Slazenger EHL

Premier Division

Old Loughtonians v Ipswich 

Won 5-1

Scorers: J Hall (3), L Aldous, E Lee-Smith

Five was again the lucky number for Ipswich as for the second game in 2 weeks they hammered in 5 goals as they demolished Old Loughtonians 5-1. Continuing the number five sequence the win moved the Suffolk side to 5th place in the Slazenger EHL Premier Division.

For the first time this season Ipswich coach Royce Waters had a full squad of 16 to chose from and the result shows what a difference it made. It is also even more encouraging for the Suffolk Team  when you take into account the fact that 2 starting line up players, Kirsten Spencer (calf injury) and Jo Ellis (GB game) were not able to play.

Ipswich started the game well but the home side, urged on by their vocal coach earned an early short corner as the visitors initially struggled to adjust to the muddy and bouncy pitch. The Essex side did manage to find the back of the Ipswich goal but the whistle had gone for an earlier foul and the next corner was comfortably dealt with by the Ipswich defence. The let off seemed to kick start the visitors and Ipswich began to dominate the play, with the home side looking more and more uncomfortable on the ball. Sure enough in the 6th minute Ipswich opened the scoring through a fantastic goal by Ex-Loughtonians player Jenny Hall. Hall was fed a great through ball by Jess Bloom and then made no mistake as the rounded the home side's keeper with ease.  It was Hall's first goal of the season as she broke her collarbone in the summer and only played her first game last week. 

The home side initially looked shell shocked and Ipswich now began to increase the pressure, forcing the keeper into several good saves but not finding that vital final shot. Having regained some composure Loughts began to resort to a long ball tactic, hoping that the bouncy pitch would catch out the Ipswich defence and their basic approach almost paid off. A  bobbling ball bypassed the visitors defence and a goal hanging Loughtonians player was first to react and headed for goal.  Showing a calm composure Ipswich's keeper Charlotte Lee-Smith refused to be rushed into a rash reaction and was duly rewarded as she saved the well struck shot and watched it cannon off her body for a long corner.

With the chance gone the home side paid the price as on the 26th minute Lizzy Aldous made it 2-0 to Ipswich. A great reverse stick shot by Sarah Tallent was only parried by the keeper and Aldous was on hand to tap it over the line and score her 3rd goal of the season.

Despite some good opportunities to extend their lead Ipswich came off at half time only 2-0 up and were keen to extended their league.

Within 3 minutes of the re start Ipswich got what they wanted as Hall bagged her second with a screamer of a shot that left the keeper with no chance. In face Hall was terrorizing the home sides defence every time she got the ball and claimed her well deserved hat trick on the 49th minute to make it 4-0 to a rampant Ipswich team.  

Hat trick Hero Jenny Hall!

Disappointingly for Ipswich Old Loughts did manage to pull a goal back, ex -Ipswich player Louise Jukes with an easy tap in after a short corner was initially saved on the post but not cleared.

However the home sides renewed belief only lasted 4 minutes before Emma Lee-Smith hit the goal of the game and probably the whole season.  An initial shot was saved and cleared by the keeper to the top right of the circle, where an on rushing Lee-Smith unleashed an undercut strike of such venom that it had hit the underside of the cross bar and dropped into the back of the goal before the keeper had moved.

It was the fitting final goal to this 5-1 cruise for Ipswich and despite a late yellow card for Lizzy Aldous, the result was never in doubt.  Ipswich now move to within 2 points of third place, while Loughts remain second bottom in the relegation play-off spot.

Next weekend the Suffolk team face two tough home games as they host 4th placed Canterbury on Saturday and Essex rivals Chelmsford on Sunday. With only 3 points separating the teams and the likelihood of availability of the England players these will be hard fought games but Ipswich will be aiming to continue their winning run.

 NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2C

Suffolk Premier League

Ipswich v 

Lost 3-2

Scorers:

Suffolk Div 1

Ipswich v 

Lost 2-0

Slazenger EHL

South Division

Firebrands v Ipswich 

Lost 4-2

Scorers: M Wheelhouse, I Smith

Last weekend saw yet another away match for Ipswich men’s 1^st team, with the squad travelling to Bristol to face Firebrands. It was Ipswich’s seventh away match in nine fixtures, leaving many people wondering just what X-Box game the staff at England Hockey were playing when they “planned” the Slazenger EHL fixture list. Despite losing their last four matches, Firebrands were level on points with Ipswich before the game and have been a notoriously difficult team to beat in past years. 

Ipswich had planned to take 2^nd team goalkeeper Tony Burch in place of the unavailable Ed Martin, but Burch was dramatically knocked unconscious playing in Saturday’s East Premier A crunch match against Harleston Magpies. Burch’s misfortune turned out to be a fantastic opportunity for up and coming shot-stopper Ben Glading, who has been in great form over the past few weeks. Matt Stainthorpe, who has been in fine form at left back this season was also unavailable, having not fully recovered from a groin injury. 

Coach Ian Gall and captain Ivan Smith asked for focussed professionalism in the build up to this match, and they got exactly that from their players. An impressive warm up saw Ipswich explode into action from the first second of the match. Ivan Smith gave Ipswich the lead after just four minutes when he deflected a wonderful cross-field pass from Will Hearne beyond the Firebrands keeper, and it was not long before the visitors added a second thanks to a well executed penalty corner strike from Mark Wheelhouse. However, Firebrands pulled themselves back into the match with two goals in just six minutes. Penalty corner expert Marc Patrick drag flicked the first, and then got his and Firebrands second when he finished off a slick move to level the scores. Firebrands moved into the lead shortly before half time, when Tim Lang bundled the ball over the line from a penalty corner, leaving the Ipswich players visibly frustrated at having thrown away such a promising position.  

Firebrands scored the only goal of the second half, thanks to a Wes Duston penalty corner strike, but Ipswich had chances to grab something out of the game. Richard Fox smashed a shot from left of circle which forced a good save from the Firebrands keeper, with Ben Gallagher also having a good opportunity in front of goal. At the other end, excellent work from Ben Glading and Mark Wheelhouse helped to keep Ipswich within touching distance of their opponents; the former made a couple of solid blocks with the latter clearing the ball off the line on not one but two occasions. However, Firebrands held on for victory, much to the disappointment of an Ipswich squad who firmly believe that they could have come away from Bristol with all three points.

 “It was frustrating to throw away a two goal lead, and just goes to show that you cannot give any side in this league even a sniff of an opportunity to get back into the match,” said captain Ivan Smith. We need to learn to kill off our opponents when we have the chance, and that is the lesson we have to take away from this game.” 

Next week, Ipswich will play bottom of the league side Teddington in what is a must win game. Come and support the boys this Sunday at Tuddenham Road, 2.00 pm push-back. Your support would be most welcome!

NE14HOCKEY East League

Prem A

Harleston v Ipswich 2's

Result: Lost 4-1

Scorers: Dixon 

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2 N

Ipswich  v March Town

Result: Won 9-0

Scorers: T Lever (4)  Sam Gibson (2), Shyam Patel , J Godfrey (2)

Start from the beginning...........

It was a glorious Saturday morning that greeted the 3XI at Henley Road. With the return of Johno and Rogan the side was looking strong. Even though the opposition was bottom concentration was needed to ensure a good win

Ipswich needed a win to keep them in the promotion hunt against March Town, a team yet to register a win this season. Ipswich started slowly but were still to strong for March Town, even with the side containing more dribblers that a maternity ward and a formation which at times more resembling the charge of the Light Brigade that the finely oiled machine that was on show against Peterborough. Still, from the few sporadic moments of genuine hockey that were viewed in the first half, Ipswich were 3 goals to the good with very little threat to the frequently depleted backline, with a great deflection from Gibson as well as 2 goals from the bursting Toby lever from midfield, though the camp celebration will need much work should he ever score again.

After a half time team talk that only Pan, Rogan and Jonnie didn't bother to air their view (presumably because they couldn't get a word in above the 10 way conversation) Ipswich moved from first to second and finally third gear to put a further 6 goals past a now very tired and shell shocked March Town. Who had no reply to the change of pace in Ipswich's game with Rogan Josh probing and the sharking of The Sultan in the D (though the defence has yet to recognise his regal presence in defence). The goals from the spicy Rogan netting 2, another from Gibson, 2 further minced goals from Lever and a sultana of a goal from Patel ended the scoring.

A worthy win for the 3's this week. facing a below par opposition Ipswich held their shape a produced some good hockey. The tireless midfield ground out passes, which coupled by some exemplary movement by the front line made an enormous amount of space for some classic lever showboating, who found himself in a position to net just the 4 goals. Patel was found sharking on the P sport to drill in one for himself late in the second half, against better opposition this sort of blatant disregard for positional sense will surely be punished!

"In another tight contest, Paul "The Dribble" Graves wins DoD in a tight call from James "Chairman Mao" Wrinch though having agreed to take one for the team on the 8th December 2007 by driving the Venga bus to Cambridge, Graves, 34, the husband and father of one from Ipswich, has propelled himself into the MoM standings already for next week with 2 postal votes already being received (they also voted DoD for Toby "Camp Freddie" Lever and Robin "Not a clue" Swindin)."

A long trip to Spalding beckons but Ipswich is still in the mix and that's the way they like it.

NE14HOCKEY East League 

Div 4NE 

Gorleston v Ipswich 4's

Result: Won 4-1 

Scorers: Scarff, O Holloway (2), M Godbold

Unfortunately your regular fourth XI correspondent has taken flak for focusing on the trials and tribulations of the Holloway season.

So lets forget him this week.

Gorleston started the game in optimistic mood having moved up to second place in the league. They also knew their ultra slow pitch might be a secret weapon.

Ipswich were nearly at full strength and got going after an uncertain first 15 minutes during which time Kwan was called upon to excel for the first time this season and he duly delivered.

Then Ipswich rattled off three quick goals with Godbold scoring his first in 2007 and Scarff ambling from just outside the 25 yard line to about the penalty spot as the defence backed off. He then swung his stick and kind of lob sliced it into the top right hand corner. Bizarre but effective. The man I cant mention scored the other one.

Then a major shock, the Ipswich team conceded their first open play goal of the season. The inquest is still going on as to whose fault it was. But your correspondent can scotch the rumours that it was Sebborn's fault - he was umpiring.

At half time Gorleston were in with a sniff but Ipswich battled their way through the second half and Mr Unmentionable scored the only goal of the half.

So it is now 6 wins out of 6 and Ipswich returned over the soon to be shut bascule bridge in Lowestoft delighted with their win and still trying to work out exactly where Scarff was aiming when he shot.

Man of the match undoubtedly young Jack or Sebborn for volunteering to umpire.

Next week Norwich Union at home.

Final observation for the week - those without Mr Unmentionable in their team are on the up next week as he cant play! He's off shooting and hopes to have more success in that sport (?) than he did with his shooting at Gorleston

Final Final observation, is Gorleston in Suffolk or Norfolk?

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 6NE

Bury St Edmunds 5's v Ipswich 5's

Result: Won 4-2

Scorers: R LeVay,R Sebborn (2),G Payne 

Ipswich 5 used their best performance of the season to leap over third placed Norwich City 5 & move into second spot in the NE14 Hockey East Mens Div 6NE. The away side had a great balance to it with a spine of strong older players & younger players on the flanks. Their first half performance was outstanding & were off to a strong start when Richard LeVay pounced on a loose ball after Sebborns initial shot was saved in the first five minutes. It was Sebborn himself who scored twice more in the first period, each time picking his spot around the Bury keeper with pin point accuracy. A feisty home side struggled to contain an almost rampant Ipswich side who launched wave after wave of attacks to finish the half 3:0 up.

The visitors took their foot off the gas in the second period & allowed Bury back into the game. The did not look like losing the match & finally put the game beyond the reach of the home side when George Payne dropped a left shoulder, stepped around the defence & roofed an unstoppable shot into the net for his third goal in three games.

NE14HOCKEY East League

Veterans

Colchester v Ipswich

Won 8-0

Scorers: Wheaton, Foster 2, Tew 2, Glading 3

An old cliche but a game of 2 halves! With several rested for the over 40s cup Ipswich expected a closely fought encounter in this local derby. Having beaten Colchester in the over 40s cup in convincing style a few weeks ago a much closer contest was envisaged. The first half was even, Ipswich created a number of opportunities including a couple of efforts that crashed against the post and the home team were also creating their own goal scoring openings, but Steward returning between the posts was more than a match and Ringrose was keeping Colchester's danger man well under control. Ipswich did however, gain some reward for their efforts when Wheaton cleared up a saved short corner to slot home.

Then the second half and Ipswich looked more fluid as the ball started to flow giving the Colchester defense problems but it took a goalkeeping error to allow the lead to be extended with Foster firing in from the top of the circle the in a remarkably mazy run Tew neatly dinked the ball home. At this point Colchester found Ipswich too hot to handle as they piled on the pressure, Fletton fed Glading to slot home from a narrow angle, the same combination converted again, Glading should have completed his hat-trick but the ball rebounded to Foster to convert and then he did when once again Fletton provided the simple tap in for Glading. Tew completed the scoring showing typical agility to skip past several defenders before calmly lifting the ball past the goalkeeper. Mention should also be made of Cutting remarkable achievement of crashing 3 shots against the post but ailing to get on the scoresheet!

Next week Ipswich entertain Cambridge who are towards the bottom of the league but should not be under-estimated.