Friendly

Canterbury v Ipswich

Result: Drew 2-2

Scorers: L King, J Bloom

Ipswich travelled to Kent to take on fellow Slazenger EHL side Canterbury in the last pre-season warm up game before the league starts next Saturday.  With both teams missing several players it was two new look sides that faced each other with a sprinkling of familiar faces.

Ipswich started brightly, moving the ball well but Canterbury also settled early and the game looked very even early on. With experienced defender Kirsten Spencer unable to play due to a calf Injury Ipswich could have been expected to look unsettled at the back but Captain Becky Baker and vice-Captain Mille Sharp held their shape well and with some sterling work by Hannah Tallent on the left hand side Ipswich contained any Canterbury attacks. 

Ipswich had an early chance to take the lead via a short corner but Emma Millar saw her deflection just slip by the far post. Canterbury then took advantage of a quick break away and South African International Jen Wilson slid in to touch the ball over the line to make it 1-0 to the home team. The rest of the half played out with neither team creating too much of a clear chance and the majority of the play being confined to the midfield.

A comprehensive half time talk by coach Royce Waters saw Ipswich start the second half with a new direction and the immediately took control of the game. Leisa King drove down the right hand side of the pitch and nonchalantly hit a reverse stick shot through the legs of ex-Ipswich keeper Becky Duggan to make it 1-1.

Ipswich now had the upper hand and with forwards, Sarah Daley, Jess Bloom and Lizzy Aldous working hard the visitors pinned the home team in their defensive area.  Right Defender Issy Sheldrake, making her first appearance for Ipswich in over a year also offered a new dimension with some good play down the right channel.  An impressive sweeping move saw Ipswich awarded a short corner. Captain Baker dragged flicked the ball towards goal, and with Emma Millar getting a slight deflection Duggan was forced into a reflex save. However she could only parry the ball to the waiting Jess Bloom who tucked it in the corner to score her first goal for Ipswich.

Ipswich continued to dominate the play but with only one substitute and the high pace of the game, fatigue eventually set in and with only minutes to go Canterbury finally found a way through the Ipswich defense to level the score at 2-2.

It was a good game for both sides and they will now be turning their attentions to the league start on the 22nd September.

Slazenger EHL

South Division

Oxted v Ipswich

Result: Won 4-2

Scorers:I Smith (2), B Gallagher, T Horovitz

Ipswich play two games next weekend , they face newly promoted Cambridge Uni away on Saturday and then play their first home game of the season v Bromley and Beckingham on Sunday. With the students losing 5-2 and Bromley drawing 5-5 a bucketful of goals look to be on the cards.

Friendly

Ipswich 23s v Harleston 3's

Result: Won 4-2

Scorers: H Martin, Sam Gibson

In a very physical game Ipswich's younger players especially played very well. A 2-0 score doesn't reflect the constant pressure and possession that Ipswich had.
Once again a young head took centre stage with Jono Gould playing far in excess of his years.
Ipswich took the lead in the first half with a bundled goal, Harry Martin getting the last touch. The second goal was the result of a short corner flick hitting a shin on the line, the resulting penalty flick was guided home by the captain Sam Gibson.

Friendly

Ipswich 5's v Harleston 5's

Result: Lost 7-2

Scorers: Ben Askins, R Stevens

After last weeks fine start to the season with a good win, Ipswich 5s hit terra firma with a resounding thud. However, the home side should not be despondent over one result @ the start of a long season.

Magpies started with intent & were the first to settle into some good attacking play through the middle, making the most of their experienced captain. The 5s slowly began to repeat their great attacking play that was illustrated the previous week with great success & the reward eventually came when Robbie Stevens, making his first appearance of the season fired the home sides’ first goal into the net. 

The start of the second period saw a replacement for the visiting team introduced who was warming up for the following match. The extra fire power paid off & Ipswich trailed the lead. Despite repeated attacks Ipswich refused to lie down & Ben Askins scored his forth in two games for the home side to bring the scores level. 

Man of the match Joe Wroe made some great saves all afternoon for Ipswich & debutant Neil Maculay rolled back the years with a fine game in midfield.

Friendly

Ipswich v Harleston

Result: Won 3-0

Scorers:  Foster, Askins, Wheaton 

 Ipswich took on local rivals Harleston in this pre season friendly at Henley Road and as usual enjoyed a close, hard fought contest, but at the end of the day the home teams fire power up front proved decisive. it was not until mid way through the first half however, that Ipswich scored their first. A pass out of defence found new boy Askins, his quick pass up the left to Glading was swept up to Foster on the move who rounded the keeper and tapped home. Within minutes another typical Foster run and cross was slammed home by Askins to open his account for the club. 

Harleston were looking dangerous the main threat coming from Wells in midfield but the Ipswich defence held firm and with 10 minutes remaining Wheaton made the game safe picking up a loose ball and slamming home.

Next week the league campaign starts a with home game against Norwich Exiles.