Whitton United 6 - 4 Wivenhoe Town

Ten goal thriller ends in defeat

Wivenhoe Town - Elliot Ringe, Joe Davis, Andy Schofield, Ben Lampon, Tim Dennis, Miguel Nydam, Charlie Goodlake (sub - Hasan Ayten 83), Marley Spindler, Ben Parkin, Ben Connell, Lewis Blanchett (sub - Peter Maina 73 mins)

The Dragons headed to Ipswich looking for three points but came away on the wrong end of a crazy 6 - 4 score line. Prior to the game Peter Haxell was ruled out because he was feeling pain in his knees so Elliot Ringe look the number one shirt. Whitton United came into the game having been beaten in extra time on Wednesday evening against Conference South side Lowestoft Town in the Suffolk Premier Cup.
The game started with a few half chances and crossing opportunities for both sides, Marley Spindler even had the ball in the back of the net but it was ruled out for offside. Wivenhoe were struggling to come to terms with the sloping pitch and too often over hit their crosses. The opening goal came on fifteen minutes when a period of neat football on the edge of the Wivenhoe box produced a low shot which Ringe got a hand to but couldn’t prevent from rolling into the back of the net. Eight minutes later the lead was doubled when a long ball forward was left or missed by several Wivenhoe defenders allowing the Whitton attacker to nip in, go round Elliot Ringe and pass the ball into the back of the net.
The rest of the half saw Wivenhoe with the majority of possession but unable to find the back of the net. Ben Connell and Charlie Goodlake both had shots at the keeper but the majority of the balls into the box came to nothing. At the other end Ringe was called on to make one good save.
Hopes of a come back were sparked just eight minutes into the second half when a good move created a shooting opportunity for Ben Connell in the area. His effort was saved and fell to Ben Parkin whose shot was also blocked but only to the edge of the area where it was met by the late run of Marley Spindler and his powerful drive flew into the roof of the net. Minutes later a long ball forward landed behind the Wivenhoe defence and with Ringe caught in no mans land the attacker was able to shoot comfortably into the goal and restore the two goal cushion. Wivenhoe then went straight up the other end, won a corner which was sent to the back post where it found the head of Ben Connell. His header went back across goal and found Andy Schofield who hit a half volley past the keeper to reduce the deficit, 3 - 2.
The goal scoring continued just five minutes later as Whitton won a corner which was swung in and headed past Elliot Ringe. Three minutes later it was 5 - 2 to Whitton United as a couple of missed tackles in the Dragons defence allowed another shot on goal from inside the area which also hit the back of the net. Wivenhoe then made a couple of changes with Blanchett coming off for Maina and then minutes later Goodlake being replaced by Hasan Ayten. Wivenhoe then reduced the margin to two goals as good work from Ben Lampon on left produced a neat cross into Tim Dennis who was able to stoop and flick the ball past the goal keeper, 5 - 3.
The game had now past 90 minutes but there was time for two more goals. First Whitton scored possibly the best goal of the game with a fine long strike which flew into the top right hand corner of the goal to make it 6 - 3. Then Andy Schofield picked up the ball and ran past the whole Whitton team before squaring the ball in the area for Miguel Nydam to hit past the keeper and make it 6 - 4. Another contender for goal for best goal of the match and Nydam’s first ever for Wivenhoe Town in his 82nd appearance for the Dragons. The referee then blew up for 90 minutes and ended a half of eight goals.
Throughout the game Wivenhoe had attacked well and probably should have scored more but after a season in which their main strength has been defending they gifted Whtton United a two goal lead which they were always chasing but unable to overhaul. With two games to go the final relegation spot would be contested by FC Clacton, Walsham-le-Willows and Wivenhoe Town.