English Hockey League 

Premier 1

Sunday 6th February 2005

Ipswich v Canterbury

Won 2-1 (C Gilliat-Smith V Roberts)

 After a tiring night at the National indoor finals on Friday Ipswich knew this game would be a real test of their character and fitness against a Canterbury side that knocked them out of the Cup at home in their last meeting.

Ipswich started the game with a clear match plan and their swift counter attacking moves almost paid dividends early on when Cathy Gilliat-Smith was through on the Canterbury goal with only the keeper to beat. The on rushing Kent keeper though seemed to catch the Ipswich striker by surprise and her shot was well blocked and cleared to safety.  

Keen to make amends Gilliat-Smith stepped up her work rate and with her fellow forwards also working hard Canterbury were soon under pressure again.  On the 27th minute Gilliat-Smith carved out another Goal scoring chance and this time she made no mistake; a quick bit of skill from a tight angle caught the Kent keeper flat footed and she could do nothing as the ball crossed the line to give Ipswich the lead.

Canterbury to their credit stepped up the pressure and had several spectacular shots at goal but Ipswich keeper Beccy Duggan dealt with them with ease and the home side were more than happy to see their visitors resorting to long balls into the circle as they seemed to run out of ideas.

The second half saw Ipswich struggle to maintain possession of the ball and the home side began to invite pressure onto themselves in dangerous areas of the pitch.  Canterbury keen to get the equalizer pushed forward and gained several short corners. The Ipswich defence led by the stoic Kirsten Spencer held firm and with 18 year old Charlie Andersson having an outstanding game containing the dangerous South African International Susan Webber things were looking good for the Suffolk team.

It then got even better. A quick free hit by Captain Vic Sandall found Leisa King on the edge of the circle,  she in turn fed the ball to  Ipswich's other 18 year old Vanessa Roberts who finished the move with a neat deflection to take the ball past the Kent keeper to make it 2-0 to Ipswich.

Canterbury now began to throw caution to the wind and gained a glimmer of hope when they converted a short corner on the 59th minute. Ipswich keeper Duggan had made 2 excellent saves but the ball was not cleared and Natasha Brennan was on hand to place it in the goal to make it 2-1.

The Kent side now sensed they could grab a point but Ipswich were determined not to give up the victory and the game became a battle of wills between the two sides.  Ipswich defended everything Canterbury threw at them and even though the Kent side earned several disputed corners they just could not find a way past a resolute Ipswich defence.

The final whistle saw Ipswich claim revenge for their Cup defeat and more importantly a highly valuable 3 points to keep them within 1 point of the league leaders Chelmsford.  With the 2 sides due to meet at Tuddenham Road in a fortnight it could not be tighter.

Ipswich next face an inconsistent Olton side away and know that they must again raise their game to take the victory.

National League Indoor

Semi-final

Friday 4th February 2005

Ipswich v Bowdon Hightown

Won 5-2 (C Gilliat-Smith (3), L King, L Aldous)

Ipswich went into this game determined to win and make the final in front of a sell out crowd. Leisa King opened the scoring on 3 minutes with Cathy Gilliat-Smith increasing the lead a minute later.  Tina Cullen then scored Hightown's first  and she struck again a minute later to level the scores. Gilliat-Smith then grabbed her second goal of the game 4 minutes before half time.

Ipswich then extended their lead 7 minutes after the restart through Captain Lizzy Aldous  and Hightown try as they might could not find a way past inspired Ipswich keeper Beccy Duggan.  Gilliat-Smith then scored her hat trick with the final push of the game.

National League Indoor

Final

Friday 4th February 2005

Ipswich v Slough

Lost 5-3 ( L King, L Aldous (2))

Ipswich, sponsored by AM Design faced old rivals Slough in a final that many had not predicted.  Slough had squeezed past defending Champions Chelmsford in a penalty shot out in the first semi-final and the extra hours rest that they got over the Ipswich side was to prove key. 

The game started with both sides keen to assess the other and the first goal, courtesy of  the superb Leisa King, took 8 minutes arriving. Slough though took no time in equalising a Short corner strike by Jane Smith came 2 minutes later.

 With the prize of European hockey at stake both teams pushed forward Ipswich having the better of the chances but denied by some spectacular saves by Slough GK Lynette Smith.

The second half started with Ipswich quickly moving into a 2 goal lead. Captain Lizzy Aldous leading by example by bagging both goals but as the Ipswich team tired Slough stepped up their game. A run of 3 goals in 4 minute all scored by Jane Smith saw Slough take the lead for the first time. Ipswich gave their all in trying to get back into the game but they just could not find the killer blow and when Smith scored her 5th goal on the 36thminute Ipswich knew their dream was over for another season.

East Premier League

Sat 5th February 2005

Sevenoaks v Ipswich 2's 

Lost 4-1  (L Philp)

Ipswich traveled to Sevenoaks in the hope to produce the kind of display that put the league leaders Maidstone under real pressure last week. 

The game had a lively start, and within 5 minutes both sides had a player yellow carded, mere competitiveness being mistaken for violent play by the umpire.

Sevenoaks soon took control of the game as Ipswich seemed edgy and unconfident on a rather poor playing surface, a fact that Sevenoaks pushed to their advantage and went in 3 - 0 at the break.

Ipswich did better in the second half and pulled a goal back when Lucy Philp deflected a Karla Waddleton corner strike. Sevenoaks however continued to dominate and were awarded 2 penalty flicks which were expertly saved by Ipswich's stand-in goalie Hannah Robinson, they did however increase their lead near the end of the match to seal Ipswich's fate.

Ipswich have 5 more games this season and need to show a lot more resolve if they want to maintain their place in the ESL Premier League.

East League Div 2 North

Sat 5th February 2005

Ipswich 3's v Dereham

Drew 1-1  (V Dixon)

A raw winters day welcomed Dereham to Ipswich for the return match of the season.

Both teams started brightly and the game soon developed into an end to end campaign for both teams. The Ipswich team have had a lean start to the second half of the season, and clearly demonstrated their intention to put an end to this trait. Throughout the first half, both sides played exciting, skilful hockey. However, 20 minutes in, a short corner was converted by Dereham, when Karen Cleaver escaped her marker and shot the ball into the goal. Ipswich were quick to respond, and with a fine display of skill and composure, Vicky Dixon took the ball from the Ipswich half all the way to the Dereham goalmouth before deflecting the ball off the goalkeepers pads into the goal. 

The exciting play continued into the second half, but a deadlock was reached and both sides defended and attacked well, with no more chances to change the scoreline. Each team gained a few short corners, but neither were able to convert them to their benefit.

The game finished 1-1: a fair result given the even play and balance of the teams. 

Suffolk League Div 1

Sat 5th February 2005

Ipswich 4's v Grasshoppers 2's

Drew 1-1 (S Allen)

Ipswich IV's travelled the short distance to Gainsborough sports centre in Ipswich to play Grasshoppers 2's, this was the return match of the season and having won the first leg Ipswich were looking for another 3 points. Unfortunately within the first 30 seconds of the game Ipswich let in a goal, this certainly made the Ipswich side sit up and take notice. 

Ipswich went into attacking mode trying to ensure Grasshoppers did not get a second chance. The majority of the first half was played in the Grasshopper half, although when they did break through they came at the Ipswich defence hard. In true Ipswich IV's style the only goal they scored came just before the half-time whistle. It was a slightly messy
goal but went into the back of the net non the less and it came off the end of Steph Allen's stick.

The second half of the match was very similar to the first, with most of the play in the Grasshoppers half and both teams battling away. Ipswich had many chances through breaks in play and short corners unfortunately none of these amounted to a goal. In the closing minutes of the match Grasshoppers put on a spurt and forced two short corners, Ipswich were determined not to lose this match and fought well to keep the score 1-1.

It was a good match and both teams deserved their single point.

East League Premier A

Sat 5th February 2005

Broxbourne v Ipswich

Won 3-1  ( W Faulker, A Cook, R Stainthorpe)

Ipswich men travelled the hour and a half to Broxbourne in Hertfordshire on Saturday. 4 weeks previously they met at Henley road Ipswich when the game was all one way traffic with Ipswich romping home 7 – 0 victors. Broxbourne who are third from bottom had nothing to lose in this fixture with league leaders Ipswich and demonstrated a fighting spirit to the bitter end . The first half was a show of good build up play from Ipswich with the final ball into the D not quite pin point accurate and forwards not quite getting there. Ipswich opening goal came from centre midfielder Will Fulker who ran into the D and shot from the top past the Broxbourne keeper.

Broxbourne came back fighting when Ipswich substitute James Walker deflected a cross into his own net after a Broxbourne forward was allowed to run unchallenged down the right hand side of the pitch from 25 yards out.

It took a personal commitment from Andy Cook, celebrating his 40^th birthday at the weekend, to steal the ball off Broxbourne defender slotting it past running out goalie to make the score 2-1 before half time.

Ipswich didn’t manage to improve their performance in the second half with again chances up front being put wide or over the bar, even though Richard Stainthorpe made the score 3-1 a defensive error allowed Broxbourne to close the gap again. The last ten minutes was definitely a case of hanging on for Ipswich. The final score to Ipswich’s relief was 3-2. Captain Richard Fox said of the result “ last year we would have lost games like that so to come out with the 3 points was what it’s all about”. Coach Kathryn MacDonald added “ the performance was not good but the final result was. Some players had a bad game for the first time this season and we can thank veteran keeper John Stewart for making 2 key saves to give us the opportunity to win the game”. Elsewhere in the league Chelmsford and Bedford, 2nd and 3^rd placed teams drew 2-2 making Ipswich 11 points clear at the top of the East Premier League. Ipswich sponsored by Goldstar transport could seal the title by winning 3 more games from the last 6.

Ipswich vets v Chelmsford

Sat 5th February 2005

Won 7-4 (Glading 5, Foster, Read )

Earlier in the season these 2 teams had played out a 1 - 1 draw, a game in which there were very few goal scoring chances; this encounter however, at Henley Road was quite the reverse, with both teams creating numerous opportunities.



Chelmsford in fact took the lead early on with their first serious attack, but Ipswich equalised soon after when Foster slipped home from a penalty corner, but Ipswich were stunned when Chelmsford soon restored their lead, the Ipswich defence hesitated expecting a whistle that never came. With the introduction of Simpson, after arriving late, we knew that the new Rolex was a waste of money!, Ipswich gradually took control of the midfield. Ipswich pulled level when Read was allowed to run unchallenged into the circle and pick his spot; which heralded a period of Ipswich domination. Ringrose's free hit was turned home by Glading and then the same player struck again when collecting a pass from Read. There appeared to be little danger but his effort caught the Chelmsford keeper unawares.



Having lost Bryce to a calf strain in the first half Foster moved to his more accustomed position on the right wing and he proceeded to torment the visitors defence with his speed and close control. Indeed he laid on Glading's hat-trick goal mid way through the half. Goals began to flow then at regular intervals and it must be admitted that your on the spot correspondent is bit confused as to the correct sequence of events. Suffice to say that Glading converted 2 penalty corners, one that crashed against the back board and the other that embarrassingly trickled over the line when the Chelmsford keeper obligingly lifted his kick over the ball (remember Colchester in the cup recently!) and David Gill for the visitors also completed his hat trick.