Slazenger England League Premier Division

Saturday 15th March

Ipswich v Leicester

Lost 4-1

Scorers: E Millar

With the pressure of needing 3 points from the last three games of the season to secure their position in the Premier League of the English Hockey League, Ipswich ladies started at a pretty impressive pace against Leicester. Despite the champions loosing their crown to Slough last week, Leicester are never a team short on extremely talented players and this showed as the game started at a hectic pace with the ball being moved from end to end. The first clear chance of the game falling to Lizzy Aldous who was close to intercepting a pass around the back and then found herself one on one with the goalkeeper only to be denied. The importance of the game was already starting to show as a few feisty moments erupted in the middle of the pitch, however was dealt with well by the umpires.

 As Ipswich continued to apply pressure a succession of short corners was won and eventually the back of the net was found following some patient work by the Ipswich short corner routine saw the ball fall to Emma Millar who’s trademark scoop on 7 mins soared into the top of the net. Again the pace of the game lifted and following another quick break from Leicester a short corner was awarded in which Leicester converted with a well worked routine ending with a diving deflection only a minute later. Again with the game going backwards and forwards the next goal could have come from anywhere, but the next action was to happen when again the game could have boiled over on the 12^th minute which resulted in a Leicester player being shown a green card. The tide was turning in Ipswich’s favour and when Lizzy Aldous again had an opportunity with just the goalie to beat her ferocious shot from the top was well saved by a brave keeper who injured themselves in the process. Leicester were sensing the danger signs and packed the defence continuing to keep 10 men behind the ball. Half chances kept falling this time it was Leisa King who had them, however with the number of people in the D it was hard to get any clean shots on goal and Leicester weathered the storm well and in the last 10 minutes of the half, the patience of Ipswich in not getting their reward was beginning to wear thin and Leicester were beginning to get back into the game and looked dangerous on the break. And so it would be after another period of pressure in their own D, Leicester quickly broke and found the defence flat footed in the tackle which they capitalised on at a crucial point in the game just before the half time whistle. Ipswich were going to need to find their composure again in the second half. 

The second half started in much the same vain as the first with end to end action and both teams were dealing with the pressure well until a freak incidence where Charlotte Lee-Smith looked to clear the ball away from the oncoming attackers for it to hit a defenders foot and fall to a Leicester player who fired the shot into the empty goal. A blow that was almost too hard for the Ipswich players to take and this showed as Leicester began to take control of the game, only some good defending from Charlotte Lee-Smith in goal and Kirsten Spencer in defence and Vic Sandal in midfield keeping the Leicester team at bay. Despite the set back of being 3-1 down Ipswich continued to work hard and hound the Leicester defence which told in the 25^th minute when Leicester found themselves down to 10 players following a yellow card for persistent stick tackling and breaking down the play. Ipswich sensed their chance and again committed players forward with Jen Hall starting to create some openings and balls now flying across the face of the goal just begging someone to get a touch, Ipswich failed to take their chances and again frustrations were beginning to show, this time with an Ipswich player being the offender. Miriam Fabregas got in another altercation with a Leicester player was rightly shown a yellow card, however after the Leicester player then continued to provoke Fabregas on her way to the bench, Fabregas unfortunately retaliated verbally and this ended in the player some what harshly being shown the red card while the Leicester player got off scott free. Ipswich were beginning to feel this wasn’t going to be their day. With Leicester now back up to full strength and Ipswich now down to 10 the disheartening proceedings were only added to in the 66^th minute when Leicester controversially scored their 4^th goal of the game. A deflected short corner shot seemingly about to be saved by Kirsten Spencer on the line at head height who was unsurprising put off by the oncoming Leicester stick also at head height resulting in the ball going over the line. Again summarising that this was not going to be Ipswich’s day and now puts even more emphasis on the derby game against Chelmsford in a couple of weeks who also find themselves perilously close to the play off position at the wrong end of the table.

 NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2C

Suffolk Premier League

Suffolk Div 1

.Slazenger England Hockey League South

Sunday 16th March

Sevenoaks v Ipswich

Lost 1-0

Scorers: 

For the second week in succession, Ipswich men’s 1^st XI produced an outstanding performance and came away with nothing, losing 1-0 to a Sevenoaks team that currently sit second place in the league. Despite the excellence of the performance, the team were devastated not to have taken at least one point from the match – a point that would have guaranteed National League safety.

”It was a great performance, and I feel pretty hard done by not to get anything from the match”, said Ipswich captain Ivan Smith. “We deserved at least a point, but they took their chance when they had it”.  

Ipswich coach Ian Gall was equally praising of the side. “It was incredibly disappointing again this week, but we are playing some really great stuff now. It is brilliant to see how much we have developed over the course of the season.”  

Although the match was played in pouring rain, it did not affect the quality of hockey on show. The match was evenly balanced for much of the first half, with both teams attacking with intent and defending solidly. Asif Rais, back in the team after a two week injury lay-off, was soon in the thick of the action, making an excellent tackle to stop prolific goal scorer Pete Turner just as he was about to get his shot away. Rais was then injured whilst trying to collect an aerial pass, with the ball deflecting off his stick and into his head. Despite this, the back line of Mark Wheelhouse, Matt Stainthorpe, Ed Youngman and Max Underwood were not troubled by Sevenoaks, allowing Rais to recover and return to the field. Teenage wonder-kid Josh Godfrey – playing just his second national league match – came close to opening the scoring for Ipswich when his instinctive deflection from the pass of Royce Waters flew up into the chest of the unsighted Sevenoaks keeper, before the ball was cleared to safety. Ipswich soon won a penalty corner thanks to excellent play from Mark Wrinch, Ivan Smith and Richard Rutterford, but Will Hearne’s flicked effort was just wide of the target. Sevenoaks had chances of their own, but Tony Burch in the Ipswich goal was in inspired form yet again for Ipswich , blocking a powerful drag-flick from penalty corner expert Turner with just a minute left of the first half.

At the start of the second half, Sevenoaks tried to hit Ipswich hard, but Ipswich defended magnificently and soon the match was back as a finely balanced spectacle. Ipswich were putting together some stunning counter-attacks which Sevenoaks struggled to get to grips with, and eventually they started to concede penalty corners. Wheelhouse and Hearne both attempted to find a way past the resolute Sevenoaks defence from the dead ball situation, but were both denied thanks to impressive defensive work. The turning point in the match came when right forward Godfrey appeared to win a free hit high up field, but the umpires’ view was blocked by another player so allowed play to go on. Sevenoaks moved the ball across field before passing into the circle for Craig Ross to strike into the corner, much to the relief of the title chasing home side. Ipswich felt aggrieved, but did not let this affect their performance and immediately won a succession of penalty corners. After excellent blocks from the first two efforts from Sevenoaks keeper, Ipswich came close to grabbing an equaliser, with Rich Stainthorpe’s diving reverse stick shot being cleared off the line by defender Nick Miller. Ipswich kept on pushing for an equaliser, but eventually ran out of time, much to the delight of the large number of Sevenoaks supporters who braved the terrible weather.      

Due to various other results, Ipswich are now safe from automatic relegation, but could still be caught by Robinsons who sit in the relegation play-off spot. However, Robinsons are six points behind with six points to play for, and with Ipswich having a superior goal difference it would seem unlikely that the Bristol-based side will catch them. “I will not be happy until it is mathematically impossible for Robinson’s to catch us”, said Gall.  “I believe that if we keep playing as we have done over the last two weeks then we will secure our own safety, and will not have to rely on what other teams are doing.”

Ipswich face Firebrands in two weeks time, and hope to exact revenge on their opponents after losing 4-2 in the away fixture.

NE14HOCKEY East League

Prem A

Bluehearts v Ipswich 

Lost 3-0

Scorers: 

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2N

NE14HOCKEY East League 

Div 4NE 

Ipswich 4's  v Watton

Result: won 6-0

Scorers:  Reed (3), Scarff, Holloway,Godbold (S) 

After last weeks disaster of a performance against Cranes, Ipswich travelled to Watton with only 11 players. Sneddon allegedly had a multiple pile up on the way but thankfully Godbold (M) had set the meet time so early that the team would have had time to travel to Timbuctoo and still arrived early for the start. Sneddon duly arrived in time in a substitute car.

Anyway Watton started the game in 5th place with a strong home record. But it soon became clear that they were unable to cope with the dribbling skills of the Totem Holloway. However whilst he dribbled brilliantly his shooting was atrocious so the score remained 0-0 for some time.

Then Reed topped a short corner past the until then excellent keeper. Then he powered in another one. At half time Ipswich's focus was on keeping it going and on working out how to cope with their midfield's lack of fitness - Godbold Senior and Mann cleary needing to spend longer at the gym and less time eating pies.

The second half was epic Ipswich play. Scarff scored from his customary 1.7 feet. Kwan touched the ball twice. Whetton did a double hack and with some merit received a green card. Your reporter, having played many a game with the aged maestro, is still trying to comprehend how that could be only his 4th card in his 42 year hacking (sorry hockey) career.

Reed completed his hatrick and is now closing in on Holloway and Gibson for the top goalscorer award.

And then the disaster happened. This will be talked about over and over again for many a year - although hopefully only in Godbold family circles. The quiet retiring elder Godbold sprinted (for him) into the D and did this reverse stick windmill type thing and the ball flew into the net. Lets not mention it again now - since your reporter is confident Godbold senior will still be talking about it in 2017.

Then the Totem got stroppy since he had successfully missed about 43 sitters. He finally dithered in a short corner to complete the scoring.

But, on a serious note, this was one of the 4th XIs best performances of the season ........ appropriate considering it was the day when Godbold junior announced he planned to stand down from 4th XI captain at the end of the season. The rumour mill has already started as to his potential replacement with a man of limited stature leading the bookies odds - height stature that is.

Man of the match - Godbold Junior. The fact he was effervescent on Saturday does not overshadow his league record as captain - which now stands at played 38, won 34, drawn 1, lost 3 (i.e. 103 points out of a possible 114). Geoff Reed - read that and weep .........

And with Wales winning the grand slam a great day was had by all the 4th XI .......

Next week, a break, then the biggy against UEA where a win will secure promotion to Division 3.

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 6NE

Ipswich 5's v Felixstowe 4's

Result: Won 3-2

Scorers: A Mays 2, Blake Elliot 1

Following on from last weeks gritty win against Bury, the 5s were without core players who had served the side so well throughout the season. However, this was to no detriment to the team as if provided to opportunity for others to shine. Neil Maculay who is normally found coaching the juniors on a Sunday morning deputised @ left back & Blake Elliot was at last unleashed from the educational establishment for only the third time this season & tormented the Felixstowe defence throughout the 70 minutes.

Ipswich signalled intent from the start & took the game to Felixstowe on an unpredictable pitch. Man of the match, Andy 'The Kaiser' Mays bossed the game supremely from the midfield, orchestrating the attack & totally resolute in defence.It was Blake Elliot who broke the deadlock when he nutmegged the keeper after brilliant attack play on the right hand side. The Kaiser himself made it 2 when he left the keeper with no chance from a short corner.

A midfield re-shuffle @ half time provided Ipswich with more attacking options with Ben Askins providing left sided wizzardry to mesmorise an elderly Felixstowe defence. The home side grew in confidence but with Dave Youngman in the Ipswich backline in a miserly mood gave nothing away. Alan Fisher on another day would have had a hatrick with better finishing but again, it was left up the the Kaiser to seal the game with a second goal from a penalty corner that the hapless defender could only help into the net.

East League

Ipswich v  Bedford

Result : Won 7-0

Scorers:Tew 4, Glading Foster Cutting

This fixture was a potential banana skin for Ipswich having lost the corresponding game last year, but on the day victory was assured with a convincing win and along the way the 100th goal of the season was notched up.

Ipswich lined up with a different formation packing the mid field allowing Glading and Wheaton freedom to roam up front, but it was Foster in a purple patch of form at the moment who looked the danger man breaking from mid field. Ipswich reward came after a series of penalty corners when Tew thumped home then Glading converted from another excellent run from Foster; the same duo should have added to the score but Glading's effort went narrowly wide of a gaping goal.

With a two gaol advantage at have time Ipswich were reasonably content and the home team felt they were still in with a chance. But within a minute of the restart Bedford lost possession cheaply conceded a penalty corner and Tew had converted again. The home team dug deep but 10 minutes into the half Ipswich killed off the game with 2 goals in a minute, both from penalty corners, Tew converted for his hat-trick, and Cutting with a well placed effort. Bedford pushed for a consolation but the industrious Sampson was having an excellent game down the left, man of the match Gray gave nothing away, Gaffer was dictating play and even Ringrose managed to cross the half way line a couple of times! Tew thundered in yet another penalty corner, Glading smashed one against the post and then Foster rounded off the scoring with a neat conversion under the advancing keeper.

With 4 games to go Ipswich need 5 points to assure a successful defense of their title and visit Harleston the week after Easter.