A really windy day at Carlton park but the pitch looked brilliant as usual and the lads were well up for the game and ready to work hard for another 3 points.
The lads decided that they wanted to kick into the wind for the 1st half but the 1st few minutes it looked like it may have been the wrong decision as Ipswich put us under pressure but the back 4 and Jack coped well and we started to work our way in to the game and Ed and Ben linked up but Ed's shot went wide. Jack made a save on 8 and looked comfortable with anything that was coming his way. Fish was working hard in the middle and getting kicked all the time for his trouble but not reacting to it. On 10 Ben scored a good 1st goal that gave the keeper no chance, for some strange reason the Athletic manager had decided to put his best player in goal he is a better player than keeper but that suited us. The visitors were working hard to try and get something going but they were resorted to long shots and free kicks but they were not going to trouble Jack. On 18 Ed got the 2nd goal after some good play from the team Ben put the ball through for Ed and he lobbed the keeper he tells me that it would have gone over if it wasn't for the wind (so I guess we will give the weather an assist). The rest of the half was all about hard work and the lads keeping their heads when the away team were slowly losing theirs. Ben had a shot go wide and Fish forced a corner after a good run. The 3rd goal came after some more good work from the lads and Arron and Ed linked up to get the ball to Ben for his 2nd of the game and to make it Sax 3 – 0 Ips Athletic at half time.
The lads were told at half time to keep cool and not get involved and they did that well under some quite tough provocation with Fish taking the most of the kicks but not getting involved apart from playing his game. Fish capped off his MOM display with a great goal he got he ball in the centre circle ran at the defence beat all in his path the keeper saved his 1st shot but the ball came back to him and he made no mistake the 2nd time round a great goal. We were disappointed to concede at the end but Jack did what he could but just couldn't get down to it (He said there was a bobble but I think his nose deflected the wind and moved the ball).
Over all it was a good performance not a great one but to play in that much wind was never going to be easy and the lads dug in and played their game when they were being kicked pulled and spat at and to not get involved in the arguments is good to see, even after the final whistle one of the lads who had taken a dislike to Fish came and had a go but they all just laughed it off maybe some of the red cards and bans are starting to teach them all a lesson.
Well done lads
David
