Jack Lawrence nearly got his head on a Jack Severy cross, Jordan Seaman fired across the face of goals, James Wright screwed a shot wide & there were a host of goalmouth scrambles, mostly following corners, but as half-time approached Debenham began to look more comfortable & then scored with their 1st effort t goal with a shot from the edge of the are after David Kempson’s pass was intercepted. It could have been 2-0 moments later, but a close range shot was deflected over Lewis Rhodes’ crossbar.

Woodbridge regained their composure at the start of the 2nd half as Lawrence saw a shot blocked & Seaman fired into the side-netting before forcing the home keeper into a tip-over save. Just when it looked like Woodbridge would never find a way to score, JACK SEVERY unleashed a 30 yard free-kick of outstanding quality, which dipped & swerved before finding the top corner of Debenham’s net.

However, in the excitement of a lifeline the previous composure disappeared & for one of the few times this season, the cool heads & patient passing was overtaken by anxiety & irrational decisions & Debenham were able to deal with Woodbridge attacks without too many concerns.
It was only in a nail-biting final few minutes that Lawrence & Seaman had shots blocked & in injury time Severy’s free kick was deflected inches wide before with almost the final kick of the game, Lawrence’s shot from 6 yards was blocked by the knee of the home keeper & seconds later Debenham’s players heaved a sigh of relief & those in Woodbridge shirts lay strewn on the pitch tired & disappointed.

Team: Lewis Rhodes, Ryan Stafford, Adam Sturman (Ross Nicklin 75), James Wright, David Kempson, James Fulker, Matt Rutterford (Fabian Ambrose 87), Danny Tatum, Jordan Seaman, Jack Lawrence & Jack Severy. Unused subs: Adam Dawson, Ashley Holmes, James Churchill

Manager, Sean Thacker spoke after the game;

“Firstly, I must congratulate Debenham. I know they still have to achieve the draw at Hadleigh next week, but having thrown everything at Debenham over two games & not been able to get a victory, it looks an impossible task for Hadleigh, but we’ll see...”

“Of course, we are all frustrated & disappointed. I’m proud of the way these players have played this season. The perseverance to pass the ball in all weathers, on all types of playing surface & with an ever-changing team is admired & respected by all who have watched us play & while the league table will undoubtedly say different after next week, I know that these lads are as good as I could wish to work with.”

“It’s just a shame that at the time when we most needed cool heads & to trust in our beliefs, we were too eager & forced forward passes in a hope of creating that one chance rather than by design & patient passing that has always been our philosophy.”
“I hope Jack Severy’s free-kick is not forgotten in the disappointment of the night as it was one of the best strikes I have ever witnessed. I was actually questioning his decision to shoot from there as it left his foot & had to eat humble pie!”

Earlier in the day the Copleston School Team, who provide the majority of the players for Woodbridge Town Under 18s, defeated Kirkley High School in the semi-final of the Suffolk Schools Under 19 competition to reach the final for the 2nd successive season.
Teon Leggett scored a hat-trick as did David Kempson, who actually came on as a sub for the final 27 minutes when the score was tied at 1-1. James Churchill grabbed the other goal.