Ipswich Inter-Firm Cup Quater Final
Thursday 16th October at Ipswich Wanderers FC
On a chilly Thursday evening, Ipswich Wanderers Football Club was the setting for the first match in this season’s newly re-launched Ipswich Inter-Firm Cup, between Barnes Group and John Grose. In the warm-up you could see the enthusiasm on show from both teams, and plenty of effort had been made by everyone involved; some had bought brand new boots for the game, whilst others had dug them out of the cupboard and dusted off the cobwebs!
The much anticipated match was well supported, with around 80 people in attendance. After all pre-match photos had been completed, the game got under way at a furious pace with neither side wanting to give anything away. 5 minutes in saw the games first real chance fall to Barnes Group; Matt McLaughlin was played in on goal by Mark Reason, but having taken the ball round the ‘keeper a cool head was needed but his shot from a tight angle was wild.
John Grose were under a lot of pressure early on and struggled to keep hold of the ball, but some solid defending from Mark Arculeo and Luke Emerson kept Barnes at bay. They managed to get a foothold in the game and after 12 minutes Stefan Nielsen should have done better when his shot was straight at Tony Garnham in the Barnes goal.
McLaughlin up front for Barnes Group was busy throughout, and his glanced header was just wide after a cleared corner was helped back into the box and he also headed over from 12 yards from another corner, as Barnes had the majority of the play and looked dangerous from set-pieces. Centre-back Simon Roberts was guilty of missing a great chance from yet another corner as his header from point-blank at the back post was just too high.
Towards the end of the half John Grose started to get more in the game and looked more of a threat going forwards with Harriz Benlarby and Joe Banham standing out. Good play from Peter Kerry down the right flank forced a corner which was wasted but there was more purpose to their play. The first-half finished goalless but as neither team would have known what to expect of their opponents before the game, they would have been content with 0-0. As the two teams caught their breath back, the spectators tried to warm-up in the clubhouse with a cup of tea!
The second-half started just as frantically as the first; both teams were quick to close down the ball and as a result when they had the ball they struggled to keep it. Barnes won a corner in the 49th minute, and as the ball came in to the box the referee Mr Euan Goodman spotted a push and awarded a penalty, which was met by no appeals from John Grose. Barnes Skipper Damien Kerry stepped up to take the penalty, and although Matthew Wright the John Grose ‘keeper guessed the right way, the kick was struck well and placed into the top right hand corner for the first goal in this years competition!
The goal seemed to take the wind out of John Grose, and they were fortunate not to go 2-0 down almost immediately when Kerry’s header back across of goal was missed by the on-rushing Barnes player. After this let-off John Grose started to dominate the game; Peter Kerry headed over from 12 yards under pressure, good play from Nielsen forced a corned and as it was cleared Banham’s low driven cross was fumbled by the ‘keeper but he just managed to recover the ball before Matthew King could finish off the rebound. The tension was mounting amongst players and management alike, and neither benches in the two dug-outs were used all game!
One of the key turning points in the game came in the 65th minuted when John Grose brought on Martin Abbott to partner Jamie Carrington up front; prior to this Shore and Roberts, the two tall centre-backs for Barnes Group had been untroubled by anything played forward in the air and now suddenly they were having to compete to win the high ball. Although seeing less of the ball, Barnes were able to counter-attack and Dan Sheldrake played a defence-splitting through ball to McLaughlin who shot hard and low, but Wright in goal pulled off a great save to deny him.
The game was well and truly end to end now, John Grose were desperate for an equaliser whilst Barnes Group were trying to score the crucial second goal on the break to finish the game. Reynolds long throws were causing havoc, and in the 75th minute one of his long throws forced a corner. The cross came in and Abbott climbed above his marker only to see his powerful header tipped over by the ‘keeper. Barnes’s Rob Earrey crossed low to McLaughlin who did well to turn his defender and fire in a shot but Wright made another good save.
Abbott again was involved for John Grose as he cut in from the angle of the box and shot but it was high, wide, and not very handsome. However they finally got their reward for not giving up in the 90th minute; Stefan Nielsen was played through on goal, Garnham saved well but Peter Kerry hooked the ball back into the box and Nielsen’s looping header found the back of the net! The game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes which was a fair reflection on the game as Barnes dominated the first-half but John Grose improved dramatically in the second-half and deservedly got their equaliser.
Extra-time can either be tense and nervous as neither team wants to lose, or it can be wide open as both sides go for the win. In this case, it was the latter as both sides created chances by both good play and tired legs! John Grose started brightly, with the front two linking up well again and Garnham saved well to deny them from a tight angle.
At the other end, Barnes Group were beginning to play like they did in the first-half, and were awarded a free-kick 25 yards from goal in stoppage time at the end of the first half. The angle suited a left-footer, and it was left-back Darren Knights who placed the ball as Wright in goal lined up his wall. Knights ran up and superbly curled the ball up and over the wall towards the bottom right hand corner and Wright could only scramble across the goal in vain as the ball nestled into the back of the net to the delight of the Barnes’ players and fans alike!
The second period of extra-time saw John Grose desperately search for the goal that would send the match to penalties and their best chance fell to Harriz Benlarby in the 109th minute. A free-kick from wide was helped on towards the back post where Benlarby stood unmarked, but he couldn’t quite make good enough contact with the goal gaping! He very nearly made amends with an audacious volley from 30 yards which dipped inches over the bar but it wasn’t to be, and it was Barnes Group who marched on to the Semi-Final.
In a very even game the result was perhaps harsh on John Grose whose effort and determination could not be faulted, but Barnes Group had the extra quality when it mattered and can fancy their chances of going all the way! Special thanks must go to the hospitality of Ipswich Wanderers FC who were brilliant in their support of both teams and the Suffolk FA by supplying hot refreshments and offering their assistance to make the match a great success!
Barnes Group (Blue Shirts, Navy Shorts & Navy Socks): Garnham, Pearce, Knights, Gray, Shore, Roberts, Kerry ©, Earrey, McLaughlin, Reason, Sheldrake
Subs: Ager, Stanes, Overton
John Grose (White Shirts, Blue Shorts, White Socks): Wright, Palmer, Reynolds, Banham, Arculeo ©, Emerson, Kerry, Nielsen, King, Carrington, Benlarby
Subs: Robinson, Abbott, Edwards, Harris
The Suffolk FA Man of the Match:
*Matthew Wright (John Grose Goalkeeper)*
Numerous saves to keep his side in the game right until the end and not at fault for either goal.