Boxing Day was unseasonaly mild with bright sunshine between clouds that were riding along at speed on the brisk southeasterly breeze that was to be so significant in the match. The pitch looked a bit care-worn and in need of a good rest but the surface held up well despite the recent rains and was a lot better than last week. A bumper holiday crowd of 149 attended to make the atmosphere lively and swell the coffers of the club. It was nice to meet former club secretary David Marshall  who is now with Stowmarket and former club member Mark Atkinson whose son  Ben is trying to break into the Stowmarket team.
The early exchanges were evenly balanced with both teams getting to grips with the sticky heavy surface but Stowmarket belied their lowly position in the league by playing neat passing football that promised much but often faltered at the eighteen yard line as the home defenders mopped up the threats.
On 15 minutes the Stowmarket centre forward Kieren Joseph was cautioned for a clumsy tackle and three minutes later a free kick for the home side was taken by Tom Hardwick who saw his cross fall to Kevin Barker but his ball into the box was volleyed high over the bar by Ben Green.
The 22nd minute saw Stowmarket’s number 10 Yani Duka take the ball past Lee Bloom but Liam Jones came to the rescue with a brave blocking save and a minute later Lee Drummond had an opportunity but the Debenham defence held firm and cleared the danger.
In the 26th minute however Stowmarket shook the home supporters by taking the lead when right winger Ross Myhill ran at the Debenham defence and sent over a low cross that found its way to the left side of the penalty area where YANI DUKA was left in acres of free space to plant a shot into the net and give Stowmarket a late Christmas present.
Debenham responded well to going behind and earned a free kick that was cleared and Marc Wake’s lay-off was hit at goal by Liam Bevis but his effort was straight at the keeper.
The 28th minute saw the home supporters raise a mighty cheer as Marc Wake intercepted a pass in midfield and fed a pass through the visitors’ defence to JAMES HEATHCOTE who needed no second bidding as he ran at the defenders trying to make space and then surprised us all, and the keeper Carl Pearson, by shooting for the near post and we all cheered as the ball rolled in by the left post with the keeper rooted to the spot. That’s 10 goals in 11 starts for James this term, what a difference a real quality striker makes to the team!
Stowmarket rallied and on 33 minutes Yani Duka had an effort well saved by Liam Jones and the loose ball was drilled wide of the goal by Kieren Joseph when a more composed effort might have brought reward!
The game swung from end to end as Debenham gained a free kick on the eighteen yard line when James Heathcote was tackled and Stowmarket’s progress was halted by good tackles from Lee Bloom and Tom Hardwick. Nathan Vincent was running clear into the penalty area when the referee stopped play for handball by the Debenham midfield man.

Half Time            Debenham LC FC   1                 Stowmarket Town FC    1
                          Heathcote   28                            Duka   26

Debenham started the second half  at pace and caught Stowmarket cold in the 46th minute when a forward pass from Ben Green found Nathan Vincent in his right sided midfield slot. Nathan advanced to the 18 yard line on the right side of the box before playing a teasing ball across the penalty area that saw MARC WAKE running in at the far post make a good connection to send the ball past Carl Pearson and high into the net for the Hornets’ second goal. Another well constructed goal with good contribution from all involved.
The remainder of the second half was now dominated by Stowmarket who used the stiff breeze to good effect as they built wave after wave of attacks but the Debenham defence remained solid and the right back position, ably filled by George Johnson, seemed to be the main target for the visitors but George stuck at his job really well and held up the probing runs of the Stowmarket forwards. The whole of the defensive line for Debenham played really well with Tom Hardwick and Lee Bloom being really busy heading the ball away and tackling forwards and left back Ed Cussons used his experience and pace to keep the visitors out.
Stowmarket wasted a number of chances to score when Yani Duka’s shot was saved at full stretch by Liam Jones and Nathan Birch was presented with a good view of goal at a corner kick but sent his side footed effort high over the bar.
A rather unnecessary incident after 77 minutes saw Stowmarket’s number 6 Nathan Birch tackle Marc Wake and leave him on the floor but then commit an offence that I failed to see but the referee consulted his linesman and produced a straight red card that saw him leaving the field for an early bath. Just after this James Heathcote gathered the ball on the half way line and ran at the Stowmarket defence beating three defenders before being stopped by a tackle near the penalty spot and with Liam Bevis screaming for a pass that would surely have brought the goal to wrap up the points.
Debenham might have thought that the game would become a bit easier with only 10 men to play but if anything Stowmarket upped their game and continued to press. Liam Jones was having difficulty clearing the ball into the stiff breeze and each clearance just came straight back but for all of their possession the visitors could not fashion a clear opening and after a period of substitutions quietened things down the referee finally brought proceedings to a halt.
So another less than wonderful performance but another win - that’s the way football teams win things! Lets hope that this good run of five straight wins, and six from the last seven games, continues into the new year.

Full Time             Debenham LC FC   2                 Stowmarket Town FC    1
                          Heathcote   28                            Duka   26
                          Wake  46

Referee              Mr. D. Forman    Assistant Referees    Mr. P. Frank   Mr. D. Mason

Attendance         149

Debenham LC FC      Jones, Johnson, Cussons Capt, Barker, Hardwick, Bloom, Bevis, Vincent, Green
                                 Wake, Heathcote      Substitutes   L.Smith, Kemp, Beaton, Bowler, Chilvers
Cautiuoned                 Johnson, Cussons, Vincent

Stowmarket Town FC  Pearson, Woodhouse, Brown, Ward, Pleasance, Birch, Myhill, Graham Capt,
                                    Joseph, Duka, Drummond   Substitutes  Steggall, Sharp, Atkinson, Beeston, Seaman
Cautioned                    Woodhouse, Joseph, Duka
Dismissed                     Birch