Whitchurch 1 Ipswich 7

South Division

Whitchurch 1 Ipswich 7

On Saturday Ipswich embarked on a 240 mile voyage to Cardiff to play star studded giants Whitchurch whose line-up consisted of six full Welsh internationals

From the first whistle the visitors pushed the home side back deep into their own half and cut off the supply to their key players. This pressure paid off as the lively Rutterford intercepted a pass then, playing a one-two with Smith, rounded the keeper to open the scoring after four minutes.

From this point the Welsh side tried to stamp their authority on the game by pushing men forward and grabbed an equaliser through a back post scramble with Joe Naughlty tapping in.

It wasn't long before the Suffolk side deservedly took the lead again when Evans picked up on a loose pass from the home side before unselfishly squaring to Smith who tapped home.

From the re-start Ipswich continued to turn the screw on the home side with every single member of the Ipswich side having an input in some scintillating attacking play. Continued pressure forced two short corners late in the half, one of which Dixon hammered home, with another rattling the cross bar. Shortly after Evans deservedly added another goal to put the visitors 4-1 ahead at half time.

Ipswich went into their half time team talk full of confidence and knew the game was now theirs to lose, aware that they had surrendered leads in the past. This was the day that they stopped the rot and after some words of wisdom from Nick Fry, started the second half in a remarkably calm, composed and professional manner. Fry stressed at half time that all the visitors needed to do was not to let in a goal for the first 15 minutes of the second period in order to win the game.

Ipswich started the second half patiently, allowing Whitchurch to have possession, knowing that the home side would soon give the ball away. Evans pounced on yet another stray Whitchurch pass before skillfully gliding past a defender and placing a neat reverse stick shot into the bottom right corner. A minute later, Roosblad was put through on goal before powerfully striking his first National League goal, with manager Beales anxiously looking on.

By now, Whitchurch had had the stuffing knocked out of them after being outplayed in every department. Ipswich played the rest of the game with confidence, professionalism and flair, rarely losing possession of the ball and continuing to entice Whitchurch into their trap.

Another Ipswich breakaway resulted in a short corner which Dixon converted after 56 minutes, before he was carried off with a groin injury. Ipswich played the rest of the game out stringing a number of passes together to run down the clock.

A remarkable display from the visitors saw them run out 7-1 victors, a result that will send shockwaves through the league and will give Ipswich confidence that they are a match with anyone on their day. Next week sees high flying Bromley and Beckenham visit Tuddenham Road. Ipswich will be looking to build on this weeks win with three points on Sunday against the London side.