Orwell FC returned to winning ways with the lion's share of 13 goals in an epic encounter at Ashfield Park. Evans, Jones, and Wadsworth (4) got on the scoresheet plus an own goal gave them three points. Orwell had to play 78 minutes with ten men after Ben Evans saw red. But the blues hung on for a well deserved victory.
Orwell started the game brightly with a sustained amount of pressure that saw Evans take advantage of some space inside the box when he struck into the bottom corner with his right foot in the fourth minute. Two minutes later and Orwell were on the attack again, Barclay made an impressive run down the right hand side and whipped a low driven cross into the box were it was turned in by a Standish defender.
But it wasn't all to go Orwell's way in the first half. Just four minutes after doubling their lead Standish had reduced the deficeit to one goal when Liam Cooper slipped away from his marker and headed past Neil Rigby. Two minutes later Standish had a throw in from the right flank, the ball was headed goalwards and Evans lept at the ball and was ajudged to have deliberately made contact with the ball using his hand. Referee Tony Ball wasted no time dismissing the Orwell left back despite vigorous appeals surrounding the intent of the action but also the fact the ball had crossed the line. Simon Yarwood confidently stepped up to take the penalty but dragged the ball wide of the post.
In the 29th minute Standish were level after Rigby gave a penalty away when he bundled over Liam Cooper on the edge of the box. Yarwood stepped up again and wasted no time blast the ball into the roof of the net.
Four minutes after that Scott Jones delivered a delicious ball to Ian Wadsworth who placed the ball into the back of the net to restore Orwell's lead, but again the lead was short lived when Cameron Peters headed home from a corner to equalise for the Rangers.
But Orwell were not to be disturbed by this minor setback and hit back with a quick fire double from Ian Wadsworth. Upon scoring his third goal the Orwell following erupted on the side line as they watched him celebrate in the corner. At the stroke of half time it was 5-3 to Orwell.
Soon after the break Standish were back to within one goal when Cameron Peters headed his second home from another corner. Unwilling to have their lead cut Orwell struck back immediately through Ian Wadsworth. But Standish had a reply of their own through a Neil Clark goal. Three minutes later Scott Jones scored the pick of the bunch a 35 yard drive that left the Standish keeper bewildered. Orwell kept the back line solid until the 81st minute when Neil Clark hit home a strike to bring the game to within a goal.
But the drama did not end there. Relentless attacking pressure from Standish paid dividends in stoppage time when Liam Cooper tapped in from close range. As the Standish players celebrated referee Tony Ball signalled for a foul on Orwell keeper Neil Rigby. A decision which Ben Evans described as karma for Adam Morgan's kick in the face during the reverse fixture, a decision which cost the Orwell a point.
The final whistle was blown and Orwell recorded an impressive victory. But the victory was marred by ill feeling between players and staff from opposing teams. Evans refused to comment on speculation regarding who had and hadn't shook hands after the game but did say that "I teach my players to show respect, if they haven't shown that to the opposition then I'll be having words".
Evans also provided a brief update on striker Craig Wooton, who was substituted in the 6th minute with a suspected knee ligament injury. "Craig will be seeing medical advice tomorrow on his injury and we'll know more then."
Ian Wadsworth stormed off after the match angered by a pair of errors cost him dearly. Due to funding cuts at Orwell FC he was not allowed to take the match ball home and to add insult to injury ESPN had forgotten to bring a bottle of champagne to present to the man of the match. Rumours circulating the training camp this morning indicate that he is seeking a move away from the club, possibly to P.N.C. Ahtletic.
