The starting 11 to face Panathinaikos was Alexander, Wright, Bruce, De Vos, Harding, Garvan, Miller, Williams, Walters, Lee and Counago.
Fans in both North and South stands receive a warning before the match 'Please be aware of flying balls during the match' personally i don't think it is a good idea having flying balls at football, i feel a normal good old football would be best. Unfortunately this message wasn't passed on to a young lady in the Britannia stand whom came across this 'Flying ball' in the 10th minute, to the great amusement of just about the 8164 other people in the stadium.
Not much happens in the early stages (well for the whole match to tell the truth) A pigeon almost flies into the floodlights, Pablo has a jog, and my family keep asking me who's who.
In the 5th minute Counago scores from a corner ball, leaving the small crowd elevated and singing the song that hasn't been heard for far too long.
Wright gives the visitors a free kick in the 7th minute from which they win a corner, but any immediate danger is dismissed as Alexander punches the ball away.
Panathinaikos take an interesting corner, by interesting i mean rather strange and pointless with a little ball play in the corner area that leads to nothing.
Soon after in the 16th minute Lee gives us something nice to watch up front and beats the keeper but good defending stubs out Lee's good work.
In the 20th minute panic finds it's way on the pitch in the face of De Vos when he nearly has to touch the ball.
After an unexciting attack from Town they then have an unexciting corner, following that referee Peter Walton in the 23rd minute orders a drink break during which i find out that apparently it feels 'ok' having a moustache.
Nothing seems to be happening on the pitch, just up and down with half chances each end, but neither testing the keepers so in the 32nd minute conversations divert onto our new glove man Alexander and his misfortune with looks, but hey this game isn't about how pretty they look but it sure helps in the boring ones if there is something nice to look at.
Walters starts having some fun on the right but as i look around the game there doesn't seem to be many people actually watching the match.
In the 36th minute number 19 for the visitors spreads his wings and 11 has a tantrum.
I don't know what happened in the 37th minute, thanks to scientology.
After a tackle on Counago in the 40th minute, unlike during his previous spell at Ipswich, he actually stays on his feet, then the incident passes and he is unhappy about not winning a free kick, hush Pablo, you done good.
42 minutes gone, almost half time, Alexander collects a high ball nicely on the edge of the 6 yard box then 2 minutes later Pablo is on the ball with some very lovely play, the lovely play gets a lovely goal, a goal that was a goal before it even crossed the line.
It's 2-0, It's half time.
Half time lasted a very long time but when they did return Haynes was to replace Walters.
In the 48th minutes Alexander produces a great save which gives the visitors a corner, but this is no trouble for Town.
Williams loses his boot in the 51st minute after putting a good ball through to Lee in front of goal, his effort is saved, then in the 54th minute i run away to get an ice cream.
56 minutes gone and Pablo gets a nice flick onto Lee, Lee tries to send the ball on for a better position for Counago but Counago can't make the follow on and Panathinaikos win possession, from which they head up field and have a go on goal, but the ball falls straight for Alexander.
A double substitution for both teams takes place in the 62nd minute, i would tell you who the visiting subs were, but i don't know, for Town Counago and Garvan make way for Clarke and Legwinski.
69 minutes, Haynes runs, everyone gets excited and that's the end of that.
In the 70th minute Alexander goes down, so Supple warms up, then he gets up again so Supple sits down.
3 minutes later Williams goes down whilst standing alone, just seconds earlier he jumped for a head the continued to run before collapsing to the ground in agony, whilst being treated, Lee stayed at his side holding his hand, the medics strapped Williams foot whilst he breathed in that gas that makes you laugh if you have too much, no one is laughing right now and Williams is stretchered off, He is replaced by Peters, Wilnis and O'Callaghan take over from De Vos and Miller.
In the 82nd minute Harding is now down so once again Supple warms up, then Harding gets back up again so Supple sits down again.
Before long Clarke has already lost his patience and takes it out on Peters, Harding and Wilnis show some good defending in the 88th minute then after 90 minutes just 3 minutes are added, which i think suits everyone just fine.
So this friendly is over and the players of both teams go in to a very appreciative applause from the 8165 fans that turned up.
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