Ipswich Wanderers lifted themselves off the foot of the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division table with their first win of the season, 2-1 against fellow strugglers Wivenhoe Town.
Skipper Kris Rose was the hero as he not only scored the winner, but also produced a superb block to deny the Essex side a certain equaliser right at the death.
However, the game was marred by a serious injury to Wanderers’ Danny Thrower who was stretchered off in agony with an ankle injury shortly before half-time.
The opening period was hard-fought with chances at a premium. Wanderers striker James Watling was first to threaten, getting a toe to George Mrozek’s cross, but Wivenhoe keeper Aaron Reid diverted the ball away.
It was the visitors who had the more clear-cut opportunities with both Jack Charnock and Matt Eve blazing over from good positions.
Mrozek was beginning to cause the Dragons some problems with his pace and skill down the right, in company with the impressive Nathan Speed, before the game was brought to a halt by Thrower’s injury, sustained in a seemingly innocuous challenge on the edge of the Wivenhoe penalty area.
Shortly after the break Mrozek tested Reid from 20 yards but in truth the game seemed to be going nowhere until three goals in three minutes around the hour mark.
Firstly, the visitors took the lead after good play from Zak Johnson and Charnock down the left ended with the latter crossing for Lewis Blanchett to finish from close range.
Wanderers levelled straight from the kick off as Speed advanced from his right-back position to drill a low 25-yarder into the far corner. Fellow full back Rose then appeared in the six-yard box to convert Harry Archer’s inch-perfect delivery.
The game then became fractious and Wanderers picked up three bookings in four minutes before Marcus Taylor offended again and picked up a second yellow, leaving the home side to play the final 12 minutes a man short.
Wivenhoe pushed forward in an attempt to salvage a point and Jack Spurling made a great stop from Eve before the keeper was left stranded, only for Rose to save the day, denying Eve again, and giving caretaker boss Mark Goldfinch a much-needed win.
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