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The start was going to prove crucial
with Woodbridge never really getting any sort of a start
at Leiston and it was soon clear the side had a point to
prove as they hunted the ball down from the off and
inside the 1st minute the front pairing of Smy and
Baldry combined to create the first opportunity. With
Thickitt unavailable due to injury, Barton came back
into partner Caraccio at the heart of the defence and
with Roots stepping in at left back for the first time
and U16 player Elliott Blackman only making his second
appearance at right back at this level, it would be fair
to say that our hosts had one or two half chances.
However the back four protected U16 keeper Beard well
who put in a very composed display with his handling and
distribution getting better with every week.
It was not a game filled with a lot of
clear opportunities but after a fairly even and scrappy
opening to the game, Woodbridge opened the scoring on 17
minutes when a nicely flighted through ball saw Baillie
ghost in behind the Fram back line to finish well. This
settled our lads down who for the remainder of the half
knocked it about with some fluidity. Infact a number of
good passes were often cut short by a desperate tackle
by our hosts so whilst we had a number of free-kicks
throughout the game, we seldom did anything with them.
Smy had the opportunity to increase our lead just before
halftime but the keeper did well to save his effort but
our lead at halftime was secured with what was a
terrific goal saving tackle by makeshift centre-half
Caraccio who flung himself in the way of what was only
ever going to be a goal.
The start of the second half was again
fought out in the middle of the pitch with Woodbridge
showing that little bit more quality on the ball and our
hosts relying on the set-pieces and occasional direct
balls for their speedy front-runner. With injuries to
Acland and Smy in the second half after some more robust
tackling, we saw the introduction of Henry Cage back off
a long injury lay-off and the introduction of some craft
with Hammond down the left and the raw pace of Smith
down the right and a second goal was just a matter of
finding that last pass to make it happen.
This duly arrived with 15 minutes to
go with Baillie again bursting forward in advance of the
front two to finish comfortably to ease any Woodbridge
nerves and the lads eventually saw out the game with no
further frights on the night for a well fought and hard
earned victory.
Beard, Blackman (Hammond), Roots, Baillie, Barton,
Caraccio, Culf, Acland (Cage), Baldry, Smy (Smith),
Seaman
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