Ipswich Wanderers U18 3 Woodbridge Town U18 2
	Tuesday 03 November 2009
	Despite playing on what can only be described as a challenging surface, Woodbridge were left to rue a number of missed opportunities as they succumbed late on to a hard working if unspectacular Wanderers side.
.
They were also left to reflect on not building on an encouraging 1st half display and perhaps even allowing their own style of play to be compromised by the hosts who took the lead as early as the 4th minute when Woodbridge failed to clear despite 3 attempts from a cross from the right which was forced home from close range. We did respond though and for the majority of the first half we were the better side and were doing more of the attacking. Chances were being created but a combination of some wayward shooting and some last ditch blocks kept us at bay. These did include a great turn and left foot strike from Baldry which cruelly bounced back off the post rather than in off and a shot from Seaman which squirmed under the keeper but did not have the legs on it to cross the line. One of the real positives to come out of the game was the performance of U16 debutant Jackson whose trickery and running out wide gave Wanderers great concern and often saw them doubling up to cope with his incisive play. Even in the second half when we did not get the ball to him enough, he had the intelligence to drift inside to look to get on it and showed that despite his small frame, he could well be a great find for the club. One particular mazy run cutting in from the left saw him flash a shot narrowly wide but we managed to get back on level terms just before halftime when Baldry sent a reverse pass through to Seaman who raced through and finish smartly. Wanderers retook the lead early in the second half with Woodbridge guilty of giving the ball away high up the pitch, winning it back and then sending a suicidal back-pass which was seized upon and despite the efforts to keep it out, Wanderers did fire home at the 3rd attempt. Straight away we could have been all square when Seaman who looked as though he is slowly regaining his form of last season rounded the keeper but a great tackle sent it for a corner and just 3 minutes later he finished off a Smith cross superbly on the volley but was cruelly flagged offside. At the other end, the display of another U16 player was also extremely positive with Blackman outstanding at the heart of the defence in only his 3rd outing at this level. He showed composure on the ball when in possession but also a great positional sense and never shirked a tackle and was unlucky to be caught out for the winner which came 2 minutes from time. Moments earlier we had just levelled the game when Seaman finished clinically from a poor keeper kick and we had also had 2 great chances to take the lead but on both occasions determined Wanderers defending had thwarted us as it looked as though there was only going to be one winner in us. Football can be cruel though and we switched off at a throw-in and got caught with the striker finishing unchallenged. Even after that our last chance saw Barton’s goalbound header from a free-kick hit Seaman to prevent it going over the line but hopefully this may act as a wake-up call for some whilst at the same time it proved a great opportunity for 2 younger players in particular to shine.