Wanderers shock the Trawler Boys…again!

When Ipswich Wanderers travelled to leaders Lowestoft Town in October, they had lost every previous league match and were expected to lose another- but they turned the form book on its head, took three points, and sparked an unbeaten run which lifted them up the table and out of trouble. Last night they welcomed the Trawler Boys for a rematch after a run of five matches without a win…and it happened again! Now we wait for that winning run to continue!

Town had won their previous four matches and were unbeaten for seven, and were playing their game in hand over second place Felixstowe and Walton United. Victory would have taken them six points clear at the top of the Pitching In Isthmian North table, but it seems that Wanderers have a secret formula for making these particular opponents miserable.

A scorching start to the second half saw the hosts go two up within four minutes of the restart. First, Rashid Salau opened the scoring within seconds of kick off, and then, three minutes later, Teon Leggett made it two. The visitors made it interesting when pulling a goal back with eleven minutes to go, Travis Cole giving the travelling support hope, but it turned out to be forlorn hope as Wanderers held on for three valuable points, a result which takes them sixteen points clear of the drop zone.

Lowestoft remain three points clear at the top, but their defeat makes the title race look even more interesting- particularly as their run in features three of the top five including a clash with Felixstowe and Walton United on March 23rd.

Image from Shirley Whitlow.

Walthamstow and Basildon United both have play off hopes, and the sixth place Bees travelled to East London hoping to close the gap on fifth place Brentwood Town to two points. Instead the Bees were undone by Stow, who made it three wins from four and scored four goals for the second match in a row.

It looked like it would be a good day for the visitors when they went ahead after just five minutes, Samir Ali opening the scoring, but Brian Moses had other ideas, equalising on eighteen minutes- and three minutes later the hosts were ahead, a Bilal Sayoud cross evading everyone and entering the net- goal given despite a discussion between the officials about a potential offside. The Bees were quickly level, however, Ali scoring his thirteenth of the season- and the match remained evenly poised at the break.

With twenty two minutes to go Moses struck again. The striker who knows its raining long before anyone else got his sixth goal in twelve matches- and his second brace in a row- heading home to make it three-two. Victory was assured for Walthamstow with ten minutes left, when a foul on Sayoud gave substitute Olly Sotoyinbo the chance to convert from the spot. Four-two, game over, and the hosts now level on points with their visitors- and up to eighth.

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