Slazenger EHL

Premier Division

Slough v Ipswich

Lost 5-0

Scorers: 

EH Cup

2nd round

Ipswich v Bury

Won 10-0

Scorers: M Fabregas, L King (2), E Millar (2), J Bloom (2), S Daley, L Aldous, I Sheldrake

Ipswich travelled to Slough in the Slazenger EHL Premier League hoping to build on last week’s win against Poynton. Missing two influential players, England International Jo Ellis and Army Officer in training Emma Lee-Smith, things were never going to be easy and the visitors slumped to their first loss of the season.

The game started at a fast pace and Slough had the best of early exchanges. 11 minutes in the home side broke through and made the most of their chance to make it 1-0. Ipswich did have a chance to draw level after Miriam Fabregas found Emma Millar on the left hand side of the circle. But Millar rushed the shot and the keeper cleared easily.

With Slough moving the ball around well they extended their lead on the 32nd minute and only some good saves by Lee-Smith in goal deprived the home side a third.  Slough though were not to be denied and scored their third just before half time as lee-Smith could not clear the first save.

The second half started with much of the same, with Ipswich just not playing to their full capabilities.  Slough added a fourth and had one disallowed after Lee-Smiths helmet fell off during a short corner save. Ipswich continued to work hard and some great work by Lizzy Aldous and Jess Bloom up front saw Ipswich create a few chances but they just could not convert them into goals.

To rub salt into the wounds Slough were awarded a penalty stroke with 3 minutes to go and Jane Smith stepped up to make the final score 5-0.

A unsatisfactory result for Ipswich but they can take positives out of some good defending at short corners and the high work rate and positive outlook that was maintained throughout.

Sunday saw Ipswich play a much different team as they welcomed East Premier team Bury St Edmunds to Tuddenham road for the second round of the cup. 

Determined to put on a professional display Ipswich started the game on fire. Moving the ball at a pace the Bury team will not have encountered before, Ipswich carved the visitors apart and scored their first goal through Miriam Fabregas within 30 seconds. The home team then added 2 more in as many minutes, Leisa King scoring both and before Bury knew what was happening they were 3-0 down.

Ipswich then dropped the pace and despite creating some good chances could only add 2 more goals before half time.  Sarah Daley scoring on the 17th minute and Jess Bloom on the 22nd. After some good points made by assistant coach Clare Ferguson, standing in for Royce Waters who was playing for the Men down in Bristol, Ipswich started the second half with a determined attitude. Within 5 minutes the home side had again torn the visitors apart and extended their lead to 6-0, Emma Millar scoring her first of the game. With Bury tiring Ipswich kept piling forward and clinically moved towards double figures.  Lizzy Aldous added the 7th goal, then Bloom scored her second on the 46th minute to make it 8-0. Defender Issy Sheldrake was moved up front and within minutes had scored the 9th goal. As the game moved on Bury did create one shot at goal but it was off target and dealt with easily by Lee-Smith in goal.  Ipswich eventually scored their 10^th goal Emma Millar deflecting in a cross to score her second of the game.  Ipswich could have had more but the game ended with that score line. Ipswich now will be looking forward to the draw for the next round and hope again for another home game.

Suffolk Premier League

Ipswich v Harwich

Lost 2-1

Scorers:

Suffolk Div 1

Ipswich v Grasshoppers 2's

Won 3-0

Opposition could not raise a team

Slazenger EHL

South Division

University of Exeter v Ipswich

Lost 8-2

Scorers: M Wheelhouse, P Messent

Slazenger EHL

South Division

Robinsons v Ipswich

Won 4-3

Scorers: M Wheelhouse, B Gallagher (2), W Hearne

This weekend brought with it the dreaded double header, dreaded not because of the quality of opposition, but merely due to the heinous distances involved - a round trip of some 600 miles.

The team, lacking  Oli  Woodgate, who was retained by Framlingham   School , and  Royce Waters due to coaching commitments with the ladies, arrived at Exeter University for the first of the weekend's two games. The objective set by player/coach Iain Gall was three points during the weekend, with any additional points considered a bonus. 

Bearing in mind the quality of the student team, containing no less than six internationals, it was always going to be a challenging game and the only thing the scoreline of 8-2 failed to illustrate were the heroics of Tony Birch in goal who was widely accepted as the man of the match. 

The Ipswich outfit was courageous despite the scoreline, albeit with frustration vented at the poor umpires on too many occasions. Consolation goals were achieved by Mark Wheelhouse, who was lucky after his drag flick took a wicked deflection and by Phil Messent. Messent's goal deserves particular mention, not for the quality of his strike, but more the fact that he single handedly beat most of the Exeter team before topping into the corner, leaving many wondering why he hadn't demonstrated such skills more often during the game!

Sunday brought the second fixture against Robinson, a team newly promoted to the national league. After a very encouraging start to the season for Ipswich , results had begun to slip and it was vital to keep good progress on track with a win here.  

The team was bolstered by the arrival of Waters who rejoined the team at right back in the place of Mickey Franklin and provided valuable coaching advice as Iain Gall was forced to leave to fulfill his coaching commitments with the East U15 ’s. Ipswich began strongly and sustained pressure led to an early goal from Ben Gallagher. Robinson equalized to level scores at the break and then just after the interval Will Hearne gave Ipswich the lead only for the home side to equalize again with a very lucky goal. Goals from Mark Wheelhouse & another from Gallagher then put Ipswich into a commanding lead. Robinsons made it 4-3 with a minute to go but they never looked like snatching a point.  

Next Sunday sees Ipswich play their 5^th away game out of their first 6 matches down at Holcombe where former England man Dave Mathews has scored 11 goals so far this season.

East League

Prem A

Ipswich v Cambridge City

Result: Lost 3-2

Scorers: A Cook, C Palmer

Ipswich Men's 2s will not feel they should have lost this after a superb performance. With 11 players every person gave everything, and with Shyam Patel  and Ben Glading called up from the 3s both performing heroically. Ipswich were  very solid from the start and everyone linked in and played as a team. The visitors went from strength to strength when they scored a brilliant team goal. James Smith picked up the ball on the half way line, before playing a long ball up to the young Harry Martin, who gave it back to an on sprinting James Smith (keano) who darted round a player and offloaded back to Harry, and with some incredible skill beat 2 players and reverse flicked into the net.

The back 4 had to with stand a bit of pressure but never looked in any danger and Debutant Paul Calver looked like a rock guiding the defence and midfield. The best 2 players on the pitch youngster Max Underwood and the veteran Chris Palmer shut everything out and there passing was top class out the back, (yes sometimes Chris does pass the ball to the right players). At half time Vice captain Simon Millers words were superb keep going.

With 10 mins left step forward Mr umpire who had done quite well up to this point, giving a short corner against Palmer who was actually the player upended, from which St. Albans won a flick which they scored. Then step forward the other umpire who diss-allowed a perfectly good goal for Ipswich, the misery of the journey was complete when Ipswich conceded another short corner 30 secs from the end that was a some what strange decision.

2 games 0 points, someone shoot the captain who now becomes under pressure to lift the boys for next weekends game against Havering. Back in contention will be Keir Dixon, Andy Swindin James Walker and Tony Burch.

East League

Div 2 N

Ipswich  v Sudbury

Result: Won 7-1

Scorers: J Godfrey (2), S Gibson (3), P Graves, T Gallagher

A better approach and intensity from the start was needed and delivered this week.
With lots of possession and strong attacking play, two or three goals could have been scored inside the first five to ten minutes. Eventually some great play firstly from Josh Godfrey and then Tom Gallagher led to the first two goals. The first from Paul 'Mr Angry' Graves, and the second a uncharacteristically agile finish from the captain. Going into half time 2-1 up, after conceding a relatively soft short corner, the job was far from done.
From the off-set the second half gradually became ruled by the Ipswich side, with great ball speed and distribution the Sudbury side became tired and stretched. As the half progressed opportunities were created and some capitalised on, goals followed from Josh Godfrey x 2, Sam Gibson x 2, and Tom Gallagher.
A great performance in all, but more work still to be done going into a tough local derby with IES 1st's this week.

East League 

Div 4NE 

Pelican 3's v Ipswich

Result: Won 5-1 

Scorers: O Holloway (3), A Fisher, B Underwood

East League

Div 6NE

Ipswich v Felixstowe 3's

Result: Won 2-1

Scorers: Colin Sneddon 1, Alan Barker 1

Ipswich 5s looked to build from last weeks win & clean sheet by improving their overall game performance. This was achieved with a hard fought win over Felixstowe 3. Ipswich welcomed back both Simon Godbold & Colin Sneddon after a long lay off & it was Colin Sneddon who fired Ipswich into the lead early in the first half with a goal, the likes of which is unlikely to be repeated. Sneddon collected the ball just outside the Felixstowe D, drove on & unleashed an unstoppable shot from an acute angle that hit all uprights before nearly breaking the net. Alan Barker made it two shortly after with a precision shot beyond the flailing arm of the keeper. Ipswich were controlling the play well but a lapse in the defence allowed Felixstowe to pull a goal back on the break. 

The second half saw Ipswich continue the good play but, at times, were too intricate in front of goal. The home side were down to 10  men with 20 minutes to go when David Mann damaged ankle ligaments but Ipswich continued to force the pace. Felixstowe thought they had scored to share the points at the end but Ipswich keeper Joe Wroe leapt like a salmon to push the ball around the post.

East League