Ryan Stafford (U17), Fabian Ambrose (U16), Mehmet Duzgun (U17), Ashley Holmes (U16) & Andy Nugent (U16) all made their full debuts while Adam Sturman (U16) made his 3rd appearance. Under 16s, Jack Garnham & Sam Horne came off the bench to get their 1st taste of Under 18 football & they were joined by another Under 16, Staurat Baillie who made his 2nd appearance. Added to these newcomers there were welcome returns from injury for Under 17 forwards Adam Webster & James Churchill, so the only regulars were Lewis Rhodes, David Kempson & Danny Tatum..

Understandably it took time for there to be any real cohesion to Woodbridge’s passing football & with the exception of Churchill shooting inches wide in the 2nd minute & Kempson glancing a header across the face of goal there was little to shout about during a 1st half that belonged to Stowmarket.
Stafford had already kicked one shot off the line & another effort was deflected narrowly wide before Stowmarket took the lead when an in-swinging corner was glanced in at the near post.
Despite their age & experience advantage, the home team only came close on two further occasions to extending their lead as one gilt-edged chance was knocked wide of a gaping goal & a looping cross beat Rhodes, but bounced back off the crossbar.

There was much more rhythm, patience & purpose to Woodbridge’s passing in the 2nd half & Webster twice found himself 1v1 with the Stowmarket goalkeeper, but was denied on both occasions by smart blocks. Garnham also tested the keeper & Churchill’s cross almost resulted in an own goal.
Even allowing for the huge improvement in Woodbridge’s play they were still grateful for 3 excellent saves from Rhodes during the half, which would have proved even more important had Baillie’s head made better contact with Sturman’s wicked cross or had Webster’s goal-bound effort not been superbly blocked in the dying seconds.

Despite the loss, it was rewarding to see the next group of SETEC / Woodbridge Town Under 18 players put on a thoroughly pleasing 2nd half display, especially when the last 20-25 minutes was carried out with only 10 men as firstly Churchill & then Nugent had to limp off with injuries!

Team: Rhodes, Stafford, Sturman, Holmes (Horne 59), Ambrose, Kempson (Baillie 59), Duzgun (Garnham 59), Nugent, Webster, Tatum & Churchill

Next Thursday, the Under 18s are at home to Diss (7.45pm kick off) but with the Under 16s involved in a double-header over the following Saturday & Sunday, it is unclear as to how many will be involved on Thursday?