By Sadie
July 29 2006

Sadie gives Singing The Blues her own unique look at Town’s game against Lazio last night.

Welcome to the jungle boomed through the speakers, and as it played I began to fill up with confidence, with my anxiety disappearing just like Juventus from Serie A.

 

It was an encouraging sight to see the team huddle before kick off, sending out a warm feeling, or was that just the drunk man next to me!?

 

Within 10 minutes Lazio were a goal up after Rocchi broke free from Towns defence, neither Richard Naylor on his tail, or Sito who came running down the pitch as if it were mid October and someone was waving a pair of long Johns and thermals, managed to catch Rocchi as he slid the ball past Supple into the back of the net.

 

Soon after, back in the town box it turned into a game of pinball with the Town defence as the rebounders before the ball got through to the new no.1 who got the ball up field

 

Over the next 15 minutes the action continued from end to end, side to side, anyone with a stiff neck would be cursing.

 

In the 11th minute Rocchi was on the attack again, this time failing to get passed Supple’s flying foot. Almost straight after Town came to life with an attack from Currie and Bowditch, but went no further than the Lazio keeper who looked like he has just bathed in a bowl of lime jelly.

 

Soon after there was an appeal for handball against someone in white, I don't know who but it was denied which Left Super Jim waving his arms around so much he almost joined the few dozen seagulls hovering overhead. It seems that this left the town bench rather scared as all the subs immediately after got up and went for a run. Three failed town attacks later Lazio decided it was time to get re-acquainted with the ball, Lost Wilnis on the wing, got ahead of Naylor, but then no more than passed the ball to Supple, Soon after Lazio struck again but failed to add to their lead.

 

After that either nothing happened for the best part of 10 minutes, or everyone feel asleep, but the crowd were awoken when a shot from central playing Richards was tipped over the bar by the Lazio Jelly man. From the corner that followed Forster got onto the cross with a great powerful strike kicked straight to Ballotta.

 

The Lazio coach goes for a walk and another failed town strike takes us to half time.

 

Alan Lee replaced the impressive Dean Bowditch at half time due to niggles in the shins, but it was one star to another as the Irish front man looked as hungry and powerful as he did when he first came.

 

While the second half warmed up, Jim Magilton looking strong and belonging in his place has a drink of water

 

In the 52nd minute town fans called for a penalty after Lee fell over in the box, needless to say the appeal was ignored, the play headed south and Lazio, and Rocchi's score tally for the night doubled.

 

Ipswich responded in the feet of Alan Lee who blasted the ball into the bar of the Lazio goal, In the 60th minute Haynes came on for Nicky Forster who quietly impressed throughout the first half.

 

In the 63rd minute the peaceful match turned into fight night, when Ballotta, obviously still upset with Lee for rattling his bar got out the handbags, during the kafuffle someone opened the gates to MacDonald’s farm and the cows were let loose mooing (booing) their way to the end.

 

The 74th minute saw Garvan and Barron replace the disappointing Currie and Wilnis, and as usual with Currie nothing is simple when the substitution got mixed up and left everyone thinking man of the match Peters was making way for Garvan, but he was sent back and Currie called off.

 

Play resumed and the grounds men must have put their heads in their hands when a slide tackle brought up a stretch of turf deep enough to bury your hamster. Meanwhile in the Lazio dug out a player getting ready to come on had been watching too much Russell Brand and pulled his shorts down showing off his pair of grannies, when he was finally sorted and play stopped, Lazio's double substitution took place, during which Danny Haynes and Alan Lee both looked at the hole in the pitch before walking away obviously afraid of getting their nails dirty, But Westlake rose to the challenge, and with a little help from a Lazio player, put the pitch back together.

 

In the 78th minute I spotted a man wearing a green and yellow shirt and found it impossible to reason why someone would do such a thing to themselves, But my attention soon turned back to the pitch with stunning midfield play that left everyone else on the pitch standing like the leaning tower of Pissa. Peters continued his more than impressing performance crossing the ball to an unlucky Lee who headed over the bar.

 

I noticed that I needed to clean my sneakers just as Lee and Parkin, who came on for Richards, hit the net, unfortunately the ball however did not. Fight night continued in the hands of Tare and Naylor, then just to finish off Westlake gets himself booked after testing the opposition reflexes.

 

The match finished 0-2 to Lazio, but a promising and positive performance has left me even more hopeful of the season to come. New Gaffer Jim was also pleased with the performance and held particular praise for Dean Bowditch's first half display. The only thing i still feel needs extra work is the defence still being caught out like a kid in a biscuit tin.

 

10,365 supporters turned up for what was a truly encouraging performance, and seeing the general improvement especially that in Bowditch, Peters and Sito, there is certainly no need to be worrying just yet.

 

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