HADLEIGH UTD RESERVES 3 v. WANDERERS RESERVES 0.

RIDGEONS RESERVE LEAGUE (NORTH)

SATURDAY 25TH MARCH 2006

Looking to build on their midweek success at Leiston, Wanderers Reserves were forced into several changes, with Ryan Owens replacing David Kenyon (wedding) up front and John McRoberts coming into midfield in place of Dean Tournay- Godfrey who was back in his normal first team slot having helped the reserves in midweek. Two non-appearances from substitutes did not help the cause either.

After 10 minutes of this game, nobody would have been predicting a home victory, as the visitors started brightly and created 2 good chances for Ryan Owens, which both went agonisingly wide of the goal. The Hadleigh centre-forward had his shooting boots on though and produced a neat turn to get through on goal and then finish in the far corner of the net. This somehow seemed to flick a switch and turn off most of the Wanderers side who, within minutes, were looking like their end-of-season bash had been the previous night  (subsequent checks proved this not the case!) and the home team scored 1 spectacular and 1 schoolboy-error goal, with Wanderers hoping for a handball decision that never came and not bothering to play-on in the meanwhile.

Half-time could not come quickly enough and yet again, Wanderers were left ruing a poor first-half that had killed the game by the interval (lost count of how many times this season that we have seen that happen).

Half-time : Hadleigh 3 Wanderers 0

As is usual in these games where a side has the game won by the interval, the second half proved a very tame affair with little action to excite at either end. The introduction of  Sam Knibbs seemed to tighten the back line up, although the home side were hardly pressurising by then anyway. Several of those normally guaranteed to put in a good performance simply didn’t produce on the day and although the visitors improved in the second-half , they never looked like getting back in the game. The reserves now have two blank Saturdays and hopefully by the time that they next play, one or two may realise more effort and concentration is needed if the team is to enjoy a good run-in and avoid the league’s wooden spoon.

Final score : Hadleigh 3 Wanderers 0

Team: Stannard, Thompson, Clow, Youngs, Ward, Wilson, Hayward, Burgess, Potter, Owens, McRoberts.

Subs used- Knibbs, Roberts    Unused- Hodge, David Tournay-Godfrey