Saturday 7^th November 2009

EHL Conference East

Ipswich v Horsham

Result: 1-1

Scorer: Emma Millar 

Ipswich Hockey Club Ladies 1^st team managed to maintain an unbeaten record and the top spot in the English National League Conference East with a draw against Horsham on the weekend.

The team from Ipswich travelled to Horsham very determined to continue the good start to the season and get another away win under the belt.  Horsham however showed that they had other ideas and were not going to allow the visitors an easy day out.  Ipswich were dealt a few blows earlier in the week when injury ruled both Millie Sharpe and Jess Bloom out for the game.  This however allowed coach, James Kingstone, to bring two new caps, Kat Wrinch and Mitch Chidgey, into the team.  Both players will remember their debut game as a very physical and hard fought battle.

Ipswich controlled most of the play in the first half but were unable to capitalise on their possession.  The team will be disappointed with their ability to complete the final pass in the attacking quarter and to convert circle entries into goal scoring opportunities.  Despite applying much pressure Ipswich never really threatened the Horsham goal as they were unable to get that final touch or clear shot.  Time after time the girls in blue had to be satisfied with defending another Horsham 16 yard restart as they were kept out by a very spirited defensive effort.  

Ipswich did manage to force two penalty corners through the course of the first half.  The first real excitement of the game came when Lizzy Aldous deflected a lifted ball into the back of the net from a penalty corner.  The excitement was short lived as the goal was rightly disallowed after the umpires conferred.  Horsham grabbed the opportunity to launch a counter attack against a somewhat dejected Ipswich.  Totally against the run of play Horsham managed to capitalise on a moment of unorganised Ipswich defence.  Ipswich goalkeeper, Mariëtte Rix, was drawn out of the goal only to be beaten by a final touch that found Fran Crossley who walked the ball across the line to give Horsham the lead at half time. 

In the second half Horsham had more attacking play but the Ipswich defenders, led by the centre back pairing of Charlotte Anderson and Amy Tippen, remained solid.  Horsham managed to force two penalty corners in the half but never really looked threatening.

 As in the first half Ipswich seemed to enjoy the majority of the possession but did not use it with much effect.  Attack after attack was broken down by aggressive and sometimes ungainly Horsham defence.  These defensive tactics eventually led to a Horsham player being yellow carded.  During this time Ipswich pushed forward with greater numbers but just couldn’t penetrate the determined Horsham defence.  Horsham just about looked as if they were going to cause an upset and stop Ipswich’s ascendancy so far this season, but it was not to be. 

Ipswich co-captain, Emma Millar, finally came to the rescue seconds before the final whistle.  She reacted quickly and confidently fired a shot into the back of the goal after the ball was put into the circle by Issy Sheldrake.  Millar led from the front with a never-say-die attitude and aptly so scored to secure the draw and an important league point for her team. 

Despite being disappointed with an unsatisfying performance, Ipswich will be happy that they remain league leaders following some other surprising results on Saturday.

Ipswich will be looking to produce a much more convincing performance next week at home against St Alban’s to keep their forward momentum going.

Saturday 7^th November 2009

Hockey East League Div 1 North

Ipswich 2s v Harleston Magpies 2s

Result: 2-1
Scorers: C McDonald, L Gallagher

  Ipswich hosted local rivals Harleston Magpies on Saturday at Tuddenham Road. Ipswich pressurised Harleston in attack from the start winning a penalty corner which was swept in by Kate Watson and deflected up by Cat McDonald but hit the cross bar and was then cleared by the Harleston defence. Ipswich played some great hockey with a good balance of using simple passes to move up the pitch and utilising individual skills to eliminate players on the way. However, characteristically Ipswich were unable to convert their opportunities into goals and let in a weak goal allowing Magpies to lead 1-0 into half time.

In the second half Ipswich stepped up their game yet again, utilising the switch effectively and again using simple passes to work their way up the pitch. The Ipswich defence were steadfast with good hassling from Sam Bennett, Kate Watson, Jenny Ellis and Fran Tew. Ipswich midfielders Hannah Tallent, Lucy Gallagher, Cat McDonald and Fi Moran worked tirelessly linking up with forwards Charlotte McWhirter, Ariane Hanman and Hannah Brooks generating opportunities in attack. Ipswich won lots of penalty corners and narrowly missed from several of these, with the Harleston keeper playing well. It was from one of these corners that Ipswich finally scored an equaliser when Cat McDonald picked up a rebound from a penalty corner strike and undercut it into the net! Ipswich continued to pile on the pressure and with about 7 minutes left to play Lucy Gallagher took Ipswich into the lead with an awesome goal, again from a rebound off a penalty corner effort. Full-time score: a well deserved 2-1 to Ipswich. MOTM this week was awarded to Hannah Tallent and ‘Personal Best’ to Fran Tew who both had outstanding performances, despite a truculent tackle in the second half from Fran taking out one of the Harleston players. Ipswich now sit at 6^th place in East Div 1 North with 15 points and will travel to St Ives next Saturday.

 NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2C

Result: 

Scorers:

S

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NE14HOCKEY East League

Prem B

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2N

NE14HOCKEY East League 

NE14HOCKEY East League

East Vets

Ipswich v Bury St Edmunds

Won 5-2

Scorers: Glading 3, Sampson P, Swindin A

Ipswich welcomed Steward back in goal after winning a gold medal with England over 55s in Hong Kong. Bury are a much more competitive team and Ipswich were finding it difficult to create clear cut scoring chances, the best opportunities were from penalty corners but these were well saved. Glading however, slotted home after a brilliant run and cross down the right by man of the match, Curzon. Ipswich were hampered when Hauxwell suffered a hamstring pull, but he soldiered on to a least provide an outlet.

At half time Calver restored the visitors to full strength but it was Bury who equalised, after some slack defending, much to the consternation of Steward. Ipswich however, restored their lead within minutes when Swindin converted at a penalty corner. Mid way through the half Sampson scored whilst Bury appealed for a possible infringement and then Glading notched his second. Bury scrambled another to give them a ray of hope but in the dying minutes Glading completed his hat trick sweeping home Wake's slip at a penalty corner.

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