Ipswich Wanderers FC was the venue for the Ipswich Inter-Firm Cup First Round match between last year’s Semi-Finalists ISG Jackson and Runners-Up Ipswich Area Police.
With both sides without key players and new faces in for both sides the game was certainly set in good stead. The Police started the stronger with better possession and went close after just 5 minutes. However as the first half went on ISG Jackson found their feet and Newland came close with two efforts going wide.
Tibble playing right back for ISG Jackson had a lot of possession and got some great balls into the box. With 30 minutes on the clock ISG Jackson broke the deadlock. A well weighted free kick by Griffiths found the head of Newland whose pinpoint header flew past Bradshaw in the Police goal.
There were no further goals in the First Half and the teams went in with the score 1-0 to ISG Jackson.
The second half started how the first ended with ISG Jackson having more of the play. They went close with efforts from the lively Pipe and earlier goalscorer Newland. As the second half wore on the Police got back into the game. Whiting in the ISG Jackson goal pulled off some terrific saves one notable with his feet.
The ISG Jackson midfield two of Parker and Keeble were working tirelessly on a boggy pitch and were sniffing out any real threat from the Police from deep.
With 70 minutes gone on the clock the Police were awarded a free kick 30 yards from goal out on the left. Rumens stepped up and he whipped a great shot at goal which beat Whiting in the goal but clattered the post only to ricochet of the helpless Whiting to deflect into the goal to make the scores level.
Neither side wanted extra time with the conditions getting worse and both teams went for the win. With seconds remaining on the clock ISG Jackson were awarded a free kick out on the left wing. They filled the box with orange jerseys and when Smart's perfectly weighted kick came in Newland reacted first to head his second goal of the game to shatter the Police's hopes of a place in the next round.
Seconds later the final whistle blew. Full-time score, ISG Jackson 2 Ipswich Area Police 1
Man of the match - James Pipe - ISG Jackson
Match Report Submitted by ISG Jackson
For more information on the Ipswich Inter-Firm Cup, please use the related link.