Wivenhoe slip up again

Wivenhoe travelled to Stowmarket knowing that the home team were hot on their heels at the top end of the Reserve Division and the pre-match preparation wasn't ideal as multiple players and staff found themselves running late due to numerous road incidents meaning that the referee delayed the kick off slightly.

Having said that the game kicked off and both teams looked as though they would try to get the ball down and play and I imagine from a neutral perspective it was an entertaining game to watch. Both teams looked neat and tidy but neither really threatened the opposition keeper too much. Wivenhoe were possibly the brighter of the two sides going into the H/T break at 0-0 but it really was a close run thing.

The second half started looking much the same with both sides looking to play on the floor whenever possible. Around the hour mark the breakthrough came as Ben Fowler hesitated after taking the ball down and allowed the Stowmarket striker to nip in and run through on goal and then finish past the oncoming Martin Frost to give the home side the lead.

Wivenhoe responded soon enough as Josh Milburn fired in from close range to equalise from a scramble in the Stowmarket area making it GAME ON again.

Wivenhoes Ryan Gooch came closest to grabbing the games third goal as his header hit the post and rebounded away (from my angle it looked as though the keeper had got a touch onto it as well).

Again both teams stuck to their plans of trying to play through the thirds yet this time it was again a little hesitation that meant Wivenhoe were robbed in midfield and Stowmarket pounced with a counter attack that saw the ball fired in from around the six yard box after some good wing play from one of their players and the ball falling kindly to a Stowmarket player.

Wivenhoe changed shape in the hope of rescuing a point but it was Stowmarket who grabbed a third with good finish after Wivenhoe had failed to clear their lines after a poorly conceeded free kick.

Overall a decent performance from Wivenhoe and the scoreline maybe flatters Stowmarket, Wivenhoe were probably worthy of a point but I dont think did enough to take all three as (in my opinion) not enough was created in the final third and too many mistakes were made at the other end.. That's partially the price of trying to play football and hopefully it is something that we can iron out as again (and without trying to feel sorry for ourselves) it seems every error we make is punished.

With some big games coming up in the next fortnight Wivenhoe will have to look to raise their game if they want to remain in and around the top teams in the division.