It was cool and breezy at Old Norwich Road Ipswich yesterday evening as the Hornets took on league leaders Whitton United hoping to gain revenge for their opening home match defeat two weeks ago. Whitton’s ground looked smart and tidy with a new grandstand and the playing surface was flat and evenly covered with a good growth of very green grass.
The opening minutes of the game saw the visitors take the game to the league leaders and it was after just one minute that Liam Bevis fed a through ball to Adam Rickwood on the edge of the box that the centre forward controlled before shooting across the goal and narrowly wide of the left post. A great start that continued as Liam Bevis pulled the strings in midfield and sent passes here and there and in the eighth minute another passing move saw Nathan Vincent burst into the penalty area only to be brought down by a late outstretched leg. The referee immediately pointed to the spot and there was no argument from the home players as Marc Wake placed the ball and lined up his spot kick but he didn’t make good contact with the ball which went in the right direction just inside the left post but the keeper had just enough time to dive to his right and get a hand to the ball to divert it for a corner kick. If either or both of those chances had gone in then the home team would certainly have been on the back foot but they regrouped and had a number of good passing moves that ended with long shots or crosses that really didn’t look to bother Liam Jones in the Debenham goal.
The Hornets were still in the game though and Liam Bevis was certainly catching the eye as he ran everywhere tackling and passing. Another stand out performance was from Tom Hardwick who had been drafted into the centre of the defence alongside Shaun French and he played a blinder, tackling, chasing, clearing his line to great effect.
As the half went on play was even but one more glorious chance for Debenham fell to Shaun French after 43 minutes when he went up for a corner kick and Marc Wake’s kick found him all alone just twelve yards out from goal but he misdirected his header high over the bar. Shaun’s reaction showed that he knew that was a real chance and even at that stage to go in at half time with a lead would have been a great reward for a good half’s football but the score remained goalless as the teams headed for the dressing rooms.

Half Time       Whitton United FC    0              Debenham LC FC   0

Debanham started the second half in lively fashion but a period of pressure came to naught as Whitton had made changes at half time brining on an extra man in midfield that started to make a difference. Nathan Vincent was cautioned for a silly tackle after 51 minutes and just a minute later Whitton's number 7 CHRISTOPH WILLIAMS picked up the loose ball on the half way line wide on the left and was allowed to run for fourty yards to the right side of the penalty area where he unleashed a low right foot drive that beat Liam’s right hand and hit the bottom corner of the net to open the scoring. This seemed to spur the home team on as they pressed forward looking for more goals but Debenham’s defence was holding out with Ross Hutchings and Ed Cussons holding up the wide attackers.
On 68 minutes Liam Bevis hit a free kick from fully 30 yards out that the home keeper fumbled out for a corner kick but try as hard as they might Debenham seemed unable to prise open the Whitton defence. After 85 minutes a corner taken by Ed Cussons was headed into the side netting by Shaun French before the play went to the other end of the pitch where Ross Hutchings made a rash tackle on the edge of the box to give away a penalty kick which was dispatched by KEVIN INGLIS. The game was effectively over now as Whitton played out the final minutes leaving Debenham to think about the three gilt edged chances that were wasted in the first quarter of the game.

Final Score     Whitton United FC    2              Debenham LC FC   0
                     Williams    51
                     Inglis pen  85

Referee          Mr O Morris-Sanders       Assistant Referees   Mr J White   Mr A Gray

Attendance    48

Whitton United FC     Moyes, Brown, Clarke, Hyde, Knott, Shade, Williams, Inglis, Wright, Brandon,                                        Layne     Substitutes   Nita, Josiah, Brown, Jackson, Mills

Goalscorers                    Williams,  Inglis

Cautioned                       Inglis

Debenham LC FC      Jones, Hutchings, Cussons, Barker, Hardwick, French, Vincent, Bevis, Rickwood,                                      Wake, Minns    Substitutes  Bloom, Kemp, Smith, Chilvers, Vince

Cautioned                      Barker, Vincent