After a depleted squad managed to hit five past Woodbridge last Saturday a larger squad attended this fixture the opposite side of Ipswich. Tom Moore was called up to represent the first team early in the morning, whilst Ben Millard was unavailable through work.
XI: Elliot Ringe, Matt Griffin, Garry Burdett, Sam Sadler, Jake Hearn (c), Evan Culmer (Joe Steel 70'), Ray Catchpole (Ben Fowler 75'), Dan Morgan, Michael Schofield, Lewis Blanchett, Ollie O'Hare.
Unused: Adam Frost, Josh Day.
The game kicked off in a similar fashion to weeks gone by an equal share in possession with neither goalkeeper having any difficult work to deal with. Wivenhoe looking the more likely to go ahead at the break with several set pieces that were dealt with by the Whitton back line. The dragon's looked lethargic whilst not in possession and even in possession just not individually something that needed to be addressed at half time.
HT: Whitton United Res 0-0 Wivenhoe Town Res
The message was given at half time that the work rate needed to be lifted and Jason Savage was given that immediately. Blanchett, Schofield, Catchpole, Culmer and O'Hare causing the Whitton back line a constant headache. The constant pressure finally resulting in another Lewis Blanchett goal. Blanchett weaved through the Whitton defence spinning on the edge of the six yard box before somehow striking past the goalkeeper at an acute angle to give the blues the lead.
As soon as the goal went in Wivenhoe dropped of the pace and allowed Whitton back in to the game. Using the wings wisely and creating plenty of attacking opportunities. They got a deserved equaliser when Wivenhoe failed to clear their lines. Losing the ball in the penalty area Whitton's star player subtly dinked the ball over the oncoming Elliot Ringe to make the scores level.
A blow that Wivenhoe would learn from. As soon as the game restarted the tempo increased once more, as the quintet that had previously given the Whitton defence a headache re-energised and began to wear them down once more. A sublime through ball to the feet of Ollie O'Hare was met by the clattering presence of the Whitton goalkeeper and a penalty was duly awarded with the Whitton number one receiving a caution. Wivenhoe please to get a penalty this time after a foul on Dan Morgan previously was deemed to be outside of the area. Lewis Blanchett stepped up to take the spot kick to give Wivenhoe the advantage once more. The goal celebrated two goals in two weeks for the impressive Blanchett.
Whitton responded as you would expect piling people forward in search for the valuable equaliser. Joe Steel replaced Evan Culmer and shortly after Ben Fowler replaced Ray Catchpole. For the second week in a row Dan Morgan was the victim of an innocuous challenge this week however referee Mr.Firman who also refereed the Woodbridge fixture rightly brandished a yellow card. The Whitton right midfielder bizarrely finding the caution and free kick unfair.
Despite the constant pressure Whitton were putting on the Wivenhoe defence. It was Wivenhoe who took all three points Michael Schofield sealing the victory with injury time looming. Goal of the season seemed complete last week as he guided the ball with his instep into the top right hand corner, hitting the bar and in. Proving last the Woodbridge goal was not a fluke Michael repeated the same thing as he scored Wivenhoe's third and final goal.
FT: Whitton United Res 1-3 Wivenhoe Town Res