Wivenhoe Town Youths 8 v. Ipswich Wanderers Youths 7

Ingilby Cup 1st round

Sunday 27th November 2005

Wanderers Squad: Eadie, Downes, Stott, Garvin, Wilson, Hayward, Arbon, Moore, Rankin, Dore, O'Connor, Knibbs

On a wet and cold day with the pitch just about playable after the recent rainfall, Wanderers Youth travelled to Wivenhoe Town for the 1st Round tie in the Ingilby Cup. The setback before the game was the absence of the regular goal keeper Richard Lynch having to make do with one of the out field players Lawrence Eadie and only one substitute Sam Knibbs who was carrying an injury. We new it would be a close match as like Wanderers, Wivenhoe had not recorded a win to date in the League and are currently one place above us. However, after 10min of the match Wanderers incurred another setback when Downes stretching to clear a ball at the back had to retire injured with a groin strain, Knibbs came on and a quick reshuffle saw Wilson drop into the back four and Garvin move across to right back. A defensive mistake that should have been cleared into touch saw Wivenhoe take the lead on 20min. Wanderers equalised with some good interchange play between O'Connor and Dore, rounding off with a Dore strike to make it 1 -1 10min later. Unfortunately Wanderers squandered that lead with careless play again at the back just before half-time to hand Wivenhoe the lead 2 -1, but not before Eadie had pulled off a spectacular quick reaction save. The pitch was starting to look like a quagmire with grass more visible out on the wings, nevertheless both teams were determined to make the best of the conditions, with tackles flying in all directions as players tried to keep there footing.

HALF-TIME: 2 -1

After a stern talking to, Wanderers came out with renewed vigour and were the quicker of the sides to get into their stride, it was not long coming before Dore got his second to make it 2 - 2. This spurred Wanderers on and it was not long before they took the lead for the first time in this match and all season for that matter, with Dore slotting away his third for his hat-trick with a powerful drive in the bottom left-hand corner 2 -3. Could they sustain this lead and record a first win of the season? Unfortunately this was not to be the case and cheaply conceded possession in midfield trying to control the ball in sticky conditions allowed Wivenhoe to equalise with a shot from 25 yards that saw the ball sail into the net just under the bar. Although we had a few more chances before full-time it would mean extra time having to be played.

FULL-TIME: 3 - 3

The pattern of play took the same momentum with Wanderers, increasingly having more of the play - but never really looking like making it a memorable occasion and so it continued with the Referee as in the second half of normal time giving too many decisions in favour of Wivenhoe. This did frustrate one or two of the Wanderers players as a major distraction. No goals were scored in both halves of extra time, so it meant a penalty shoot out would follow. After the first five penalties both teams were tied at 4 - 4. The next set of penalties would be taken by the remaining players on the field and as sudden death. After 2hrs 10min, the deadlock was broken and Wanderers were left with only IF's as Wivenhoe rejoiced in a hard closely fought match.

I was proud of the way the lads battled in particular the goal keeper Lawrence Eadie and a mention also for James Dore with a hat-trick.