Slazenger England League Premier Division

Saturday 29th March

Chelmsford v Ipswich

Drew 0-0

Scorers: 

The margin of difference between teams in top level sport is normally so fine it cannot be easily measured but on Saturday only the width of the post saved first Ipswich and then Chelmsford in this crucial derby clash.

The resulting 0-0 draw saw Ipswich make safe their place in the Slazenger Premier League for the 2008-2009 season and left Chelmsford needing to avoid a loss against Poynton next weekend to save themselves from the relegation play-off.

Both teams started very nervously as the pressure of the occasion seemed to inhibit the players. The home side carved out the best early opening but Charlotte Lee-Smith in the Ipswich goal was in fine form and dealt with any shots with ease. It was then Ipswich's turn to start to create chances and top goal scorer Leisa King was only denied by a good save by the Chelmsford keeper. 

Ipswich then won the first batch of short corners but again their routine let them down and it was Chelmsford that got the first clear opportunity to break the deadlock. A short corner move saw the ball deflected at some pace onto the head of Ipswich defender Kirsten Spencer.  With Spencer on the ground receiving treatment Ipswich expected a foul to be awarded to them for dangerous play but the umpire saw it differently and awarded a penalty stroke. Becky Alltree stepped up for the home side but the pressure on her told and she could only watch in horror as her stroke hit the left hand post and rolled away to safety. 

With this let off Ipswich looked to stamp some authority on the game but a yellow card for Leisa King saw Ipswich down to 10 players with 10 minutes of the first half left to play. Ironically this seemed to ignite Ipswich and the team responded superbly to the loss of a key player stepping up their game and ensuring they made it to half time with a clean sheet.

With King back on at the start of the second half and Ipswich now finding their feet the game began to turn the visitors way and only a string of good saves by the Chelmsford keeper Helen Fagg kept the ball out the back of the net.  As time ticked on both teams could sense that one goal would probably be enough to decide the game and it was Ipswich that thought they had secured the breakthrough only for them to suffer the turn of being denied by the post. A super cross from the right by King was met by Emma Millar and her deflection beat Fagg in goal. The Ipswich defence cheered as they thought it had gone in but they soon turn to cries of anguish as it clipped the bar and span out.  Chelmsford and Ipswich 0-0, the goalposts 1-1. 

Spurred Ipswich again mounted a series of attacks but Chelmsford still looked threatening on the counter and only some great defending by Spencer and Lee-Smith in goal kept them out.

The final 7 minutes saw several Chelmsford players falling to cramp and with Ipswich knowing that a draw would be enough for them the game became extremely scrappy. With only 1 minute to go a rushed clearance by Ipswich saw the ball cannon into the thumb of Ipswich striker Jenny Hall and the U21 England player left the field in considerable pain. Whilst not breaking any bones Hall will now miss the next 4 weeks with her third serious injury in this season.

Despite the setback of losing Hall Ipswich held firm for the last minute and the final whistle brought cries of relief from the Ipswich team as they knew they had done enough to retain their Premier League status. 

Ipswich now finish their season next Saturday with a tough away game against league runners-up Bowdon Hightown but with the pressure off them the Suffolk side will be looking to play with the freedom that has been missing in the last few weeks.

 NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2C

Suffolk Premier League

Suffolk Div 1

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NE14HOCKEY East League

Prem A

Scorers: 

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2N

NE14HOCKEY East League 

Div 4NE 

Ipswich 4's v Dereham 3's

Result: Won 3-2

Scorers:  Reed, Fisher, Scarff

Ipswich went into this game knowing a point would guarantee promotion and leave Gorleston and UEA fighting for the final promotion spot.

Captain Godbold was seeking his 35th win in his 40th and final league game as Ipswich 4th XI Captain. Proving that nepotism is as strong in the Godbold family as it is in the rest of Ipswich Hockey Club, Godbold junior kept faith with Godbold senior after his abject performance the week before - although getting home at 7.30 am on the team night out must set a new record and undoubtedly impressed his wife!

Anyway the game got under way on Dereham's new pitch and Ipswich struggled to cope with the bumpy surface. The highlight of the first half was another failed attacking short corner which led to Sneddon committing a yellow card hack compounded by pulling the wingers stick out of his hand. As Godbold reorganised the defence to cope with his departure both teams were left astonished as the umpire produced a green card and Sneddon re-took his defensive position - what a birthday present for the young scotsman.

0-0 at half time with all to play for.

Shortly after half time a defence splitting pass by Williams led to Godbold setting up Reed and before you could say "why is Holloway missing this game to sell vintage tractors" Reed had beaten the keeper - 1-0.

Seconds later Williams did a passable impression of Chris Palmer and it was 1-1 with the centre forward grateful for the gift.

Then finally Dereham's long ball game seeking a deflection paid off and they took an unlikely lead. After last week's comeback against UEA Ipswich knew there was no point panicking. And eventually captain Godbold recognised his short corner striking inadequacies and Williams struck - 2-1 (although admittedly the shot was saved and Fisher whacked in the rebound).

Then Godbold decided to take the next one with three minutes to go and he too beat the keeper this time - only for Scarff to pilfer the goal from his normal 1.7 feet. Ipswich ran down the clock and finished with a mix of euphoria and relief since it was yet another tight game.

So the 4th XI secured promotion to Division 3NE and have also won the league following Gorleston's draw at Lowesoft.

Next week's report will include some seasonal highlights .... but particular congratulations to the eight players who played in at least 20 out of the 22 games - Kwan, Swain, Williams, Whetton, Scarff, Godbold, Reed and yes the Sebborn.

Man of the match unfortunately was Simon Godbold.

So after two seasons of being the 4th XI match report-writer your correspondent has decided to hang up his keyboard and move onto pastures new ........ hopefully with the fantasy league title ....... which will look great on a Norfolk mantlepiece..

And in case anyone is interested the winning fantasy league team was .....

Steward, Sneddon, Gaffer, Dunnett, Thomas, Tilly-Nunn (still never met him (who is he??), Messent, Reed, Gibson, Glading, Cook, Fisher

Thank you to all ...... you are owed a pint or three!

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 6NE

Ipswich 5's v Felixstowe 4's

Result: Won 3-2

Scorers: A Mays 2, Blake Elliot 1

East League

Harleston v Ipswich 

Result : Won 6-2

Scorers: Curzon 2, Gall, Sampson Phil, Askins, Tew

 Ipswich vets confirmed the successful defense f their league title with an emphatic victory over Harleston Magpies, but it took a devastating 10 minute spell in the first half to put the result beyond doubt.

With both teams resting players for the over 40s cup, it seemed that the result could go either way in the early stages. midway through the half however, Ipswich took advantage from their first two penalty corners. Curzon seemed to get a touch just before Gall's shot crossed the line then Tew crashed in as the home team failed to defend the post. Gall turned in following a goal mouth scramble, and then Phil Sampson was allowed to enter the circle and unleash an unstoppable shot. Glading was denied by a last ditch deflection after rounding the keeper, but Ipswich now completely dominated.

The second half was much more even as Ipswich seemed to relax but they still managed to create plenty of scoring opportunities. Glading should have scored from close range before Curzon slotted home his second and then Askins miscued shot completely wrong footed the keeper to roll slowly home.

With 2 games to go Ipswich can not be caught but they will be looking for victories to complete a very successful league campaign.

National Veterans Cup

Ipswich v Plymouth Marjon

Result : Won 6-0

Scorers: Cook, Palmer 3 Askins 2

 Ipswich over 40s created history by reaching the final of the over 40s cup for the first time and in so doing created a unique double by joining the over 50s who had made the final day last week.

The visitors had made the long journey the previous day and there was great relief that the snow did not cause a postponement. Plymouth were not level for long as within a minute of the start Ipswich earned a penalty corner that Cook converted in typical fashion at the second attempt. this signaled a period of Ipswich domination as the Plymouth defense struggled to cope with the precision and speed of the Ipswich attacks. Cook fired wide as Foster tried to deflect home, Palmer's reverse stick shot flew narrowly wide, Gaffer ghosted forward from defense and his shot was well saved and then Askins failed to control with the goal at his mercy. A bad tackle resulted in an Ipswich penalty flick, Palmer converted and then in a sustained period of pressure the Plymouth goalkeeper kept his team in touch with a string of superb saves. Steward in the Ipswich goal was rarely called upon but a speculative aerial resulted in a penalty corner this was well defended and in a quick counter attack Ipswich were awarded a free hit on the edge of the circle; a quick take by Driver was brilliantly turned in by Palmer. Ipswich would have been content with the scoreline but on the stroke of half time Foster was shoved from behind as he bared down on the goal, Palmer completed his hat trick from the penalty spot.

The second half began with Ipswich once again on top, but Plymouth did manage to come more into the game. in a remarkable series of events Driver was denied on 5 occasions by saves, last ditch clearances on the line and finally by clearing the bar by inches. as the home team soaked up a bit of pressure they did look dangerous on the counter and they increased the lead further, Foster's pass finding Askins who converted. Plymouth introduced their reserve goalkeeper as the departing player received an ovation from the home support and in the final quarter Ipswich coach Swindin introduced his subs demonstrating what strength in depth the squad possesses. Cutting saw his shot saved and in the dying minutes perhaps the best move of the game produced the final goal, Crowe releasing Foster who again picked out Askins, unmarked, to notch up his second.

The vintage and veterans now look forward to the finals day on 4 May at Old Loughtonians HC, the vintage against Indian Gymkhana but the over 40s must wait to see whether they will play East Grinstead or Harleston as their match was victim of the snow.