Slazenger EHL

Premier Division

sat 16th February 2008

Ipswich v Olton

Result: Lost 5-1

Scorers: L King

EH Cup

Sun 17th February 2008

Slough v Ipswich 

Result: Lost 7-1

Scorers: E Lee-Smith

Letting in 12 goals in two games tells the story of a bleak weekend for Ipswich Women's 1st team and with no game this weekend it gives all those involved ample time to reflect, and act, on what went wrong and how to get this season back on track.

Saturday's game was a tale of two half's. With vice-Captain Mille Sharp unable to make it to the game in time due to being stuck on the M2, Ipswich coach Royce waters had to juggle his back line at the last minute. Such changes are not ideal and Olton took advantage of some poor marking to take a lead on the 17th minute.  However Ipswich were playing some lovely hockey, with forwards Jess Bloom, Lizzy Aldous, Sarah Daley and Jenny Hall creating some excellent openings.  Through one of these good moves Ipswich won a short corner and Leisa King powered the ball home to score

 her 5th goal of the season.  With the game finely balanced Ipswich went into half time looking forward to a good second half performance, what came instead was a ill disciplined team display that cost them dear.

In the 52nd minute Naomi James was allowed to run unmarked into the Ipswich circle and her shot deflected in off an Ipswich stick to give Olton the lead once more.  Ipswich were determined to level the scores again but such desire was undone by too much individual play and poor passing choices when under pressure.  A desperate tackle on the 61st minute gave Olton a penalty stroke which they converted to lead 3-1 and then 2 minutes later they were awarded another which again they converted to lead 4-1.  Not happy with the award of the penalty Leisa King talked herself into trouble and was duly sent off for the rest of the game leaving the home side with no chance of a fight back.  In fact things got worse when Olton scored their fifth goal with two minutes to go to seal a 5-1 win that looked improbable at half time.

Determined to put in a better display on Sunday in the Cup Quarter finals, Ipswich travelled to league leaders Slough with renewed hope. But some poor basic play by the visitors coupled with Slough's efficient play saw Ipswich overrun 7-1 by the Berkshire team.  Whilst playing better as a team than Saturday Ipswich made too many individual errors and were punished by a side that know how to take their chances.   It was a disappointing result for Ipswich but they have 2 weeks to put things right before they travel to Bristol to take on an organised Clifton team that sit 3 points above them in 6th place.

 NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2C

Suffolk Premier League

Suffolk Div 1

.Slazenger England Hockey League South

Sunday10th Feb

Teddington v Ipswich

Lost: 6-4

Scorers: W Hearne, P Messent, I Smith, R Stainthorpe

Teddington recorded their first win in over two years against an Ipswich team that put in, quite simply, their worst National League performance of the season. Despite a 20 point gap between the two sides before the fixture began, Teddington were deserving victors, with Ipswich only having themselves to blame for a performance described by coach Ian Gall after the match as “truly shocking and simply unacceptable”. Teddington are still favourites for relegation, as any form of recovery has surely arrived too late, but a victory for Ipswich would have all but guaranteed National League hockey for next season.
Ipswich got off to the worst possible start when their inability to defend penalty corners was exposed for the third week in a row, with Teddington’s Jason Laslett being the beneficiary in the 2nd minute. The visitors were soon back on level terms thanks to a good open play strike from England U-18 international Will Hearne, but Teddington moved into a 2-1 lead from another penalty corner when Gareth Mckeown scored the first of his four goals after Ipswich again failed to clear. Ipswich were then struck down with an injury to right defender and penalty corner expert Kier Dixon, who was hit in the face by the ball and would play no further part in the match. As the end of the first half approached, Ipswich began to look the side more likely to take control of the match, and efforts from Ben Gallagher and Rich Stainthorpe were beaten away by the Teddington keeper. This good spell continued at the start of the second half, and Phil Messent soon grabbed an equaliser when he slapped the ball home from a tight angle. A minute later, Ivan Smith received an accurate Ben Gallagher pass from the left that eliminated the goalkeeper, allowing Smith to tap in easily for a 3-2 lead. At this point, Teddington looked to be there for the taking, but Ipswich did not take advantage and the home side soon found the net with a good open play strike from Ian Harris, masterminded by ex England and GB captain Laslett. It was Laslett, now 37, who was at the centre of everything for Teddington, winning plenty of tackles in midfield and starting the majority of their attacks. Ipswich were struggling to contain their opponents, and when the home side won a penalty corner in the 55 minute, the visitors feared the worst. The first strike was initially saved by Ned Martin in the Ipswich goal, but again Ipswich did not clear and Mckeown forced the ball over the line. Mckeown then turned a 4-3 lead into 6-3 with two more penalty corners, leaving Ipswich stunned and Teddington within touching distance of victory. Two minutes from time, Rich Stainthorpe pulled a goal back for Ipswich with a well-taken deflection from a Messent cross, but it was too little too late. 
Ipswich can expect tough training sessions this week as coach Gall prepares his team for their next match, against Oxted on Saturday. The side recorded a cracking away win over the Surrey-based team on the opening day of the season, but Oxted are a much improved outfit and will be a tough team to break down, with former South African international Justin King marshalling their defence. The match takes place at Tuddenham Road this Saturday at 1pm.

NE14HOCKEY East League

Prem A

Ipswich

Won 

Scorers:

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2N

NE14HOCKEY East League 

Div 4NE 

Ipswich 4's

Result: won 

Scorers:  Reed (2), Gaffer, Scarff, Whetton

One wondered after playing at Gorleston in November whether it was possible to produce a slower pitch but congratulations to Felixstowe for managing to choose a pitch with all the pace of a Lever sprint.

The 4th XI took the field with Kwan reminding everyone how excellently he performed in his last outing at the sea-side. After the game his average sea-side performance would unanimously be rated as just about passable.

The less said about the game the better really. It went something like: 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4, 5-4. As a consequence and somewhat unusually the 4th XI were the highest ranked winning team in the club on Saturday.

Whetton scored the winner from the penalty spot as the rest of the team sat on Sebborn to prevent him from blasting wide.

Man of the match was undoubtedly Robert Gaffer who finally, after 20 years hockeying, found a pitch which suited his pace of game. Congratulations to Swain for showing self-restraint when whacked off the ball - Gaffer was astonished. Call of the day from Underwood junior .......... "That's my mum" as Sebborn sat next to Mrs U on the bench ......

Next week the big home game against Gorleston as first play second. 6 games to go and only 5 points separating the top 3.

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 6NE

Ipswich 5'sv 

Result: Won 

Scorers: 

NE14HOCKEY East League

Vets

EH Over 40's Cup

Ipswich v Winchester

Result: Won 3-3 APS

Scorers: Cook, Askins, Foster

This 4th round match was always going to be a close encounter between 2 teams that dispatched their opposition by double figures in the previous round. Ipswich however, triumphed in the first of sudden death flicks.

Ipswich enjoyed the early territorial advantage and were rewarded in the 11th minute when Cook scored in typical fashion following a penalty corner. Within 5 minutes Winchester pulled level when Adams fired in a penalty corner. Ipswich pushed forward and looked particularly dangerous down the right where Cook fed Driver who found himself free but his shot flew wide. Despite looking the better side for much of the half Winchester took the lead 5 minutes before half time, Ipswich lost possession and in a fine counter attack Lelliot swept home passed a stranded Steward in goal. Calver could of scored as he surged forward but his shot flew well wide as the half concluded.

Ipswich came out for the second half determined to get back in the game and were awarded a penalty corner seconds after the restart, Cooks effort flew into the net but was too high! In the 42nd minute Ipswich drew level as Foster converted following a penalty corner. There then followed a period of indiscipline from both teams, as Winchester were reduced to 10 men after too much back chat and within minutes Fry joined him after a particularly clumsy challenge when the attacker was free to counter attack. Ipswich then produced probably the best move of the game as Driver fed Foster and his sprint down the right wing was crossed for Askins to turn home. The unlucky Gaffer then joined the growing numbers in the sin bin, his only sin being not realising what was going on. As the numbers were restored to full strength Adams converted another penalty corner for the visitors to set up an interesting final 15 minutes. Winchester won a series of penalty corners but some solid defense and a particular opportune clearance by Fry kept them at bay. Ipswich could have secured victory in the final few minutes, Mitchell in the visitors goal made a brilliant save from Cook, Cutting was unable to convert from another Foster cross and literally in the last second Cook's bullet shot canoned back off the post.

And so to another penalty flick barrage, Fry taking the first effort fired wide but Cook, Beresford, Langton and Driver all converted confidently, Winchester matched Ipswich with Lelliott firing his effort wide. Sudden death arrived with Steward saving the first attempt, Beresford kept cool to convert to and see Ipswich through to the next round, which on reflection they certainly deserved.