Wanderers 0 Lowestoft Town 0

The second half continued much as the first but now the referee was resorting to punishing tackles with a yellow card. Wanderers worked a good podition for themselves on 54 mins which ended with Bradley Barber shooting fractionally wide from the edge of the area. A free kick, following a foul on Woodrow, was hit straight at the wall by Cockrill but, on 63 mins, Lowestoft took the lead with McGee taking advantage of Wanderers' indecision in defence and buried the ball in the back of the net.

The wheels looked like coming off Wanderers' wagon on 72 mins when Alan Mills was sent off for remarks made to an assistant after a penalty had been awarded against him, but Stokeld's spot kick was saved by Jamie Stannard, diving full length to his right. Gradually, Wanderers were able to regain some possession as they substituted both strikers and found more space, with first Bradley Barber putting his free kick into the arms of Reynolds under the bar on 84 mins and then David Grimwood, playing his last game before returning to university, finding goal off McGee with his free kick on 85 mins to level the scores.

Stokeld found the byline and his low cross passed the face of the goal with neither attacker or defender being able to get a touch.
The final minutes were played with more urgency by both sides as they sought the winner, Bradley Barber having the easiest of chances following the best passing move of the game, but he hit his shot high and wide.
Wanderers will have argued that a draw was the just result although Lowestoft may have disputed this.
Ipswich Wanderers 1 Lowestoft Town 1