English Hockey League

Premier 1 

Saturday 19th March 2005

Doncaster v Ipswich

Won 2-1 ( C Gilliat-Smith, M Sharp)

Ipswich maintained their 1 point lead over Leicester at the top of EHL Premier 1 but had to dig deep  to claim the victory.  For the second time this season Doncaster stretched Ipswich to the limit and for the second time the Suffolk side claimed 3 points when they did not perform to the best of their ability. 

Not willing to risk the highly influential England star Leisa King,  who had a tight hamstring,  Ipswich were forced to re-shuffle their line up and the visitors started the match looking particularly unsettled.  A slow and sticky pitch did nothing to help the Ipswich mood and the home side started much the brighter.  Despite all the early pressure Doncaster could not find the vital touch in the circle and much to the home sides disbelief Ipswich opened the scoring from their first attack.  Cath Gilliat-Smith was fouled  in the circle in the act of shooting but while disappointed only a short corner was awarded the leading scorer  made no mistake seconds later. Left in acres of space to finish off a short corner move, struck by  Kirsten Spencer, Gilliat-Smith pounced to claim her 10th goal of the season.

The goal, rather than encouraging Ipswich to play more composed hockey encouraged Doncaster to work even harder and 2 minutes later they were back in the game. Charlotte Tomlinson scoring from a short corner move that caught Ipswich flat footed to make it 1-1.

The home side now poured forward for their second goal, sensing their visitors uncharacteristic lack of composure all over the pitch. Ipswich though held firm, a combination of last ditch tackles and superb goal keeping from GK Becky Duggan. Just before half time Ipswich at last found a patch of form. A superb run and cross by Tanya Barnard found Millie Sharp in the circle and her sell timed deflection found the bottom corner to make it 2-1.

Coach Sandie Lister reminded Ipswich at half time of their responsibilities but even with her words still ringing in their ears the visitors could not seem to find consistent form.

In their better patch's Ipswich did create chances to put the game beyond reach but these went begging and as time ticked on Doncaster went full out for the equalising goal.

The last 10 minutes saw a run of short corner's for the home team but Ipswich held firm and with Duggan majestic between the post's Doncaster had to settle for another agonising loss and reflect on converting only 1 of their 13 short corners.

Ipswich on the other hand reflected on a under par performance but a good result. 

All the attention now turns to what looks likely to be the league title decider between Ipswich and 2nd placed Leicester on Saturday 2nd April. With only 1 point between the sides it is a game that neither will want to lose.

East League 

Premier

Saturday 19th March 2005

 Ipswich 2's v Gravesend

Lost 4-1 ( J Gray)

Ipswich approached this game in a confident frame off mind, against a Gravesend team that was only 1 point above them in the league.  Claire Gould, Ipswich's regular keeper made a welcome return to the team after a 3 week absence. This boosted a defence that has slowly been returning to form.

Gravesend took the lead early in the first half and added 2 more more goals before Jo Gray was able to bundle the ball over the line for Ipswich's only goal of the game.

In the second half Ipswich started the much better side and were unlucky not to get another goal back, with both Emily Mason and Beth Golding having chances. After only 8 minutes into the second half Ipswich lost their influential Vice Captain Jenny Ellis with a face injury. After the re-start Ipswich were unable to produce the same level of determination and went a further goal down.

Ipswich now have just 2 more matches to consolidate their position in the league.

East League 

Div 2 Central

Saturday 19th March 2005

Haverhill v  Ipswich 3's

Lost 4-2 ( V Dixon, M Butcher)

The penultimate game of the season saw Ipswich repeat the performance of the past few weeks. After a promising start to the season Ipswich have lost their momentum and the performance at Haverhill was not an exception.

The game started with both sides playing an open game and evenly matched in terms of accuracy and enthusiasm. However as the first half progressed Haverhill built on this and took advantage of the inaccurate passing and relaxed marking to create a number of attacking moves. Inevitably this led to a number of short corners and within 15 minutes of the start Haverhill took the lead. The open play continued with Haverhill making most of the play and within a further five minutes drove home a second goal. This shook Ipswich into action and they briefly demonstrated the accurate passing and flowing play that characterized the games early in the season. This burst of skill concluded with a short corner followed by a goal from Vickey Dixon. As the first half concluded, Ipswich dominated the play but Haverhill did not relent.

The second half started as the first had finished with both sides enjoying free run of the opponents half. Ipswich pulled together as a team, unlike the first half and began to build their game. Haverhill however sensed victory and quickly added to their lead. The game was more balanced in the second half but Haverhill were not going to give in lightly and increased their tally further. Ipswich dug deep and characteristically rebuilt their enthusiasm to develop some attacking play resulting in a flurry of short corners. Martine Butcher took advantage of the attacking moves and scored the final goal of the match bringing the result to 4:2

This was a good win for Haverhill and Ipswich have the final game of the season to demonstrate that the skillful coherent hockey witnessed at the start of the season is not confined to history.

U18 National Plate

Quarter Final

Sunday 20th March 2005

 Ipswich v Olton & West Warwick

Won 4-3 aet ( A Tippen (2), C Andersonr)

In the Quarter final of the National U18 Plate competition defending champions Ipswich faced a tough test against an experienced Olton side.

Ipswich looked a little too relaxed in the first half and found themselves 2-0 down at half time and only a goal line clearance from inspired defender Lucy Ramsden kept it at that score.

After a good half-time team talk from Coaches Vicky Sandal and Jo Gray, Ipswich came out all guns blazing with their experienced players Charlie Anderson, Amy Tippen and sisters Beth and Hannah Golding getting control of the game.

Tippen got the first goal back for Ipswich with a well taken flick from a short corner. Ipswich then received a helping hand from Olton when another short corner, the shot this time coming from Anderson, was tipped into the goal by one of the defenders.

Olton then went back in front with another short corner, this time goalie Chole Musgrave, who had grown in confidence with some outstanding saves, was unable to make the stop.

With only 2 minutes to go on the clock Ipswich were awarded a short corner which Tippen coolly converted with an unstoppable shot, after Olton had stopped on the line due to confusion over the restart whistle.

With no extra time this took the tie to Penalty stokes. Ipswich scored with 3 of their 5 (C Anderson, A Tippen, Beth Golding) and with Olton missing one and Musgrave saving another, it was down to the final stroke. If Olton scored it would take the competition to
sudden death, with nerves of steal however Musgrave made another
outstanding save to put her team into the Semi-finals.

Ipswich Girls U18 Squad 2005

Back row left to right: Bonnie Hatcher, Becky Start, Beth Golding, Lucy Ramsden, Lisa Jones, Hannah Golding

Front row left to right: Chole Musgrave, Amy Tippen, Charlie Anderson, Caitlyn Palmer, Jo Hatcher

Missing
Emily Mason, Alice Christian and Katy Start

East League 

Premier A

Saturday 19th March 2005

Chelmsford 2's v  Ipswich

Lost 2-1 (M Walker)

Ipswich travelled to local derby team Chelmsford on Saturday. With top scorer Andy Cooke unavailable and several players not available  Ipswich took the opportunity to include  3 youngsters for their first taste of top east hockey. Chelmsford who soundly beat Ipswich at their last encounter ( the only team to have beaten them till last week) were also severely weakened. Due to an administrative mistake push back time was delayed for the whole of Ipswich team to arrive which seemed to only hamper the away team, with Chelmsford having the better start.

The game at no point really flowed but for the 30 seconds of individual brilliance from Chelmsford forward Andy Hunter who danced around James Walker, Andy Swindon and then dummied keeper George Pinner before scoring the opening goal of the game after 20 minutes. The first half saw Ipswich have a lot of possession which time after time was wasted. Nick Cardinal who debuted at right half back was outstanding linking in well with right inner Will Turner and right wing Paddy Hughs. The only real chance in the first half for Ipswich to level the score came after 16year old Rob Hawkswell’s pass back to central midfielder Chris Palmer who the in turn found Turner right of the goal. Quick thinking from Chelmsford goalie prevented a score.

Ipswich benefited from the break and a chance to regroup meant they came out the better team at the start for the second half. Young Hawskwell stood out head and shoulders above his more experienced team mates and pressed the Chelmsford defence causing them all kinds of problems. This pressure came to a head when a pass from Ipswich defence found Hawskwell lurking on the half way line with his lowly marker. Rob took his man on and then found Palmer in the middle who passed on to Hughs at the top of the D he in turn went round his man and passed intelligently to the top, where Matt Walker was waiting to smash the ball home to level the score.

Ipswich was on top of the play for most of the second half but ill discipline from senior players who should have lead the way, let Chelmsford back in. James Walker now feeling under pressure again topped a hit out from which a short corner was won. Owen Thom’s straight strike into the corner gave a  win to the home side  2-1 to Chelmsford.

Ipswich can be pleased with the progress of their youngsters but must now ask questions of senior players who next year will have to be able to step up to play National League opposition. Their last game of the season is a rearranged match on April 9^th at Henley road verses West Herts.

CHAMPIONS

East Vets League

Saturday 19th March 2005

Chelmsford  v  Ipswich

Won 4-0  (Glading (2), Curzon, Wheaton)

Ipswich confirmed that they won the inaugural season of the East Vets League, with a convincing win over an under strength Chelmsford team; indeed Ipswich provided Ben Glading in goal for the home team so that the fixture could go ahead and he certainly did not let them down.

The early exchanges were fairly even, Ipswich however, were grateful for some excellent saves from Steward in goal to keep them on terms, but the visitors gradually came to terms with the water base and after a fine run from Curzon, Glading was left with the simple task of tapping into an empty net. Chances were created at both ends but Ipswich went further ahead before half time, Hauxwell's flicked effort was well saved but from the resultant melee Glading's effort somehow finished over the line.

In the second half Ipswich began to dominate periods of play and were able to create several scoring chances; Curzon capped a excellent afternoon with a superb effort from the top of the circle and Wheaton converted to complete the scoring. Ipswich remain unbeaten in the league with the final game against Colchester to come after Easter.