IPSWICH WANDERERS 2 v. NORWICH UNITED 0

RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE

MONDAY 2ND JANUARY 2005

Players and supporters remembered Chris Sawyer, who died suddenly at Christmas, with a minute’s silence before the game. Fielding the same squad that had done so well against Needham Market on Boxing Day, Wanderers were soon on the rack with Norwich throwing all they had into attack. It was not until 10 minutes that Wanderers had their first meaningful attack, but by then Cook had missed numerous opportunities with Matthew Cunningham clearing off the line and Jason Dozzell’s lunging clearance when Jamie Stannard seemed to have the ball covered. Wanderers were having trouble clearing the ball from defence and setting up any attacking moves and looked all at sea. King’s corner was cleared by Chris Tracey but Murphy’s cross was missed by Jamie Stannard, despite calling, and Cook again directed his shot wide.

Dean Tournay-Godfrey brought a good save from Jackson in the Norwich goal but it was Norwich’s half as they dominated possession and midfield. An injury to Roper allowed both sides to take a breather but it was Norwich who were back in attack from the restart with Jamie Stannard, who, along with Bradley Barber, was not having the best 45 mins, spilt the ball but Cook did not capitalise on this mistake. Then, somewhat against the run of play on 40 mins, Bardley Barber sent over a perfect through ball for Rene Swann to run on to and the Wanderers striker chipped Jackson for the opening goal. Norwich will have thought that they were very unlucky to go into the break on the wrong end of the scoreline.

Ipswich Wanderers 1 Norwich Utd 0

Within minutes of the restart both sides had had a chance to trouble the scoresheet with long range shots. Romano’s flying over the bar but Dean Tournay-Godfrey’s cannoning off the angle of post and bar. Wanderers were now looking more like their usual selves but Norwich still looked dangerous in attack.

King chased a ball down to the corner and sent a cross into the heart of the area where Cook, and then Shipley, were thwarted by Jamie Stannard. On the hour Rene Swann doubled the lead, and his tally, when the visitor’s offside trap failed and Cullington miscontrolled the ball. Rene Swann still had to work to evade Jackson but ended the move with a neat sidefoot into the empty net. Norwich were not about to give up but Wanderers were now passing the ball with ease and were looking a more confident in their play. A posse of Ipswich Town fans had gathered behind the goal at the clubhouse end and were making themselves heard with a number of chants directed at ‘the old enemy’. They had brought with them their own ‘minders’ in the shape of three police officers, noticeably kitted out in their high visibility jackets.

Jamie Baker, on as substitute, cleared the defence with a lob from midfield and Marc Lowe just lost the race to the ball with Jackson. The Norwich ‘keeper saved an almost certain goal when he took the ball from Sam Banya’s toes as Rene Swann crossed low and hard from the right and Jamie Baker then blazed high over the bar.

Jamie Stannard worked hard for his clean sheet by regaining his form in the second half and making an outstanding save in the dying minutes from Cook’s header. This after having denied both Cook and Hunton as the defence failed to clear in a frantic 30 second scramble in the 6yd box.

Norwich did everything, except put the ball in the net, to take some points from this game, but with Wanderers on a winning run, they were not to be denied.