Football: Second Premier scalp for Stowmarket Town

Felixstowe & Walton United 2 Stowmarket Town 3

By JOHN GRIFFIN

Following their victory over Premier side Hadleigh in the previous round of the Ridgeons League Cup, Stowmarket Town fans were looking for another upset when they travelled to Felixstowe.

From the line-up though, it was clear that manager Steve Jay had his eye firmly on Saturday's big First Division match with Ipswich Wanderers as he made five changes to the starting 11 that had begun the game against Thetford the previous week.

If that was to give Felixstowe a boost, it didn't show as the Gold and Black of Stow came out the blocks the quickest, finding their strikers and wingers with ease.

This pressure told with the first goal of the game after 15 minutes. Dan Hall, making his first start of the season, whipped in a deep corner from the left and new signing DAN SMITH outleaped the defence on the back post to put the visitors one up.

Felixstowe found the opening minutes a struggle and could not get into their game as Stow snapped at every pass and pressured every touch.

This was no more evident in Stow's second goal when goalkeeper Rose was hassled into a back pass which he only managed to hit towards WAYNE PROCTOR who, with plenty still to do, shifted the ball to one side and neatly rifled it into the open net from 30 yards.

As on Saturday, a two-goal lead was not enough to win this game with Felixstowe beginning to build momentum of their own and through former Sudbury player Snell, they got a goal back. His 25 yard free-kick cannoned off the cross bar, bounced on the line and was bundled into the net by SEVERY.

With seconds ticking away to the break, Felixstowe found another with more six-ard line scrambling and any number of players claiming the equaliser.

The second half was a more equal affair, with Rose the busier of the two goalkeepers, saving from Wake, on for Proctor, and man of the match Dan Smith before a neat through ball from Graham found Tournay-Godfrey whose shot was saved with his out-stretched right boot.

The resulting corner again caused problems and NATHAN BIRCH, on for Chris Smith, climbed highest at the back post to put the underdogs back in front.

With Histon Reserves at Greens Meadow in a couple of weeks in the next round, attention shifts to that all-important promotion clash this Saturday.
Stowmarket: Stacey, Tredray, C Smith (Birch), Horsfall, McConnell, Licence, Graham, D Smith, Hall, Proctor (Wake), Turnay-Godfrey.