Leiston Reserves 2 v. Ipswich Wanderers Reserves 3

Ridgeons Reserve League (North)

Tuesday 21st March 2006

Three changes were made to the line up for the away trip to fellow strugglers Leiston.  Adam Potter returning from injury started up front, with Dean Tournay-Godfrey having a run out for the reserves on the left side of midfield.  Sam Knibbs took a well-earned rest on the bench with Ricky Ward coming in at left back. The pitch was flat and looked lovely but as expected at this time of the season the surface was hard and to some it seemed harder than the pitch at Walsham that was postponed the previous week.

However the game started at a lively pace with both teams trying to play football, On three occasions the Leiston forwards threatened the Wanderers goal, a mixture of good work from Robbie Stannard and some wayward shooting kept the score level.

Up the other end the Leiston back four were kept busy by the Wanderers front men, this finally paid dividends when Adam Potter converted a cross into the box at the far post. It seemed to all watching that the Leiston Goalkeeper should have collected but by the end of the game it was noted that he couldn’t catch a cold let alone the football!! However after a half that saw Leiston have the better chances Wanderers went in at the half a goal to the good.

HT - Leiston Reserves 0 – Wanderers Reserves 1

With warm tea in their bodies and confidence in their legs Wanderers started the second half looking for the important second goal.  Unfortunately this was to elude them as Leiston snatched an equalizer that on the balance of play they didn’t deserve. In previous weeks this may have caused Wanderers to fold but they knew the importance of a result in this fixture. Their resolve was tested further when, from a looping Leiston corner, Neil Hayward instinctively handled on the line that left the referee no alternative than to award a penalty and point Hayward in the direction of the showers. Leiston duly converted the penalty to take the lead 2-1.

Now many games are changed when a team is reduced to 10 men, some say it’s harder to break them down or you must go wide to make use of the extra man. Well in this match the only team who seemed to be spurred on by the sending off was Wanderers.

With changes looking likely to be made from the Wanderers bench, Dean Tournay-Godfrey drove a deep cross to the far post that met the head of Matty Thompson who delivered it perfectly into the path of Dave Kenyon to finish with aplomb to make the scores level.

You could sense that Leiston realized that they were in real danger of losing a game that only minutes before they were winning and had the extra man. They threatened again late on when a mazy run from the Leiston striker into the box pulled out a brilliant reflex save from Robbie Stannard in the Wanderers goal.

Changes were made due to the team working hard to make up for the one man deficit, Probert replacing Dave Kenyon, Ryan Owens for Adam Potter and Taurean Hamilton for Matty Thompson.

Probert was unlucky not to steal the winner when a cross from Ryan Owens was missed at the far post, however Wanderers never let Leiston get their composure back as deep into the game, Dean Tournay-Godfrey advanced, spotted the keeper off his line and hit a delightful chip into the roof of the net to give Wanderers the much needed victory that there second half performance deserved.

Leiston Reserves 2 – Wanderers Reserves3

This result should give Wanderers the confidence for their final few games of the season as it proves there is spirit within the squad and all are eager to work for each other and the management, to finish as high up the table as possible.