Slazenger EHL

Premier Division

sat 9th February 2008

Canterbury v Ipswich

Result: Lost 5-3

Scorers: E Lee-Smith, S Tallent, L Aldous

A poor start cost Ipswich vital points in their return to outdoor action as they lost 5-3 to a determined Canterbury team.

Missing Leisa King and defender Millie Sharp Ipswich travelled to Kent with a small squad and despite a good warm up the Suffolk side were a goal down within 2 minutes. Ex-England striker Helen Grant taking advantage of hesitancy in the Ipswich defensive line to rifle the ball into the corner of the goal.  Startled into action Ipswich hit back with a well taken goal of their own 3 minutes later, Emma Lee-Smith hitting a super reverse stick shot past the diving Goal keeper Becky Duggan, after some good build up play down the right.  The level terms did not last long, when the home side went ahead again a minute later to make it 2-1. After an amazing 3 goals in six minutes the game seemed to slow down and  Canterbury began to control the play. With half time approaching they extended their lead to 3-1 to leave a frustrated Ipswich with a lot to do.

A necessarily blunt half time talk by Coach Royce Waters seemed to shake Ipswich out of their slump and when Lizzy Aldous scored from a well planned short corner on the 51st minute to make it 3-2 the game seemed to be tipping in the visitors favour.  Sure enough Ipswich were back on terms at three all 4 minutes later when Sarah Daley struck a sublime reverse stick strike into the bottom corner.  Back in a game after playing so poorly Ipswich sensed they had the home side on the rack but with South African International Jenny Wilson patrolling midfield and England duo Cathy Gilliat-Smith and Grant up  front the Kent side always posed a danger and in the 62nd minute Grant struck again to give the home side the lead once more. 

A minute later Gilliat-Smith finished the game off with the luckiest goal of the game. An attempted cross from the right at a narrow angle was miss hit and disappointingly it caught Lee-Smith out in goal and flew in the bottom of the goal to make the final score 5-3.

Ipswich now drop from 5th to 7th place and know that they have a lot of hard work on the training pitch this week before they face two tough games at the weekend. On Saturday they welcome 3rd placed Olton to Tuddenham Road and then on Sunday they travel to leaders Slough for a Quarter Final Cup game.

E14HOCKEY East League

Premier

Ipswich 2's  v Canterbury 2's

Result: 0-0

Scorers: 

Ipswich 2s welcomed Canterbury 2s to Tuddenham Road on Saturday and, having narrowly missed out during their previous meeting, Ipswich were determined to take points this time. With quite a few changes in the side from previous weeks, it would not have been a surprise if it had taken the home team a while to settle, but they showed no hesitation in getting to grips with the game, and did not make the mistakes of the previous fixture when Canterbury had been allowed to take control early on.

Lucy Gallagher linked well with Sophie Kesterton and Anni Nunn to set up strong attacking moves down the right. And through Nunn and Millie McWhirter at right wing, Ipswich was soon piling on the pressure in Canterbury’s half. Sam Bennett and Hannah Godfrey also took every opportunity to drive forward from the back and connect via Anni Broster with Chloe Hunnable & Fiona Lane upfront to overload the Canterbury midfield.

As in the previous fixture, Canterbury’s strength lay in the experience of their defensive unit and despite the pressure Ipswich found it hard to carve any scoring opportunities in the first half. But the home team remained far more in control of proceedings than they had been at the away fixture.

In the second half Beth Scott and Connie Bedingfield each played some excellent hockey to build more attacking moves down the left side of the pitch. Canterbury began to switch the ball more round the back and it became a real end to end affair with constant counter-attacks from both teams and both keepers called into action. Kat Wrinch & Hannah Godfrey each made key timely tackles at the back to break down threatening attacks. Claire Gould had her goal well covered and Canterbury were unable to take any advantage from their efforts.

With time running out, Ipswich really started to drive for a winner but Canterbury’s experienced defenders were not going to give in and both teams had to settle for 1 point each from a hard fought but goal-less game.

 NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2C

Suffolk Premier League

Suffolk Div 1

.Slazenger England Hockey League South

Sunday10th Feb

Ipswich V Indian Gymkhana 

Lost: 6-4

Scorer:  M Wrinch,  K Dixon(2) , R Stainthorpe

In a high scoring and open game, Ipswich Men’s were unable to reproduce the form of the previous weekend’s tightly fought match against Exeter, going down to a skilful and deserving Indian Gymkhana.

On the occasion of half-back Matt Stainthorpe's 50^th national league cap, Ipswich approached the match knowing that a win would put them solidly in the top half of the table. However, despite the home crowd support and near-perfect conditions, Ipswich failed to begin the match at the necessary tempo. Being without striker Ben Gallagher and the creative midfield presence of Phil Messant, it was imperative for the home team to set the tone early. That task instead fell to the visitors, whose use of the long overhead ball and classy individual stick skills soon had the Ipswich defence on its heels. After just 8 minutes, the dangerous Tejinder Hanspal capitalised on a defensive mix up after a deep aerial to calmly slot the visitors first. The attacking nature of Indian Gym’s style of play had the home looking uneasy, with simple errors becoming commonplace. However, after a well taken penalty corner gave Indian Gym their second, Ipswich regrouped and began to look the more cohesive side.  The pre-game plan of simple, possession based hockey was set in motion and Mark Wrinch’s well-taken reverse stick goal on 22 minutes was a measure of Ipswich’s growing control of the game. Although a second penalty corner restored the visitor’s two-goal buffer, at half-time the match was far from decided.

After the break, it was immediately clear that Ipswich were attempting to further impose their game plan.  Patient, intelligent hockey showed the assembled crowed what the home team was capable of with a little determined composure.  Again Ipswich were rewarded with goal for their good play, as specialist Keir Dixon emphatically slotted home a penalty corner and  game now seemed poised for a tight contest. It was not to be. As in previous weeks, a poor period on the home team’s behalf effectively ended the match as a contest. Much like the opening minutes of the first half, Ipswich now seemed intent on allowing Indian Gym back into the match. Poor decision making, ill-discipline and some awful turnovers left the defence under mounting pressure.  To their credit, Indian Gym pounced on the errors and within five minutes had increased their lead to 6-2. Hanspal crept behind the defence for his second, Paramdeep Eari capitalised on the home defence’s inability to clear the ball in front of goal and Jagdeep Gill completed a fine hatrick with another sizzling penalty corner.  With the game threatening to descend into a completely one-way affair, Ipswich belatedly reasserted itself, with Richard Stainthorpe getting on the end of some good attacking movement and Kier Dixon giving Ipswich the slightest chance with his second.  But the damage was effectively already done, and although the competitive nature of the game kept it alive as a (occasionally very forceful) contest, the result had been determined by the visitors’ quick succession of second half goals. On a disappointing day for Ipswich, Matt Stainthorpe put in a performance worthy of his occasion, and Will Hearn carried on his good form from the previous week. For the rest of the home team, a valiant rearguard performance could not mask some fundamental errors, made all too apparent in the brilliant afternoon sunshine.    

NE14HOCKEY East League

Prem A

Ipswich v Harpenden

Won 10-2

Scorers: A Cook(5), J Walker, J Smith, S Miller

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2N

NE14HOCKEY East League 

Div 4NE 

Ipswich 4's v UEA 3's

Result: won 11-0

Scorers: Reed (4), Scarff (2), Williams, Gallagher, Sneddon, Patel,Sebborn

A weak Ipswich team were forced to draft in Patel to make up the numbers against UEA. After last week's demolition by Holt the 4th XI had something to prove.

The game started slowly and Ipswich struggled to get into it.

But then the goals started coming. And when Sneddon scores you know the opposition must be up against it. Reed scored with a brilliant undercut into the top corner. Patel scored with a shot that was so fast umpire Gordon only awarded a goal after Reed knocked the re-bound in after it had come out of the back-board.

The crucial goal though was the 8th scored by Williams with a powerful short corner strike after captain Godbold stood aside after making a monumental mess of the previous effort.

Lots of other goals were scored too including the 90th of the season bringing up Reed's hatrick.

Kwan played perfectly moving just the once - via one dive out of frustration when UEAs only shot went yards wide.

Whetton retired at half time .......... about time too many said .... and promptly came on again 10 minutes later.

For those statistically minded this was Godbold's 30th league win in his 33rd league game as captain and the first time in club history that the three home mens teams had reached a cumulative total of 30 goals in a day (11 for the 4s, 10 for the 2s and 9, letting the club down, for the 5s). Beat that statto Scarff!

And with Gorleston beating UEA 2nd XI the gap has opened again at the top of Div 4NE.

Next week the team travel to sunny Felixstowe hoping to erase their memories of their last trip to a seaside resort.

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 6NE

Ipswich 5'sv Felixstowe 3's

Result: Won 9-2

Scorers: Godbold (7), Barker (2)

What a beautiful day it was, perhaps more suited to hangover recovery, but nevertheless excellent for hockey also.

A strong-looking Ipswich 5 side were looking for another victory to put pressure on their joint top rivals Lowestoft Railway, but some good Hockey from Felixstowe put them on the back foot for the first ten minutes. This soon led to a quick counter-attack and two Felixstowe players found themselves clean through on the Hoe Wroe, 1-0.

Felixstowe were playing some good hockey, but crucially left far too much space in midfield which the Ipswich diamond was able to exploit and soon allowed the fives to dominate possession. Some incisive play down BOTH the wings for once!(The excellent despite still over the limit Barker was highly impressive in the left half bogey position) led to Ipswich getting a string of short corners. Ipswich used these to prove themselves a class apart from the rest of the division, since Godbold was on fine shooting form, putting away three out the five first half short corners and scoring another from open play, leaving the score 4-1.

Sadly, the first 20 minutes of the second half were very sloppy and it took another Felixstowe goal to rouse Ipswich into tearing through the Felixstowe defence in the last few minutes to help the goal difference, Godbold slotting in three more was followed by some smart Barker finishing.

David Youngman made a cool and collected debut at the back and the returning Ben Askins was excellent, although grudgingly the MVP award must go to Godbold.

Alas, the magnificent and legendary George Payne did not score, meaning the world shall never see this correspondent's poem "Ode to Payne".

Continuing the sad note, this is also your correspondent's last report before my high-profile transfer to the Vietnamese Hockey league as "Ri-Chi-Man". Someone else will be left with the task of chronicling the team's inevitable collapse for the rest of the season. All the best boys.

NE14HOCKEY East League

Vets

Pelicans v Ipswich

Result: Won 5-2

Scorers: Askins Fletton 2, Foster Curzon

Ipswich travelled to Kings Lynn expecting a tough match, although Pelicans have fallen in the league in recent weeks they are always difficult to beat at home. Ipswich were however, in excellent form and showed some superb attacking moves in which Foster was particularly prominent, but as they failed to convert, visions of the goal less draw earlier in the season came to mind. Langton's effort hit a post and then Askins converted Fosters pass. This settled the visitors and they took control of the game, Fletton converting a penalty corner when the home defense stopped expecting a whistle.

Shortly after half time Ipswich appeared to have made the game save when Curzon converted, but in an uncharacteristic wobble Pelicans were allowed back into the game, a penalty corner was converted and then the second was swept home folowing a goal mouth scramble. Just as Pelicans saw they could get back into the game they suffered a blow as Foster raced down the right his cross cum shot was deflected into the goal by a defender. Hampered by an injury Fletton took up the centre forward position and he converted the best move of the game, and then was denied the chance of his hat trick when he was scythed down by the keeper, only to see a penalty corner awarded rather than the preferred flick!

Next week Ipswich visit second placed Chelmsford comfortable with a 7 point cushion at the top of the league.

EH Over 50's Cup

Chesterfield v Ipswich

Result: Won 1-1 APS

Scorers: Hauxwell

Ipswich over 50s made the long trip to Chesterfield in the over 50s cup and scrapped through into the quarter finals for the third year in succession after penalty strokes. Ipswich welcomed Hauxwell back for his first game of the season, and Mayhew rested his whistle to make his first competitive appearance for many years.

Ipswich were reasonably confident but the home team proved a tough nut to crack; Ipswich however, should have taken the lead when in the first minute Peter Sampson found himself with only the keeper to beat but an excellent save by the keeper kept the score level. Ipswich continued to dominate midfield creating chances without success and then against the run of play some sloppy play allowed Chesterfield to take the lead. This seemed to spur Ipswich on and eventually they were rewarded when Hauxwell finished from close range following a well worked penalty corner. The home defense came under constant pressure and Ipswich eventually were rewarded when Mayhew's goal bound shot was stopped by a defender's foot; Wake stepped up but his powerful flick crashed against the post.

Ipswich expected to come good in the second half but found it difficult to get their usual flowing hockey in gear, and whilst Steward in goal was rarely called upon it was good that the Ipswich defensive unit of Girling, Gray, Whetton and Hampton were as solid as ever. ipswich however, did create chances Wrinch was unlucky not to add to his tally, Hauxwell just could not lift his effort over the prostrate keeper and although Glading had the ball in the net it was disallowed for an earlier infringement. Phil Sampson was influential in mid field and he will be missed in the net round as he is unavailable.

As the final minutes came both teams dug deep in an attempt to score the winner and avoid the lottery of penalty flicks with out success. Gray, Hauxwell Hampton and Whetton converted, Steward saved 1 and saw 2 converted, and then Ipswich just about deserved the victory as the Chesterfield 4th flick flew wide. The team now have a home quarter final draw v Isca on 

EH Mixed Cup

Round 1

Ipswich v Halstead Imps

Result: Won 6-1

Scorers: T Lever (2), S Gibson, S Daley, E Millar

Last years beaten semi-finalists, Ipswich started the long road to the mixed finals day with a good win over local rivals Halested Imps.

Not playing their best hockey Ipswich were held to a  1-0 lead at the half time break but after the second half the floodgates opened with the home side creating chance after chance. The pick of the goals being a Toby Lever drag Flick and a Sam Gibson finish after a great aerial ball from Mark Wheelhouse.

Ipswich now look forward to the second round draw.