Mallett cracks open Kirkley defence to gain Woodbridge all three points from trip to Lowestoft

Woodbridge travelled to Lowestoft with Jamal Wiggins and Ryan Keeble missing from today’s squad but had new signing Kade Ivatt making his debut.

Woodbridge were first into the attack and after 10 minutes they took the lead when a free kick on the left taken by Evan Bolt and his centre was headed in by Mark Ray. On 15 minutes Woodbridge increased their lead when Luke Mallett was fouled on the left touch line and Evan Bolts cross was pushed for a corner by the home keeper Maxwell Wright. From the corner the ball bounced off a defender back into the path of Andy Crowe who slammed the ball high into the net. Score 0 – 2. A Kirkley attack brought a good save by Alfie Strong from home forward George Barber. Kirkley were pushing to get back in the game but found the Woodbridge defence in good form. Play got scrappy with a number of niggly fouls with both teams trying to create openings.

Half Time 0 – 2.

Woodbridge were defending the slope and Kirkley came out intent to getting back into the game. A good run by the home side full back Daniel Munroe whose centre reached George Barber whose shot went just by the post. Kirkley equalised with a simple passing move when winger Joel Watts side footed to George Barber to side foot into an empty net. Score 1 – 2. Woodbridge thought they had increased their lead when the home keeper Maxwell Wright dropped the ball and Andy Crowe slammed home. A foul was given and this was disputed by Mark Ray who was duly sent to the sin bin leaving the away side playing with 10 players for 10 minutes. On 85 minutes Kirkley equalised when a loose ball just outside the penalty area fell to Joel Watts who hit a fine shot into the corner of the net. Woodbridge got the winning goal on 87 minutes when Luke Mallett collected the ball on the left and beat three home defenders before hitting a great shot into the corner of the net. Woodbridge replaced Evan Bolt and Mark Ray with Daruis Petrea and Camern Panich. Kirkley lost a player in the sin bid in the final minutes and Woodbridge held out for a deserved win although Kirkley may have felt that they deserved something from the game.

Woodbridge: Strong, Rea, Mallett, Southgate, Taylor, Mason Sinclair, Callum Sinclair, Andrew Crowe, Mark Ray, Evan Boly, Kade Ivatt. Subs: William Clarke, Cameron Panich and Daruis Petrea.