Another bright but chilly autumn day greeted the players and supporters of Debenham LC FC at Robingoodfellows Lane in March yesterday for this Ridgeons League First Division game between two teams that are very evenly matched on paper and that proved to be the case on the pitch. Long term injuries to Nathan Vincent and Lee Bloom forced both to be absent again so manager Dale Vince shuffled his pack once again in an effort to take home the points. Tom Hardwick continues at centre half after the departure of Shaun French and looks to be making the position his own after another hard working effective performance, and James Heathcote started the game hoping to continue his recent run of goal scoring. Adam Rickwood reported a nasty in-grown toenail but was eager to start the match taking his place at the head of the forward line and recent signing Colin Gedney was on the bench again hoping for a run out.
The opening exchanges were very even, as expected with both teams getting the ball forward by good passing football but no clear chance was created until the 9th minute when March’s number 9 Stuart Anderson took the ball up the left side of the penalty area and crossed into the six yard box where the littlest bloke on the pitch ASH BRAND was all alone and he gleefully headed the ball into the net with not a defender in sight. Anybody standing next to the forward would have towered over him and would surely have won the header but he was gifted time and space to put The Hares in front. Another early goal conceded but the Hornets gathered themselves and played the ball forward with Liam Bevis prominent and Jack Severy looking to get past his full back at every opportunity but as is so often the case a cross or a pass ended up on the head or at the feet of a defender. Despite a lot of effort and neat midfield play by both teams there was no clear chance created and after 33 minutes Adam Rickwood finally succumbed to his painful toe and was forced to leave the pith to be replaced by Liam Smith. Debenham continued to compete in midfield as the home team looked strong going forward but were not creating chances although they did force two late corner kicks and Tom Hardwick sent in a couple of his long thrown-ins but the home defence dominated in the air in their penalty box and cleared the threat.

Half Time             March Town United FC   1             Debenham LC FC   0
                           Brand 9

Debenham started the second half brightly and won two free kicks just outside the penalty area. Jack Severy was cautioned by the referee presumably for not waiting for the whistle but the visitors won a corner kick from which Jack Severy’s ball into the middle stuck the near post and bounced away. The Hornets were beginning to have most of the play as the half progressed with Liam Bevis getting most of the midfield balls but as the home defenders mustered in numbers at each attack there seemed to be no room to engineer an opening. After 67 minutes March had a golden chance to increase their lead when Stuart Anderson found himself with a clear sight of goal but his hurried shot slid off the top of his boot and sailed high and wide when a more composed strike might have brought dividends and wrapped up the game as the visitors were still in with a chance of at least a draw. James Heathcote began to get past his defenders as they tired and Debenham were certainly having the majority of the play when Ross Hutchings sent over a cross that Marc Wake controlled and laid back for Liam Bevis whose curled shot went past the right hand post. James Heathcote chased a through ball that the home keeper just managed to clear and Liam Smith was unlucky when his attempted header back across goal hit a defender and fell kindly for the keeper. Michael Beaton came on to replace Jack Severy as the Hornets looked to get something out of the game and after 86 minutes we all thought that the moment had arrived as an excellent passing move from Ross Hutchings to Liam Smith and James Heathcote ended with Marc Wake controlling the ball around the penalty spot before turning and shooting hard for goal but his shot just cleared the cross bar with the keeper rooted. Marc held his head in anguish as he knew that that was probably the chance to get something from the game.
The remaining minutes passed by with both teams continuing to try to make openings but none came and the game ended with the home team taking the points. Debenham will be disappointed not to get at least a draw from a game where they played well and dominated for long periods but the lack of punch in front of goal is so evident in games like this so maybe a big goal scoring centre forward will be on Dale Vince’s wish list.

Full Time             March Town United FC   1             Debenham LC FC   0
                          Brand 9

Referee               Mr R Palmer             Assistant Referees   Mr M Foster    Mr M Marks

Attendance         63

March Town United FC    Allen, Cooke, Welcher, Staffieri, Sutton, Lenton, Rothery, Nolan, Anderson,                                             Pepper, Brand       Substitutes    Norton, Jenkins, Cook, Watson, Orvis

Debenham LC FC   Jones, Hutchings, Kemp, Barker, Hardwick, Cussons, Bevis, Wake,                                            Rickwood, Severy, Heathcote    Substitutes   Gedney, Smith, Beaton

Cautioned                           Severy, Hutchings