Saturday 12th January 2013 @3pm
Suffolk Senior Cup
WHITTON UNITED 4-3 IPSWICH VALLEY RANGERS
King George V Fields, Old Norwich Road, Ipswich
Admission: £4 (inc 12pp, A5 programme)
Attendance: 125
FOOD: Cheeseburger £2,
DRINK: Guinness £3, Cup-a-soup 80p
I was restricted again by a 1pm start time from home so rushed towards Old Norwich Road, Whitton, arriving 20 minutes before kick off for their Cup game v Ipswich Valley Rangers, a new side formed in 2007. With the car park full, I managed a quick getaway slot along the track from the road towards the ground. You can see the complex, including junior pitches just after turning off the A14 (jct 53) and passing Asda. The facilities are a little ramshackle but everything is there. The clubhouse clientele does resemble a cross between a crèche and a Jeremy Kyle waiting room but the people in there are ok and the prices are reasonable. A foreign Satellite station kept quite a few inside for the Stoke v Chelsea game as us diehards preferred the cup game with the help of a hot cup-a-soup or 2. Inside the turnstile is the tea bar, again prices are good for standard fayre. There is a seated (McDonalds sponsored stand in situ behind the goal but view is restricted with a net in front to pick up the stray shots. Why not erect the net behind the stand? Along the right touchline is a covered standing area called The Shed, and opposite is another deeper standing area. I liked both as they had a DIY feel about them. The far goal has no access but has a fence stopping stray shots exiting onto the main road.
With the favourites at home against Suffolk & Ipswich League side Ipswich Valley Rangers, most of the crowd expected it to be an easy victory. Throughout the match I saw no difference between the two sides, apart from perhaps the centre backs. The contest was evenly poised until a trio of goals within 5 minutes of each other. After 20 minutes Whitton went 1-0 up when the defence were caught out by the chip over them allowing Clarke to score. Within a minute it was level when a low shot from no11 beat the keeper. This was followed by another quick attacking break to make it 1-2 and turned the game on its head. Whitton dug deep and levelled before half time from the no7 who played furthest forward even though playing inside left all game. The penalty was given as the keeper fully committed himself but only got a yellow card, which on reflection was a fair decision.
The second half again took an unexpected turn as Rangers would not lie down. A bundled goal and a rasping 25 yarder kept things equal before Inglis got his second 15 minutes before the end. Whitton were reduced to timewasting towards the end, especially the keeper who looked an old hand at winding the clock down, and despite 2 late attempts just off target, Whitton ran out winners.
A cracking full bloodied cup game with only 2 bookings. Well refereed Callum.
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