Match Report - Harleston Town vs Ipswich Wanderers

Magpies make it five wins on the bounce to move five points clear at the top of the Thurlow Nunn Division One
North.

Town were without the unavailable quintet of Baker, Borrer, Stone, Howell and Pauling but welcomed back
Lawrence Cheese after a spell on the side-lines with injury and Nathan Page who missed last week’s win at
March Town United following surgery on his broken nose. There was also a welcome return for Nathan Russell who took his place on the bench along with Burke who was back from London to help out.

Ipswich Wanderers came into the game buoyed by their midweek win at Needham Market Reserves and having been relegated last season from the Premier Division are rightly fancied to go well this season.

Once again Town were fast out of the blocks with their high pressing game causing Ipswich problems early on. Some neat interchange involving the impressive Imrie and Delaney set a shooting opportunity for Roberts but his effort was off target.

The opening goal came on eight minutes when Roberts played a trademark dangerous ball into the box from deep and Matt Howard, up from the back timed his run expertly to guide a firm header beyond the helpless Fairweather in the Ipswich goal.

Delaney then failed to connect properly when well placed in the box from a corner but Town didn’t have long to wait for an important second to give them a cushion. Keeper Fairweather’s weak goal kick was seized upon by Page who drove forward before the ball found its way to Cheese inside the penalty area who finished well under pressure for 2-0!

Wanderers then had their best chance when a mistake play by Shadrack allowed Cheetham in but his fierce drive was well saved by Ling in the home goal and Howard was on hand to win the aerial dual to clear the loose ball.

The pattern of the game then continued with Town in dominant mood. Two soon become three in the 35th minute when Cheese closed down the Ipswich centre half, blocking his attempted clearance and finished superbly by rounding Fairweather.

Imrie was unlucky when heading over from another dangerous set-piece. The half time whistle soon blew and another excellent half saw Town hold a deserved 3-0 lead.

Ipswich expectedly changed formation in an attempt to get back into the game, however Ling and the back four of Willis, Howard, Shadrack and Imrie were in determined mood and with the tireless running in front of them, restricted the opposition to very few chances. Howard was to the rescue with a majestic piece of defending in the box, blocking a forward’s effort from inside the six yard box following a rare sight of goal for the away side.

Cheese and Anema were still causing the Ipswich backline problems with their aerial ability and athleticism and the former was unlucky not to grab his hat trick when his left footed drive was brilliantly saved by Fairweather. Cheese was again denied his Hat-trick this time by the post when he failed to finish after rounding Fairweather again.

Ipswich then missed a great opportunity to get a goal back with fifteen minutes left when missing a header from six yards out.

The outstanding Cheese made way for Russell who was straight into the action and was denied a returning goal when the Assistant raised his flag following yet another quality through ball from Page.

The final moments played out with little action of note and Town professionally and comfortably seeing the game out to record another impressive win as they continue to cause a few upsets against established Thurlow Nunn opposition in this competitive division.

Man Of the Match.
A few candidates this week. As ever Howard was faultless at the back, Roe was outstanding anchoring the midfield and Page’s performance again showed why he is so important to the team. Imrie and Willis were always an attacking outlet from full back and not once between them did they get beaten by the winger they were up against.

However, Cheese was a real handful. The powerful frontman, returning from injury, scored two well taken goals and his overall performance was one that the Ipswich Wanderers back-line could not live with. For this reason he gets the vote but again it was a really impressive performance.