Felixstowe & Walton United 0 V's Ipswich Wanderers 4

Eastern Junior Alliance

Sunday 19th February 2006

Wanderers Squad: Burrup, Downes, Knibbs, Stott, Wilson, O'Connor, Rachel, Hayward, Rankin, Gostick, Arbon, Summers, Eadie  

An excellent performance with 10 out of 10 awarded to every player in the squad for making this happen and to Paul Grainger.  We thought that we might miss James Dore upfront. After the last two fixtures had shown vast improvement with a tight defence, Wanderers got into their game quickly; maybe it was because it was an afternoon fixture. The home side conceded a penalty when Owen Rachel was brought down in the box, Sam O'Connor was given the opportunity to step up and take the penalty. Although the ball was struck firmly, it did not give the keeper to much trouble in saving.  Continued pressure brought another save from close-in when Ben Gostick on his week foot could not convert what appeared to be another golden oportunity.  In fact I have never seen so many missed chances in a Wanderers first-half.  It was not long however before Ben Gostick found the target when put through in a one-on-one with the keeper and duly executed a great strike.  Old habits started to creap back into the game, but this was short lived when Ben Gostick latched onto a rebound from Asheley Rankin's strike that led to the second goal. Owen Rachel was having his best game since signing for the Youth, constantly causing the opposition problems with some fantastic crosses into the 18-yard box.  

HALF-TIME: 0 - 2  

The second half did not start well for us, can only presume the Felixstowe manager had a few choice words for his players.  It seemed to have did the trick as Wanderers now found themselves being challenged in all areas of the field.  The back four held firm with the captain Matt Wilson leading, aided by the experience of Sam Knibbs, Neil Hayward and Sam O'Connor increasingly starting to find space in midfield.  So it was just the right time for Ashley Rankin, who had deserved a goal for his efforts, got the third to seal the points with a good finish.  It was now a good time to make a substitution in bringing on Summers for  Josh Downes who had just made some crucial tackles in helping to keep a clean sheet.  The growing confidence in Arbon cannot go unnoticed as he constantly made life difficult down the left wing for the opposition and delivered some great corners that failed to do him justice by not being converted, we must now work on our heading.  On came Eadie for the last 20min to replace Arbon and he did not dissappoint as he exemplified what the change in fortunes and attitudes of all the squad is about.  So it was a fitting end when the young player of the match Owen Rachel scored a spectacular goal from 20 to 25-yards to make it 4.  Oh Yes!  A quick mention for Burrup in goal between the sticks.  I am absolutely proud of the lads and what they have achieved and look forward to the next encounter this Sunday at home to Wivenhoe Town.  

FULL-TIME: 0 - 4