Witnesham Wasps 6 Woodbridge Town 9

Sunday 6th January 2008

OPEN CUP –SECOND ROUND Half-time: 4-5 Scorers: Christie (5); Portaluri (2); Tripp (2) Team: Emile Burgoyne; Gus Cooney; Khaled Abdel-Aziz; Ben Hopkins; Miles Kekwick; Harry Hayward; Sam Tripp; Matthew Read; Caspar Church; Laurence Portaluri; Jack Christie. Subs: Jack Baldwin; Kieron Marshall; Jonathon Aveston The boys started 2008 with a hard-fought, but deserved victory in the second round of the Open Cup against a hard-working Witnesham side that until the second half kept coming back into the match. Yet again the boys started slowly and sloppily and were continually giving the ball away and with a defence that was unusually jittery it was not long before Witnesham took the lead. The ball broke on the left and although Emile Burgoyne made an excellent save at his near post, Witnesham won the ball back as the Woodbridge defence failed to clear the lines and the ball looped over Emile and into the net. This was only the second time this season that the boys had fallen behind in a match, but fortunately Sam Tripp seemed to take it on himself to get Woodbridge back into the game. He scored an excellent goal from a difficult angle, placing the ball over the advancing keeper and then was involved in setting up Jack Christie to score the team’s second and give Woodbridge a 2-1 lead. However just when it looked like the team had weathered the storm and were getting control of the game, Witnesham were gifted two goals. Both goals came from midfield players being allowed to run from deep. With defenders backing off and the midfield not tackling, Emile was left exposed and despite getting a hand to one shot was unable to prevent the Wasps taking the lead again. However in a topsy-turvey half, Woodbridge again fought back and with Laurence Portaluri and Jack Christie linking well with Sam Tripp it was not long before Woodbridge had the lead again. Jack equalised when he out-paced the opposition defence to place the ball inside the keeper’s left-hand post and Laurence scored another of his trademark clinical finishes. Unfortunately Witnesham would not lie down and with Woodbridge out of sorts in many areas of the pitch, the Wasps struck twice before half-time again following our boys not clearing their lines effectively. Even then Khaled Abdel-Aziz saw his shot from a corner well saved by the Wasps’ goalie and Harry Hayward was unable to put the follow up away. Half-time saw a tactical switch and despite trailing 4-5, it was decided to go to a five man midfield with Laurence dropping back to try and take control of this vital area of the pitch. Kieron Marshall and Jonno Aveston came on in wide midfield in an attempt to change things about too. These changes certainly paid dividends and Woodbridge then dominated the game and although the opposition keeper made several good saves, it was not long before Sam Tripp equalised and Laurence gave us the lead. Goals followed and Jack Christie added three more, including a bullet header from one of Laurence’s corners. Matty Read was unlucky with a shot from range and Laurence struck a half-volley narrowly wide from what was the best move of the match. Kieron had one of his best games for the team and showed some excellent touches and control. Jack was also denied a double hat-trick by some good keeping. However at 9-5 and with five minutes to go, the boys took their foot of the gas and did allow Witnesham some space and Emile was forced into a fine save to his left, which Ben Hopkins swept away for a corner. There was still time for Witnesham to add their first of the half when a forward was allowed too much time and space and he slotted home. This game was something of a wake up call, but importantly some of the Christmas cobwebs have been blown away. It was a game that enabled several boys an opportunity to get match time and it was good to see Jack Baldwin and Jonno both get thirty minutes of playing time after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Gus Cooney also showed some solid defensive qualities at important times. It was also a game that highlights the need to work on throw-ins with far too many throws rightly called as fouls. The defence also needs to get back to talking to each other and the midfield must want the ball and then keep possession. Today was not Woodbridge at its best, but a real crowd pleaser. More Grecian 2000 needed I think!