WOODBRIDGE TOWN 0 IPSWICH WANDERERS 1

RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE

TUESDAY 15TH NOVEMBER 2005

A clear, moonlit and chilly evening greeted the teams for this most local of derbies. The pitch was looking good and the gathering moisture made it fast and slippery. For Wanderers, Jason Dozzell preferred Chris Tracey to himself and Keith Hetherington was given a long awaited start with Dean Tournay-Godfrey warming the bench.

The game started at a fair pace with both sides having chances in the first five minutes, Woodbridge’s Dearsley coming closest with a shot that Jamie Stannard watched go wide of the post. On 18 mins a slick passing move left Rene Swann to outpace Paine but shoot wide and then Ricky Martin worked a good position on the edge of the box and his shot earned a corner. Jorrell Hurd’s kick was headed back across the 6yd box by Marc Lowe but Keith Hetherington was just an inch to short to guide the ball into the net.

Wanderers were taking the game to Woodbridge and on 22 mins Bradley Barber’s inswinging corner came off the foot of the post and a subsequent corner was taken of the head of Rene Swann by Garnham. On 29 mins Francis’ clever free kick found Goddard in space but the ball had too much pace and Jamie Stannard was able to gather safely. Wanderers were very much on top but, like last Saturday at Cambridge, were unable to turn that superiority into goals. Keith Hetherington’s hard work on 38 mins ended with his shot being saved but it was the whole Woodbridge back line that were playing their part in preventing Wanderers from running away with the game. Woodbridge still looked dangerous when they attacked and in the last minutes of the half, Jamie Stannard denied Woodbridge captain Dearsley twice, the second a fearless block of the latter’s piledriver of a shot.

Woodbridge Town 0 Ipswich Wanderers 0

The second half started at a frantic pace as both sides went looking for a goal. Lee Smith had come on to replace Terry Layton who had been injured right at the halftime whistle. Nifty footwork by Rene Swann enabled him to shoot but Garnham’s fingers pushed the ball round the post although the referee only awarded a goal kick. Each side took it in turns to dominate in attack and Blake, for Woodbridge fired a snap shot across the goal on 59 mins from 30yds and at the other end Ricky martin and Jorrell Hurd were raining in crosses. Blake nearly punctured the side netting with a shot after Berry had twisted and turned in the area and then Jamie Stannard rushed fully 35 yds to clear the danger as Wanderers’ defensive cover was temporarily missing.

The pace of the game was getting ever more frantic and the referee was pleasing neither side with his decisions. The atmosphere was tense as a result was held in the balance. Then Rene Swann conjured a goal from almost nothing on 80 mins as he flung himself in front of a mass of bodies to head home Bardley Barber’s carefully placed free kick. Keith Hetherington nearly doubled the lead 2 mins later when his strength took him out of a tackle but his shot on the turn did not have the legs to trouble Garnham.

A one goal lead was never going to be enough to rest easily on and Jamie Stannard made a crucial save as he flung himself high to his left to save from Blake’s shot on 87 mins that was wickedly swinging from a deflection off Chris Tracey’s boot. There was no let up until the final whistle as Woodbridge fought for the equaliser and Wanderers tried to double their lead.

A welcome return to winning ways for Wanderers, ahead of their journey to London for the FA Vase, all the more deserved in the manner of the victory against a determined and persistent opposition.