Red card seals fate for Achilles

SIL SOCCER

Achilles 0 Grundisburgh 1

Achilles, unlucky not to salvage a point from this game, were reduced to ten men on 19 minutes when Ransom was sent off for hand ball following a shot from Bennett.

Grundisburgh were not able to capitalise from the spot, with MacAlistair pulling his shot a yard wide.

Grundisburgh scored the decisive goal on 27 minutes when Achilles failed to close down Bennett who let fly from 25 yards to send a lethal left-footer just inside Richards' left-hand post.

The alert Brightey saved Grundisburgh on the half hour, flying out of his box to head clear a long ball aimed for Garner who was clean through.

On 38 minutes Richards was prominent with a blinding save from Fitch, this was just after the injured Bennett was replaced by Tuck.

Ten man Achilles battled throughout the second half and should have equalised on 68 minutes when Symonds failed to direct a shot on target from six yards.

Brightey cleared a dangerous cross from Taylor before Richards denied Fitch again with another great save.

Grundisburgh had a goal disallowed at the death following a devilish corner from Morrison.

Ipswich Athletic 2 Capel 1

CAPEL took the lead in the third minute when Vince took full advantage of a hesitant defence, but Athletic levelled when Jacobs' glancing header from Taylor's free-kick went in off the post in the seventh minute.

Capel keeper Hunt saved well from Radnor as the home side looked to increase their lead and Ford got clear but the ball squirmed away under the diving Hunt just outside the far post.

Capel could have gone back in front but the unfortunate Holder was too slow to react to a great ball from Vince and then completely miskicked after the best move of the game.

The controversial winning goal went to Athletic in the 55th minute when Karantzis bundled Horsfall off the ball and rolled the ball back for Howard who gave Hunt no chance.

Tempers flared for a time until Athletic surged forward and although Capel came back to pressure towards the end and had a goal from Powell disallowed they failed to trouble Evans in the home goal.

Bramford 0 East Bergholt 1

THE game kicked off in drizzling rain. Bramford broke down the left but Lawrence's first-time shot was easily held by Andrews.

Gedny beat the offside trap but his mishit shot was cleared off the line. Gedny was soon in again around the back of the defence, but keeper Leggett pushed the ball round the post for a corner.

Bramford conceded a free kick just outside the box which was rolled to Gedny who hit the ball just inside the post to open the scoring for East Bergholt.

Bramford hit back straight away and Lawrence brought a good save from Andrews.

After a slick East Bergholt move Turner hit the Bramford bar. Gedny broke away, but tried to chip the keeper when Wilcox was standing free on the edge of the box.

Bramford were now enjoying total command of the play, but the final penetrating ball was left wanting.

Substitute Bird's pace was causing problems in the Bergholt defence. Lawrence fired wide when well-placed and although Bramford attacked until the end, the goal was not forthcoming.

Woodbridge Athletic 1 Melton 0

THE game was settled in the opening minute when Calver converted Broom's cross in a well-executed move.

For the rest of the game both sides cancelled one another out with a host of bookings and some scrappy football.

Neither side had good control and visiting keeper McKenna was at his best after poor defending pushed Broom's effort around the post.

Melton, following half-time, came back into the game and chances went begging as their forwards failed to test the keeper.

In the last 10 minutes, Athletic were pinned into their own half, but held on to their slender lead to be rewarded with all three points and a win over their local neighbours.

Old Newton 2 Leiston 1

DESPITE a greasy surface the home attack looked sharp in the opening minutes forcing three corner kicks which were scrambled away by defenders.

In their first attack Leiston missed a chance to go ahead when Hall stabbed wide a pass from Murphy and Connick in the home goal made a brilliant save to tip a 30-yard volley from Smith over his crossbar.

At the other end Newton were unlucky when a shot from Pilborough struck the keeper's leg and Zarkos sliced his shot over the bar from three yards.

Old Newton went ahead in the 32nd minute when Pilborough again took advantage of a hesitant Leiston defence to run clear and lob the keeper from 20 yards.

Leiston levelled in the 42nd minute when Murphy ran on to a pass from Jennings and stroked the ball past the keeper.

Old Newton laid siege to the Leiston goal for most of the second half with Richards heading a cross from Zarkos in the 65th minute to give Old Newton the first points of the season.

Crane Sports 2 Westerfield 1

CRANES kicked off their first home game against their last year's promotion rivals in front of a good-sized crowd.

After a quiet opening and several chances missed at both ends, Beecroft opened the scoring, beating Howes low down from White's deep cross.

A quick reply from Westerfield came from Osborne and Drury's strong run found Clarke in good form.

Sandilands' shot was parried, Smith followed up, Clarke managed to push the ball off the bar and away. Sandilands then scuffed a shot when in a good position.

Beecroft and Godfrey traded chances at both ends, but Godfrey levelled the scores as he raced through to lift the ball over the advancing Clarke, as Westerfield finished the half stronger.

With the floodlights on, Cranes made use of the slope. Mortimer was first to show, unleashing a shot which somehow Howes got a hand to. From the resulting corner Cranes took the lead. From a floated corner Beecroft flicked on and Gavin Paul nodded the ball beyond the keeper and the covering defender.

Although Cranes were always in command, they had to survive a couple of goalmouth scrambles, but they should have increased their score as they missed several chances.