A young Whitton United Reserve side started at a lively pace, closing down Woodbridge whilst working hard themselves, to move the ball quickly, winning a couple of early corners which were dealt with by the Woodbridge defence.

Much of the first half bacame a midfield battle, the first serious effort on goal coming from a Danny Tatum corner, with Lee O'Neill heading just over. Shortly after Whitton took the lead when a long ball over the top looked harmless enough until Garnham in the home goal came out of his area only to see his misplaced clearance fall to the opposition and then to lob the ball into an empty net from 30 yards.

On 30 minutes Whitton had an opportunity to go a further goal up but fired wide when well placed inside the penalty area. Whitton fully deserved their half time lead having showed more determination and a better work rate than the home side.

The second half started better for Woodbridge with a more determined look about them, they finally started to force the pace and tempo of the game. Touni fired over when put through by Blake and then Churchyard headed over when reacting to an initial parry by the goalkeeper. The home side earned themselves a corner following a good run and cross by O'Neill who injured himself in the process and was forced from the field. It was while down to 10 men that Woodbridge drew level. From the resulting corner CHURCHYARD
(59 minutes) powerfully headed home at the far post after an initial bit of head tennis in the penalty area.
On 68 minutes the home side took the lead following a strong run through midfield by CHURCHYARD who sqeezed the ball past the keeper with a Whitton defender only able to help the ball in to the net in a desparate attemp to clear the ball off the line.

It was 3-1 two minutes later when some excellent play down the left between Mayhew and MONAGHAN saw the latter finish comfortably. Mayhew fired over from 25 yards and then Miller done the same when well placed. Blake fired wide when put through by Jennings. Whitton continued to battle with Josh Brown at heart of many of their moves but the visitors were by now being restricted to the occasional breakaway, Garnham in the home goal on several occasions having to leave his box to clear the danger.

In the 85th minute it was 4-1, Mayhew flicking on a Roper pass in to the path of MONAGHAN to score. The scoring was completed in the 88th minute when a shot by Tatum was deflected in to his OWN GOAL by a Whitton defender.

A real Jeckyll and Hyde performance, but three points none the less.

On a sad note we are saying goodbye to Ismael Touni who has now played his last game for Woodbridge Town and is moving back home to the South of France (can't think why). My thanks to him for his consistant performances in the Reserves.

Team: Garnham, Sheppard (sub Jennings 72 mins), Monaghan, Touni, Roper, Miller, Rea (sub Baalham 78 mins), Churchyard, Blake, Tatum, O'Neill (sub Mayhew 60 mins)

Next Reserve Fixture: Saturday 2nd February 2008 Hadleigh United Reserves (Away)