On Sunday Woodbridge Town F.C hosted the Sian Ryan Memorial Match. The match was organised by Sian’s family with Sian’s older sister Annalise now playing for Woodbridge Town Ladies.

The match was held in order to raise money for Sian’s charity, which was set up after Sian was tragically killed in a road accident in 2009 aged just 16. The visitors and opponents chosen by the family were AFC Sudbury Ladies, who themselves lost player Emma Holloway, 19, in a road accident last November.

Kick off was preceded by a minutes applause to celebrate and remember the two avid football players for whom the match was played in memory of.

The match was to be a well spirited and friendly affair with Sudbury being tested by a team ranked in the league above, and for the first half the difference in league status was well demonstrated with Woodbridge dominating for much of the half.

With 10 minutes played Woodbridge were to open the scoring with an in-swinging corner headed in by Emma Gregory. Woodbridge continued to get the ball forward and shortly before the 20 minute mark had a penalty awarded for a foul deep inside the 18 yard box. Annalise Ryan stepped up to take the kick and dispatched the ball past the keeper to pick up her first goal of the match.

With half hour gone Sudbury began to make an impact on the game with Jodie Sharp sent clear through on goal only for the keeper to make a brilliant save from close range. As Sudbury looked to push forward they were caught at the back by a cross from the left which came of a Sudbury defender into the path of an on running Woodbridge player, who calmly slotted the ball into the net from close range, taking the score to 3-0.\

Sudbury had however stepped up their passing game and a series of one-two passing between Hannah Davies and Chloe Mills saw them break through the Woodbridge defence but once again the keeper was alert to the danger and prevented a Sudbury goal. Shortly before the half time whistle Woodbridge were to further increase their lead with a free kick from the left of the box being forwarded in on goal from close range.

Half time; Woodbridge Ladies 4 – 0 AFC Sudbury Ladies.

The second half saw Emily Heaslip take to the field in a Sudbury kit in order to play her part in the match. Her impact was instant with a cross field ball to Natalie Golding on the right wing. Golding’s cross into the box fell to an unmarked Emma Squirrell whose attempt on goal was once again kept out by the Woodbridge keeper, who was having a fine game.

Sudbury were much more prominent in the second half and again went close to scoring, this time from a corner when Charlotte Churchman’s glancing long range header rebounded off the crossbar to safety.

Sudbury were then to concede two near identical goals within quick succession. Balls sent over the top caught the defence flat footed and left the keeper no chance from shots powered in from close range, leaving the score at 6 -0.

With the clock running down Woodbridge found time for a final goal when a long range effort rebounded off the corner section of the goal frame with the rebound being followed up and the ball ending up in the back of the net.

Final Score Woodbridge Ladies F.C 7 – 0 AFC Sudbury Ladies.

Despite the one-sided score line the match was a fitting tribute to the day and helped to raise funds and awareness of Sian’s charity. The match was played in a good spirit throughout with both teams playing in a respectful manner which fitted with the enjoyable atmosphere of the day.

Both teams can now look forward to what will hopefully be a successful season for both in their Eastern Region Womens football leagues.