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| CHELL
TROPHY FIRST ROUND FIRST LEG |
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GORLESTON 2 WOODBRIDGE TOWN 3 |
| Saturday 11th October 2008 |
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Woodbridge Town Reserves
recorded their 3rd successive victory in a week
& in doing so take the narrowest of advantages
into the 2nd leg, which will be played at
Notcutts Park in exactly one month. |
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The starting line-up included 9
of the Under 18s who were knocked out of the FA
Youth Cup on Tuesday evening with Anthony Bascoe
& Rob Bird the only senior players.
After an early scare when a 2nd minute cross was
flicked against Lewis Rhodes’ post, the young
visitors began to get their passing game going &
enjoyed the better of the 1st half, but only
managed Rob Bird’s scuffed shot on target & a
few harmless long range efforts. Similarly,
Rhodes was not severely tested at the other end.
The 2nd half was only 2 minutes old when Danny
Tatum’s diagonal pass found ANTHONY BASCOE
surging from midfield & he crashed a 20 yard
volley into the roof of the net before the home
keeper could move. Bird nearly gave Tatum a 2nd
goal minutes later but the keeper intercepted
the pass & Craig Jennings also tested the keeper
with a dipping volley.
This quick start to the half inspired Gorleston
into their best passage of the game & two
goalmouth scrambles ended with close range shots
going over the bar while Rhodes had to produce
two fantastic diving saves to preserve the lead.
Eventually the equalizer arrived on 64 minutes,
& after such a good display it was a surprise
that it was courtesy of a mistake from the
impressive Rhodes, who inexplicably dropped a
corner over his own goal-line.
It didn’t take too long for Woodbridge to regain
the lead as Tatum chipped over the home defence
into the path of CRAIG JENNINGS, who outpaced
the centre halves & just beat the on-rushing
keeper to the ball, before lifting it into the
empty net from 30 yards. Substitute, Ross
Nicklin, had an immediate impact twice sending
Jennings through on goal, but both opportunities
were squandered.
The 1st leg victory seemed to be sewn up on 85
minutes when David Kempson broke up a Gorleston
attack, exchanged passes with substitute, Stefan
Garrett & raced to the by-line before cutting
his cross back to MATT RUTTERFORD & he steadied
himself before scoring with a precise low drive
from the edge of the area.
However, there was still a testing period
remaining & Rhodes had to move his feet quickly
on two occasions to deal with deep, swerving,
awkward crosses, but he was beaten in the 5th
minute of injury time from the penalty spot
after Stefan Marsh caught an attacker’s foot
while attempting to clear a bouncing ball.
Lewis Rhodes, Ryan Stafford, David Kempson,
James Wright (Ross Nicklin 67 mins), Stefan
Marsh,, James Fulker (Fabian Ambrose 67 mins),
Matt Rutterford, Anthony Bascoe, Craig Jennings,
Danny Tatum & Rob Bird (Stefan Garrett 73 mins).
Caretaker Manager, Sean Thacker, spoke after the
game;
“After such disappointment following our
performance without the ball in the FA Youth
Cup, I was delighted by the response from both
individuals & the team! We still passed the ball
around with quality, but showed a better
appetite to work hard when Gorleston had
possession”.
“The opening goal from Anthony (Bascoe) was
really pleasing - not just because it was his
1st goal for the club, having only recently
joined us, but because we had talked about both
his forward runs & the opportunities to switch
the play from the left to him moments before we
came out of the dressing room for the 2nd half”.
“We are under no illusions that this two-legged
tie is already decided! We know that it is still
very much open & that our 1 goal lead will mean
nothing if we cannot perform to the same level
again next month!”
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