Ipswich Towns first evening home match of the 06/07 season saw a few changes in the starting 11. Lewis Price still continues to keep his place in goal With Wilnis returning into the back four along side De Vos, Bruce and Harding. The Town midfield held no resemblance to that which finished the 05/06 season with Noble, Legwinski, Walton and Williams controlling the centre, Lee and Macken were striking partners with Clarke on the bench, joining him was Supple, Naylor, Currie and Sito.

 

The match started with the Coventry attack immediately putting pressure on the Town defence but Wilnis literally rose to the challenge and cleared with a strong and confident defensive header.

 

On 5 minutes Lewis Price bends over. I do not know the reason for this as I was too busy enjoying the view, now don't sit and think 'typical woman' I do go for the football it's just moments like those are a bonus.

 

Coventry City defiantly started the better team with a plethora of opportunities but for reasons such as in the 7th minute where a great chance was headed past the goal, was exactly why they didn't take the lead.

 

In the 8th minute as Price sends the ball up field, Wilnis is practicing moves for the dance machine, he is determined to beat De Vos to the triple A score and dancing queen crown.

 

It wasn't long before the ball was again heading for the town box as it seemed the Tractor Boys had not yet realised the game had kicked off.

 

A Coventry player mistakes the tall, thin Legwinski for a javelin and tries his hand at the Olympic event. The free kick is taken by Price which creates Towns first real chance of the match with some stylish play from Macken who then passed to someone who I could not see who hit the ball just wide of the not so welcomed Andy Marshall’s goal.

 

On 12 minutes the sheep in Wales lose their wool out of fear as Magilton yells to his sleepy side, actually I don't think yell is the right word, if they recorded it, it would be the most effective alarm clock ever made.

 

I began to worry when on 17 minutes Alan Lee, panting, stops for a drink, he couldn't of had it already... could he?

 

Meanwhile Coventry have a corner which is nearly as bad as some of the Town corners witnessed so far this season, Williams managed to keep the ball in play and an over enthusiastic Town side all head up field. The ball is then lost to Coventry and with no defence Price takes a risk coming out of the box and amazingly heads the bal out of play for a Coventry throw.

 

Coventry continue to dominate the game like a piranha in a fish tank but again Price saves comfortably from another Coventry corner n the 21st minute.

 

In the 29th minute excitement sweeps through as I eat a chewit and the boy behind (whom I refuse to admit is my brother) tries a new look and turns into a woman.

 

From one end to the other Price makes a good save then Legwinski attempts what I think may have intended to be a shot.

 

On the half hour mark Alan Lee successfully receives AND passes the ball, whatever was in that drink he should have more often.

 

36 minutes Lee heads a shot which Marshall has to dive to save. Then on 37 minutes Thornton wins a free kick earning Bruce his 5th yellow card of the season and the ban that comes with it. Price saves the free kick, a part timer turns up and I share my wisdom in the advice to never drink brown water.

 

In the 41st minute De Vos has a strop but is reassured by the lino that he is watching so everything is ok, kids these days hey, you can't take them anywhere.

 

45 minutes to win a free kick which ends up in the wall, we aren't at school anymore lads, we actually have goals to shoot at.

 

Walton rips his sock tape and throws it on the pitch. You litter bug, that's 50 quid please. Now if he had thrown it in my direction I would have treasured it the way an obsessed Robbie Williams fan treasures a drip of sweat from him as he leans over the stage at a concert.

 

Half time sees both teams go in without a goal (as the goals are left on the pitch, it would be way too much hassle taking them in for half time then brining them back out again, kind of like Sito who joins the other subs in a half time warm up)

 

I didn't need a warm up but if they had offered to help me warm up, well I wouldn't have refused, those who know me may think I’m mad, but I'm not an idiot.

 

Anyhoo No changes for either team at half time, the second half began with a moth flying around, and I don't think he paid to get in.

 

On 47 minutes Noble is not amused at the Lino's joke when he awards Coventry a throw in.

 

Alan Lee's talents extended (He must have been on the "water" again at half time) as he actually managed to move with the ball in the 48th minute, the inspiring play from Town continued and Noble scored making it 1-0 to Town.

 

53 minutes Harding has great hair, Oh how I want to brush it so tenderly. Noble tries to cross the ball but gives it to Andy Marshall.

 

55 minutes as Town continue fighting the Coventry defence Noble hits over as Currie warms up, I figure Currie uses a tanning booth as no ones skin can be naturally that beautiful, no not even mine!

 

McKenzie replaces Whing on the 60th minute for Coventry and Lee wins Town a corner, which Noble takes and Marshall punches out the ball that would have been much easier to catch. This obviously frustrates Noble who goes and gets himself booked in the 64th minute

 

On the 65th minute at the other end of the pitch Coventry have a free kick, the also go back to school days and slam it straight at the Town wall.

 

Wilnis makes way for Richard Naylor on the 66th minute shortly after Macken has what I think was supposed to be a shot and my brother tells a tree and turd joke, whilst still telling it the ball comes into the Town half and Price pulls off a great save.

 

Coventry's second substitution took place in the 71st minute with Cameron replacing Doyle, immediately after good play and an unmarked Ward bring Coventry back onto level pegging.

 

Ah well I win funky sock competition again with my black, purple and black, yellow socks

 

In the 80th minute Billy 'the wonder kid' Clarke comes on for Macken and sexy Simon Walton has a shot saved by Andy Marshmellow.

 

Good links again from midfield to the strikers with Walton finding Lee, who reaches Clarke, Clarke has a battle, wins a corner but nothing comes from it.

 

Both Coventry and Town make their third substitutions, Hutchinson replaces Thornton for Coventry and Currie makes an appearance at the expense of Noble

 

Immediately after Clarke scores a fantastic goal from 22 yards, bouncing in front of and beating Marshall despite him getting a hand to it in the 85th minute, the kid does it again, but to the Town fans- please don't get carried away and help keep the kids feet firmly on the ground.

 

Alan Lee lost his energy after that but in front of 19,465 supporters at Portman Road he had put out his best performance so far this season.

 

In the 88th minute Town lose control and let Coventry run riot, then when the fourth official announces injury time you would have thought S club juniors entered the pitch judging by the fans reaction of dismay to the 5 minutes shown.

 

There was confusion in the Coventry box between Town players as their level of communication almost reached that of a fish and a kangaroo in the Tate Modern.

 

Williams was well spotted by Currie in the 94th minute but failed to finish.

 

The game kept going and at what I'm sure was 96 minutes we all thought the game was over, but no the ref just found it necessary for some bizarre reason to have a long blow on his whistle.

 

The final Coventry attack came from a corner which And Marshall felt he could be useful for, sorry love you're no better there than you are a convincing candidate in a Town shirt! (In actual fact he got onto the corner and headed just wide).

 

Finally the game was over and Ipswich had bagged their third successive win, next stop Birmingham just remember no game is an easy game, so don't go into that match grinning like Roman Abramovich standing at a cash machine, grin like a Town fan as things are finally looking up!

 

I was asked to put a personal message on the end “Where was Andy Marshall when the ball was in the net”.

 

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