SOHAM TOWN RANGERS 0 IPSWICH WANDERERS 1

Wanderers travelled to Soham for their first game back in the Premier and took substantially the same squad that had won promotion last season but included new signings Baker, Barber, Hetherington and Tracey.

Jason Dozzell was in the starting line up, playing 4 across the back with Mark Goldfinch in the left back role. It was a nervous start as the defence dealt with Soham's early attacks and, at the other end, Dean Tournay-Godfrey had a half chance on 10 mins against an advancing Greygoose in the Soham goal. On 21 mins Terry Layton's through ball gave Keith Hetherington an opportunity to lob the 'keeper from outside the area but the ball went narrowly over the bar.

Wanderers were finding gaps in the Soham defence but did not have the pace the exploit them and, although Jamie Stannard was by far the busier of the two 'keepers, he did not have to deal with a serious attempt on his goal.

The midfield were working well together although David Grimwood was being asked to play an unfamiliar central role. Marc Lowe's shot on 29 mins whistled past the post after good work by Dean Tournay-Godfrey and Keith Hetherington and, from their clearance, Soham's Furnell was denied a shooting chance by Mark Goldfinch's timely tackle. By the end of the half Wanderers were having more than their fair share of the play and were settling into the pace of this higher level of football.

Half Time: Soham Town Rangers 0 Ipswich Wanderers 0

After only 2 mins of the 2nd half, Marc Lowe's hard, low cross from the right came out for Bradley Barber whose shot was tipped round the post by Greygoose. Wanderers' subsequent 2 corners were eventually cleared to the other end where Bugg shot hard but high with Jamie Stannard covering the top corner. Wanderers midfield began to loose their edge and Soham took control of the game, with Jamie Stannard saving sharply from Bugg and Simpson as the defence came under intense pressure. Jorrell Hurd came off the bench to replace David Grimwood and immediately showed his pace down the right to earn a corner. Jamie Baker took the kick and Dean Tournay-Godfrey rose above a sea of defenders to head powerfully home to give Wanderers the lead on 73mins.   

This prompted Soham to throw all their weight into attack which made for an exciting, if nail-biting, last 15 mins but the Wanderers defence held solid and well earned their first 3 points of the season.

Physio Mick Lowe was kept busy attending to minor knocks on a number of players, Layton, Grimwood, Hetherington, Tournay-Godfrey, none being serious enough for substitution. Baker, Layton and Lowe were shown a yellow card for tackles considered by the referee to be over-enthusiastic but it was a hard and fair encounter with 3 Soham players also being booked.

Full Time: Soham Town Rangers 0 Ipswich Wanderers 1