WISBECH TOWN 1 v. IPSWICH WANDERERS 0

RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE

SATURDAY 18TH MARCH 2006

On an afternoon when the top six clubs in the Premier League were playing each other it was vital for both sides to get a result from this game and there was a sense of anticipation before kick off.

Wanderers were missing influential skipper Marc Lowe and leading scorer Rene Swann, both through injury and, with Paul Westren filling the hole in front of the back four, Jermaine Harewood was given his debut, having transferred from Needham Market in the week.

The story of the game was that of Wisbech dominating territory and possession for virtually 90 minutes, with the Wanderers defence resolutely protecting their goal and the midfield and strikers struggling to create any sort of rhythm or cohesive attacking plan. Wisbech closed down Wanderers’ possession, not allowing them any time on the ball and, consequently, Bradley Barber was unusually ineffective in the centre of midfield, Jermaine Harewood hardly got a touch on the left and Dean Tournay-Godfrey had little to chase up front. Sam Banya was having his best game for a while, holding the ball up waiting for support, and, when he did get past the home defence, it was made to look vunerable.

Almost from the start Jamie Stannard was in action, tipping Harris’s lob over the bar and then palming away the subsequent corner.

Wisbech came close to opening the scoring on 23 mins an inswinging kick looked as though it would sneak in at the far post until Terry Layton got a boot to it. Sam Banya had had a shot, straight into Conroy’s arms, after squeezing between two defenders on 11 mins and Dean Tournay-Godfrey was gifted a chance on 35 mins when Jermaine Harewood blocked a clearance but the Wisbech defenders soon closed down the danger.

Wisbech Town 0 Ipswich Wanderers 0

The second half brought no relief for the hard-pressed visitors and they conceded what turned out to be the winning goal after 50 mins when Nimmo was allowed a bit of space in the area and he shot fiercely from an acute angle under Jamie Stannard’s body. This galvanised Wanderers into action and they won a series of corners which ended with Bradley Barber’s shot being smothered by Conroy who was quick to spot the danger. Manager Jason Dozzell, in his third match in a row starting on the bench, used all three substitutes in an attempt to turn things round and, although Wanderers had their best spell of the game, they made no impression.

After Jamie Stannard had saved point blank from Harrold’s shot on 70 mins, Sam Banya had a shot well saved and Dean Tournay-Godfrey skied his shot when in front of an empty goal but an equaliser never really looked on the cards.

Chris Tracey was named Man of the Match, having played a captain’s (in place of injured Marc Lowe) innings at the heart of the defence which had resisted all, apart from one, Wisbech’s attempts to get through and, despite some ribbing from the home supporters, demonstrated that, with the right attitude, age (32?!) can be no barrier to playing at this level.