Slazenger EHL

Premier Division

Ipswich V Bowdon Hightown

Lost 3-1

Scorers: E Lee-Smith

For the second week running Ipswich failed to chalk up any points from their Slazenger EHL Premier League game, however unlike last week Ipswich not only played undefeated league leaders Bowdon Hightown off the park for the majority of the first half but know they should have taken at least a  point.

Ipswich started this match as under dogs but within 5 minutes had taken the lead, Emma Lee-Smith scoring her first of the season with a great strike from a short corner. Visitors Bowdon looked shell shocked and a superb Ipswich team display saw them dominate every exchange. The Suffolk team poured forward and with Kirsten Spencer, Leisa King and Vic Sandall making up a formidable spine of the team Ipswich looked in complete control. Despite several good chances the home team though could not find that second goal and against the league's most prolific goal scoring team a one goal cushion was likely never to be enough.  On the stroke of half time the visitors won a short corner and much to Ipswich frustration it was leading scoring Tina Cullen that swept the ball over the line to send the sides in tied at 1 a piece. 

Vic Sandal taking on Slough

Back in a game after a first half that they never competed in Bowdon started the second period with a renewed belief.  However the home team were more than aware that the game was still theirs for the taking and with Captain Becky Baker stopping any dangerous attacks down the left the game was finely balanced.  With time ticking on Ipswich had the better chances and Emma Lee-Smith could have had a second but saw her one on one shot blocked by the keeper.  Approaching the last 20 minutes the game looked destined for  a draw but then umpire Lili James pulled up with a calf injury. With no replacement the game looked likely to be abandoned but after receiving some treatment and a break of about 10 minutes James felt OK to continue and the match re-started. Bowdon seemed to benefit more from the break, the rest enabling them to recover physically and they began to push Ipswich back into their defensive area. Despite the pressure Ipswich looked comfortable in defence but the home team could no nothing when umpire Colin Burton made an amazing decision to award a controversial short corner to the visitors, after they had won a free hit but played a moving ball onto an Ipswich players feet in the 25 yard area.  From such decisions games can be won and lost at this level and Bowdon took probably only their 4th chance of the game to take a 2-1 lead with only 10 minutes to play. Ipswich were annoyed but not beaten and drove on looking for the equalizer their play so deserved. 2 shots from short corners flashed inches wide but by over committing the Suffolk side left themselves open at the back and Bowdon once more won a short corner that they converted on the 67th minute to wrap up the points.

A disappointing result for the home side having played so well but with last seasons top scorer Jenny hall due to return to action in the next couple of weeks, Ipswich can build on this good performance and know that they have the ability to beat anyone in this league. 

 NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2C

Bury St Edmunds 2's v Ipswich 

Result:  Won 2-1

Scorers: M McWhirter, M Chidgey

Off the back of a convincing 7-1 win over a static Sudbury side, Ipswich found themselves somewhat unprepared for the first real challenge of the season. Whilst the surroundings and weather were beautiful, its fair to say the game was….not.

A solid Bury defence stilted Ipswich attacks as the quick passing game of last week failed to appear. The nil-nil halftime scoreline demonstrated a lack of inventive play by both teams, as each was successfully held back by the other.

Not long into the second half, Bury scored – a superb strike from an attack which shouldn’t have been allowed to develop. This saw the 3s go behind for the first time this season, putting the young team into new and unwelcome territory. Not to be held back however, Ipswich regained control of the game and saw the pressure move back towards the Bury end of the pitch.

Ipswich dug deep and battled well leading to a controversial equaliser. After a complete mêlée of sticks in the D, a short pass through to Mitch saw her slot the ball into the goal. This was met with delight from Ipswich and outrage from Bury as the whole team began appealing to the Umpire that the ball had gone out of play prior to the goal. The ensuing debacle led to Umpire’s asking Ipswich players if the ball had gone out – with honesty obviously being the best policy here, we said…AS IF!!! Despite outrageous comments from the opposition about our integrity, the goal stood and Ipswich were back in the game.

The stronger opposition combined with a reluctance of some players to release the ball then led to further stagnation of the game as Bury became more physical, and Ipswich failed to play the excellent team game which has given them success so far this season. Despite this, the 3s had significantly more of the pressure which paid off a cruel 2 minutes from the end as fancy-pants Vicky Dixon whipped out some awesome stick skills to set up Millie (beautifully waiting on the P-spot!) who lifted the ball over the Bury keeper and into the goal.

As always, a few special mentions…Charlotte earned herself a green card and stern word from the Umpire for unruly behaviour and a little too much rugby, whilst Lorna unveiled her new move which shall henceforth be known as the ‘full-length-body-dive’ – who knows what they were thinking! Anna played a superb game with plenty of encouragement for the team and non-stop running. As for the Umpires, a few wild decisions as always (most notably the awarding of an Ipswich short corner after one of Ro’s most dramatic stick tackles of the season so far!) but hey-ho, all’s fair in love and war.

However, despite a difficult game during which the team was challenged for the first time, Ipswich can take many positives forward to next week. We fought back after going behind, battled til the end and were rewarded with another 3 points. Still top of the League, the Mighty 3’s are looking onwards and upwards to their next game but will need to learn from this week’s experience and return to the style of play which suits them best and uses the young legs in the team to best advantage.

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

Holcombe v Ipswich

Lost 6-0

Scorers: 

For Sunday's Slazenger  EHL fixture, Ipswich men took a 16 man squad down to 2nd placed Holcombe. The Kent side, with ex England international Dave Mathews & 3 south Africans also all on the payroll, were flying high and had won their last 3 games. Ipswich started the game brightly and had opportunities to open the scoring with Will Hearne & Phil Messent both going close early on. The Suffolk side played some good hockey and it remained goalless for half an hour before Holcombe took the lead.

Ipswich then had a chance to equalize a minute before half time but, when what turned out to be their only short corner of the game broke down, the home side broke away and doubled the lead. Ipswich didn't think the 2-0 scoreline was a fair reflection but knew that it was mainly down to them losing the ball too often and in the second half were determined to keep it. Real chances of getting back in the game were gone, however, a minute after the restart when ex England man Mathews scored the first of his second half hat-trick. To rub salt in the wound Ipswich then lost Hungarian U21 Tamas Horovitz with a broken ankle and look like being without out him for around 8 weeks. 

Even though they conceded 6, Ipswich were able to take positives from the game. 'I'm very happy with the hockey my young side played' said coach Iain Gall. 'We had one 15yr old & 3 17yr olds out there and they showed me they can already compete at this level. We'll be looking forward to the rematch at home in the new year'. 

NE14HOCKEY East League

Prem A

Ipswich v Havering

Result: Won 6-1

Scorers: palmer,cook,miller,martin,,james walker,dixon

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2 N

IES v Ipswich 

Result: Won 2-1

Scorers: S Gibson, J Fry

Something this ever growing side needs to remember is we have people all over the pitch capable of producing goals. In a hard fought game with derby rivals IES chances would always be few and far between, but would be created.
The first half was probably edged by the away side, and a goal being disallowed late for encroaching the 'D' seemed harsh. However 0-0 at half time was a base to build on from with no goals conceded. 
The second half didn't go Ipswich's way with IES scoring from a short corner. An initial shot saved by Ben Glading, who was an unofficial man of the match, was well put away by Kev Brown. Ben also saving well from a suicidal pass from Storm, to an IES forward at the top of the 'D'. 
As the game moved on the good ball play and movement seemed to be taking its toll on the IES side, and with fifteen minutes to go up stepped the captain to capitalise on some great play by Toby Lever and our midfield.
With their spirits lifted and IES's dampened, it was 5 minutes later that an ever improving Josh 'Rogan' Godfrey produced a fantastic piece of individual skill. Picking up the ball from Bou near his own halfway line, Rogan started to side step player after player before calmly slipping the ball past a befuddled goalkeeper.
There was no way back from here for the home side and a hard fought but deserved victory was earned. Up to fourth and looking to climb!!

NE14HOCKEY East League 

Div 4NE 

Ipswich v Holt Harlequins

Result: Won 14-0 

Scorers:

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 6NE

Lowestoft Railways 2's Ipswich

Result: Lost 3-1

Scorers: S Robinson 

Ipswich 5s had to field yet another differing line-up due to the non-availability of players in this early season top of the table clash. Lowestoft started very strongly & the home side soon found themselves two goals down after some good finishing. Ipswich gradually began to recover from this early setback & began to pass the ball around & spent the remainder of the half encamped in the visitors end peppering the goal with shots but found the Lowestoft keeper having the game of his life.

The second half saw Ipswich carry on the good work of the first period constructing some fine moves & dominating the play throughout but, at times struggled to finish moves with a direct shot on goal. Stuart Robinson finally beat the keeper with a deft shot following Simon Godbolds deceptively slow, dummied pass but Ipswich were unable to add to the tally.

NE14HOCKEY East League

Veterans

Sandy & Shefford v Ipswich

Won 2-0

Scorers: Sampson, Glading

Ipswich made the trip to Sandy expecting a hard fought encounter against a team that can be touchy with the umpires and each other! Ipswich had lost convincingly in the same fixture last year but they were confident that history would not be repeated. Ipswich started in dominant mood and enjoyed territorial superiority and were grateful to take the lead when a well worked short corner was converted by Sampson. Shefford are no mugs and they put together some good moves to create chances but on the rare occasions they created scoring chances they found keeper Steward in excellent form.

Despite their lead the half time team talk revolved around upping the pace and keeping possession, and certainly the second half began with Ipswich in control; midway through the half however, Ipswich increased the lead in controversial circumstances. Shefford expecting a penalty corner relaxed allowing Foster to gain possession in his own circle sprinted the length of the pitch before slipping to Glading to convert.

In the dying minutes Shefford could have come back into the game but they were frustrated to see Steward's save deflected onto the cross bar and another effort rebound off the post.