Half-time: 9-0

Full-Time: 13-0

Scorers: Taylor (3); Stephenson(3); Hopkins (2); Dimuccio (2); Portaluri; Christie; Hayward

Team: Emile Burgoyne; Ashley Archer; Aaron Thurlow; Ben Hopkins; Ewan Wickson; Robbie Stephenson; Matt Read; Laurence Portaluri; Jack Christie; Marcus Taylor. Subs: Gus Cooney; Caspar Church; Harry Hayward.

Having lost for the first time this season last Sunday, it was important for the boys to get back to winning ways and this they did in some style with an emphatic 13-0 victory over Stow Town ‘B’, a team that the boys seem to reserve some of their best displays for and today was no exception.

The team began well and on a firm pitch after a heavy frost dominated the opening period without creating a clear cut chance. However the boys remained patient and it was good to see them prepared to pass the ball to keep possession and with both full-backs offering support to the midfield the Stow defence began to look more vulnerable and it was no surprise when Woodbridge took the lead with a goal from Giorgio Dimuccio, whose shot took a slight deflection off an opponent. This goal was quickly followed by a piece of individual opportunism from Jack Christie, who intercepted a goal-kick and lobbed it into the unguarded net from just outside the penalty area. Robbie Stephenson was then played in by Aaron Thurlow and he was unlucky to see his curled left foot shot rebound from the crossbar, but this signalled a passage of play that resulted in seven goals being scored in about 15 minutes.

Laurence Portaluri played a short corner to Robbie Stephenson, who delayed his delivery and then laid the ball back to Ben Hopkins, who scored a rare goal with his right-foot. Marcus Taylor then added a well placed fourth and this was followed immediately by a well struck shot from Robbie Stephenson, who was becoming the dominant player on the pitch. Marcus struck the post after good work by Ewan Wickson, Giorgio Dimuccio and Matthew Read, before adding his second thanks to a well-judged pass from Jack Christie. Marcus then turned provider playing in Robbie for his second. However the eighth goal was undoubtedly the goal of the game when Robbie received the ball on the edge of the Stow penalty area and played the ball back to Laurence, who powered the ball into the top corner before the opposition goalkeeper could move. The half finished with Robbie being played in by a superb diagonal pass from Giorgio. This had been for the main part an impressive performance by the team and the defence had played very well as a unit for much of the half, and on two occasions when the centre-backs had tried to do too much and lost position, goalkeeper, Emile Burgoyne reacted quickly to come off his line and smother the ball at the feet of advancing strikers.

The second-half saw some changes made and Gus Cooney came on for Ewan Wickson at left-back, while Harry Hayward replaced Jack Christie upfront. Stow also made a few tactical switches and for the first five minutes of the half the game degenerated with Woodbridge losing team shape. However even so chances were created and Giorgio again showed great vision to play in Robbie, who was timing his runs to perfection, but having rounded the goalie, Robbie’s shot from a tight angle hit the post. The team settled and it was only a matter of time before more goals were scored and having missed a couple of opportunities, Giorgio scored his second after some good work by Harry Hayward. Harry was then played in by Marcus to score with an accomplished finish that was reminiscent of some of the many goals he had scored last season. Marcus then completed his hat-trick, before Ben completed the scoring direct from a free-kick.  Other chances followed and both Caspar Church and Aaron Thurlow had efforts that went just wide of the far post. Gus Cooney made some good tackles and looked more comfortable when he switched to right-back, while Ashley Archer had an excellent game both at right-back and then when moving to centre-half to allow Aaron to move forward.

This was a good team performance with many positives. The fact that seven boys scored shows the way that the team were prepared to pass the ball about and create openings, while the defence, particularly in the first half worked very well as a unit with the full backs offering good support to the midfield.  Next week the team travel to Sudbury to play Woodland Colts knowing that two more wins will secure promotion.