WROXHAM 2 v. IPSWICH WANDERERS 1

RIDGEONS PREMIER LEAGUE

TUESDAY 14TH MARCH 2006

This thrice re-arranged fixture finally got underway with the rain drenching an already sodden pitch. With work commitments decimating the choice of players, Reserve players Neil Hayward and Matty Wilson were on the bench, along side manager Jason Dozzell.

By 10 mins, the referee had collected 3 names in his book, all for petulance, when a good talking to may have been the better option, especially given that the players were struggling to come to terms with the appalling conditions. So, although they were 2-1 down in bookings, Wanderers went 1-0 up in goals on 17 mins when Sam Banya controlled a long clearance from defence and lay the ball off to Muzzie Elmer on the right. The Wanderers’ striker had made it to the 6yd box by the time Muzzie Elmer had put over his cross and his header beat Woodcock’s fist to the ball. Both sides continued to pound each other, by turns, with Jamie Stannard, on 26 mins, watching the ball go inches past his far post from a free kick with both Coote and Miller failing to make contact in the 6yd box. A few minutes later and Dean Tournay-Godfrey pounced on a slip by Howes on the edge of the area but his shot went wide. Wroxham replied with a sweet move through midfield that ended with Jamie Stannard diving to save at the feet of Coote.

Wroxham drew level on 33 mins when Gilman shook off a challenge from Chris Tracey on the edge of the area and hit a delicate lob into the far corner of the net. By this time the referee had collected another 3 names for his little black book and he added Muzzie Elmer’s on 44 mins showing him a red card for violent conduct.

Wroxham 1 Ipswich Wanderers 1

Jamie Stannard had kept his side in the game twice in the first 2 mins of the second half when he dive full length to tip Coote’s shot round the post and then flung himself at the resultant corner to punch away the danger. Then Dean Tournay-Godfrey hit the foot of the post at the other end and Fox shot across the face of goal, hoping for a swerve that would take it goalward, as play flowed back and forth. Jason Dozzell came off the bench on 54 mins for an injured Marc Lowe just in time to see Mark Goldfinch make a last ditch tackle on Gilman, but Jamie Stannard was unable to hang on to the slippery ball when the corner came over and Gilman was the first to get a boot to the ball and put the home side in the lead. Moments later, Coote was inches away from making it 3 as Wroxham started to dominate the visitor’s 10 men. Wanderers weathered the storm and gradually fought their way back into the game with Paul Westren now pushing up the middle and twisting and turning the defenders as he was supplied with through balls.

Matty Wilson came on for his 1st team debut and set up several good chances with Chris Tracey urging the team on to greater things and Paul Westren and Dean Tournay-Godfrey, to name just two, mixing it up in the opponents penalty area. The Zero Tolerance policy which the referee seemed to operate in the first half was relaxed in the second, obviously being mindful of the post match paperwork, and he only put one name in his book. On another day, with more of a first team squad to choose from, the result may have been different, but the character of the players on the night was tested and not found to be wanting.

Wroxham 2 Ipswich Wanderers 1