Match Reports


1'st's	Slazenger EHL Premier Division Olton & West Warwick v Ipswich Lost 4-1 Scorers: M Fabregas EH Cup 3rd Round Ipswich v Wimbledon Won 7-0 Scorers: E Lee-Smith (4), J Bloom, V Sandall, E Millar In a weekend that promised so much for English Sport Ipswich travelled to the midlands full of hope, not only of getting 3 points in their Slazenger EHL clash with Olton but of a English World Cup win in the Rugby. By Saturday night the rest of England had joined in Ipswich's mood of disappointment. The Suffolk side had squandered a 1-0 lead to eventually lose 4-1 and England had lost their World Cup crown to South Africa. Ipswich started the game brightly, moving the ball round the back with pace and purpose but there were also early signs of danger from Olton's GB duo Rachel walker and Lucilla Wright but the Suffolk side struck first. A short Corner routine in the 5th minute saw Miriam Fabregas score her second goal of the season and things were looking good for the visitors. However just as the game began to settle with Ipswich taking a firm grip the visitors suffered a cruel blow, highly experienced Kirsten Spencer had to come off with a nasty looking knee injury. Spencer was replaced by Lucy Gallagher but the loss had caused disruption in the Ipswich set up and Olton were quick to pounce. Ex-GB striker Denise Marston -Smith opened her account on the 22nd minute with a lob shot that Charlotte Lee-Smith in the Ipswich goal will have been disappointed not to have kept out. Back on level terms Olton surged forward and only 1 minute later it was Marston-Smith that gave them the lead. Ipswich finally regained some composure and began to attack the home side but half time arrived with the scores still 2-1 to the home team. The second half saw Ipswich start well and they worked tirelessly for an equaliser but then on the 48th minute Olton were awarded a heavily disputed Penalty stroke. Up stepped Rachel Walker to make it 3-1. Ipswich now had to react and an all out attacking option once again left them open to the counter attack and sure enough Walker grabbed her second on the 64th minute to seal the win. Ipswich were deeply disappointed with the result but this was the strongest team Olton had fielded all season while Ipswich struggled without 3 key players, in the shape of Emma Lee-Smith, Jo Ellis and Jenny Hall. Sunday saw another home cup game for the Suffolk team and they welcomed South Division 1 side Wimbledon to Ipswich. Determined to use the game for their benefit Ipswich started with a real passion and soon opened the scoring. Emma Lee-Smith blasting in the first of her 4 goals, with a wicked undercut that had the Wimbledon defence gasping in admiration. Next up was Jess Bloom to take her goal tally to 3 for the season. Ipswich continued to press the visitors back and the home sides back line were virtual spectators. Lee-Smith bagged her second on the 26th minute and the home side could and should have had plenty more but went into half time 3-0 up. After a quick discussion at half time Ipswich stepped up a gear and within a minute Lee-Smith scored her hat-trick, a superb drag flick effort that was the goal of the game. Some good defending by Wimbledon coupled with a few sloppy errors in front of goal by Ipswich saw the score line remain at 4-0 until the 52nd minute when Vic Sandall burst through from midfield to crack in her first goal since May 2006. Lee-Smith then set up Emma Millar for a tap in on the 61st minute to make it 6-0 and fittingly it was Lee-Smith that scored the 7th and final goal on the 62 minute. It was her fourth of the game and her 23rd league and Cup goal for Ipswich. The Suffolk team now face the long trip to Slazenger Div 1 league leaders Sunderland on Sunday 25th November for a place in the Quarter Finals. Next weekend Ipswich turn their attention back to the league and welcome newly promoted Clifton to Tuddenham road, with the Bristol side flying high with 3 wins Ipswich will need to be at their best to claim the win.

2nd's	NE14HOCKEY East League Premier Canterbury 2's v Ipswich 2's Result: Lost 1-0 Scorers: Ipswich 2s v Canterbury 2s proved to be an amazingly well matched affair. Canterbury undoubtedly started the stronger in attack, piling on relentless pressure for the first 15 minutes and really making the Ipswich midfield and defence work extremely hard to prevent an early goal. Canterbury’s strength was in their discipline and organization. They worked brilliantly as a unit, directed from the back by experienced defenders to the extent that it felt almost impossible for Ipswich to move far past the half way line. But for all their strength in possession, Canterbury met equal brilliance in defensive savvy from Ipswich. Hannah Godfrey at left defence had an outstanding game from the very first whistle and was ably assisted by Kat Wrinch, Beth Scott and Sam Bennett who collectively ensured that the home team failed to gain any advantage from their efforts. All 4 defenders, released the ball well to midfield whenever an opportunity could be found but from there Ipswich found it harder to penetrate the Canterbury midfield, with the successful balls through invariably being intercepted by well drilled defenders who refused to be moved or flustered by the Ipswich front runners Fiona Lane and Anni Broster doing their best to create some space. There were some skillful moves involving Sophie Kesterton, Anni Broster and Annie Nunn. Hannah Godfrey also worked well with Connie Bedingfield and Jenny Ellis on the left but Ipswich failed to make the final pass that would create goal scoring chances. So the story of the first half was mainly defending. Keeper & captain, Claire Gould, never scared to come to meet the ball, made several outstanding saves and commanded her troops in the D soundly. It was to Ipswich’s great credit that they conceded only 1 penalty corner in the entire match and maintained the score at 0-0 going in to the break. Halftime came as welcome relief to Ipswich and a chance to adjust the game plan for the second half. Subtle changes were implemented that made a huge difference; moving closer in on the press, more decisive organization in marking, better communication , denying Canterbury the option of attacking down their right. All came together to make the second half a very different proposition and it became Canterbury’s turn to feel the heat. The home team was forced by Ipswich to work the ball slowly down the left where it was frequently picked up by Phoebe Walker, Annie Nunn or Sophie Kesterton who counter attacked with conviction. Walker made a couple of strong drives into the D along the baseline from which Ipswich were unlucky not to gain penalty corners. Ipswich did pick up several free hits on the edge of the D though, and again it was probably the experience of the Canterbury defenders that protected their goal. Ipswich eventually gained something for their determination when Annie Nunn secured a penalty corner but the scoring touch remained elusive. With Canterbury still dangerous on the attack, Ipswich came desperately close to holding out for a 0-0 draw which would have been the deserved result. However, about 7 minutes to go, the inevitable happened and a Canterbury forward got momentarily loose on the P spot to collect a square ball from her left midfield and pop one in on the right post much to Claire Gould’s annoyance! Ipswich hit straight back with more pushes up the right and it looked quite likely that, given another 5 minutes, Ipswich would pull one back to get the deserved point, but the final whistle was blown and it wasn’t to be. So we must wait until the return fixture on 9th February 2008 to resume battle. Canterbury now knows that points from Ipswich do not come easily! What we did well … Recognised our weaknesses, identified the necessary changes and gradually turned the game to play to our strengths rather than the oppositions What we should improve … Not giving away possession and improving support play so that the person on the ball doesn’t have to hold on to it for tooooooooooooooo long!

3rd's	NE14HOCKEY East League Div 2C Ipswich v Stevenage Result: Lost 3-1 Scorers: R Anderson-hurst

4th's	Suffolk Premier League Haverhill v Ipswich Lost 3-0 Scorers:
5th's	Suffolk Div 1 Ipswich v Lowestoft 3's Lost 3-0

Men
1'st's	Slazenger EHL South Division Ipswich v Sevenoaks Lost 4-1 Scorers: R Rutterford Ipswich had the pleasure of welcoming newly promoted Sevenoaks to the Tuddenham Kop this Saturday. The atmosphere was electric with Ipswich keen to demonstrate their usual grit and determination in front of the home crowd and make up for a disappointing performance against Bromley and Beckenham the previous month. The visiting team arrived without one of their star players Sam Ornbo, who was well known to a number of us from Suffolk and East hockey in the past. It seems he was so belted on Thursday night that he managed to lose his entire set of kit, sticks shoes and all and therefore was finding new kit on his way to the game! However, despite this comedy of errors Sevenoaks started well against stiff opposition from Ipswich. The game flowed repeatedly from end to end with Ipswich first coming close from a marvellously executed move down the left hand side. Swift passing opening up Sevenoaks like Habana through the Samoan defence and illustrating the remarkable improvements Ipswich have made since pre season began. Yet it was Sevenoaks who opened the scoring with a meticulously well executed drag flick into the top left leaving goalkeeper Flanders with little chance and the second followed shortly after in the same fashion. Ipswich maintained their pressure during open play yet failed to find the back of the net. After rousing words at half time Ipswich emerged with the same excellent attitude and valiantly chased the game, Sevenoaks scoring another short corner, this time off the inside of the post before Foxtrot pulled one back for Ipswich. Great stickwork from Hernia down the left side created space for Da Grinch to speed onto and supply new recruit Stains on the edge of the D. Stains turned cleverly outwitting a dumbstruck defender and supplied Foxtrot who opened his scoring for the season - the first of many we hope... With the game turning in Ipswich's' favour disaster then struck, Da Grinch felled off the ball by outrageous play from Sevenoaks was shown a yellow for his response. Sevenoaks then went one further ahead, through you guessed it, another drag flick. With the score ending 4-1, it was hardly reminiscent of the contest the game showed, nor of the equality of the two teams. Great hockey, shame about the result, but much for all concerned to be proud of.
2nd's	NE14HOCKEY East League Prem A Harpenden v Ipswich Result: Won 8-1 Scorers: Dixon 3, cook 2, martin, palmer, smith, Ipswich Men's 2s were very upbeat about this game, and every player sensed a positive vibe. This good vibe did not carry over in the first half of this game, Ipswich were to put it nicely nothing short of woeful despite dominating large parts of the game. The movement was slack, passing very average and Ipswich in general trying to come to terms with a very bouncy pitch. Ipswich were 1-0 down at half time and were lucky that a perfectly good goal for Harpenden was not awarded. The only player to come out with any credit from first half was the once again superb performance of Underwood who really seems to be enjoying a left back spell keeping ex 1s player Swindin out the team. A strong team talk and a few changes from the bench saw Ipswich come out a completely different team and within 3 minutes of the restart a clever passing move between Miller,Smith and Cook won a short corner, which Dixon could not have flicked any harder or positioned it any better. Straight from the restart, Martin cleverly flicked over a stranded goal keeper, only for a further 5 mins after that another short corner was won. With the defence all rushing out to avoid the Dixon flick it was 3-1. It was a completely different side in the seconds half with Miller having a 15 minute spell that destroyed the opposition. With Palmer and Calver starting the majority of the moves from the back, and controlling Reed in front of them Harpenden could not contain a superb 2nd half performance. It just goes to show it really is a game of 2 halves. Ipswich will certainly miss the 2 younger players next week. Underwood, who is on East duty and Martin who seems to be enjoying his role alongside the experienced Cook.
3rd's	NE14HOCKEY East League Div 2 N Ipswich v City of Peterborough 3's Result: Won 1-0 Scorers:

4th's	NE14HOCKEY East League Div 4NE UEA 3's v Ipswich 4's Result: Won 11-0 Scorers: O Holloway (8), J Reed (2), I Glassford After three easy victories the pressure was on the 4th XI to continue their early season form.But this was yet another game where Sebborn failed to score - 38 goals for the team and our top of the diamond has none of them. The game flowed from one end to the same end with Ipswich getting to double figures again. Kwan touched the ball once in a long-distance one-two with Williams. Reed and Holloway almost scored goal of the millenia with a nine-eight passing move through the middle. The boring match stats focused on Holloway's fourth consecutive hatrick and 8 goals in the game. Questions arise from this with his four game total exceeding 20!: (1) Will he ever get promoted to the 3rd XI? (2) Will anyone put money on anyone else to win the club top scorer award? (3) Should the Fantasy league be split into two - to allow a Holloway league and a non-Holloway league thereby giving those who didnt select him a chance (4) When did he last have four consecutive games without getting injured? Suggested answers being Yes, No, Yes and it hasn't happened before in his 7 year career at Ipswich Hockey Club. And touch wood (Godbold's head will do - sorry skip!) his great fitness will continue.

5th's	NE14HOCKEY East League Div 6NE Norfolk Nomads 2's v Ipswich Result: Won 3-0 Scorers: S Robinson (2), G Payne Ipswich 5s got off to flying start in this game of 3rd against 4th in the NE14 Hockey East Mens Div 6NE clash, when Stuart Robinson grabbed his second in two games for the 5s. A very youthful side took to the UEA astro with an average age of 17 years, this was dramatically increased when the Captain decided to pick himself & increase the average substantially. The early goal put Ipswich in the driving seat for the rest of the game with Nomads having little to contest against a side full of pace, energy & the confidence to pass the ball around. The second period saw the visitors continue the pressure; Ipswich continually harried the Nomads defence & had the patience to continually probe the defence. Their persistence paid off when George Payne, celebrated his 14th birthday with his debut league goal in senior hockey. Stuart Robinson took his second of the game & made the points safe for Ipswich with a deft flick from an acute angle over the advancing keeper. Thanks go to Nomads for great sportsmanship & hospitality

Vets	NE14HOCKEY East League Veterans Ipswich v Pelicans Drew 0-0 The vets despite completely dominating this game came away with only a point against a stubborn Pelicans rear guard action. The game stared brightly for Ipswich and it seemed only a matter of time before they scored, but with the visitors keeper making his debut and perhaps being the man of the match several opportunities were saved or fired just wide. Ipswich became frustrated as they pinned the visitors defense back but this only made it more difficult to create clear cut chances and Pelicans carved out a couple of good chances but without success. The second half continued in a similar vein as Ipswich completely dominated the mid field, keeper Steward a virtual spectator, but despite creating numerous half chances and penalty corners Ipswich could not find the net. Disappointing to drop 2 points but a much more enjoyable game than the 10 - 0 drubbing handed out in the fixture last year. Next week Ipswich entertain high flying Chelmsford and will hope to get bank to winning ways.

Mixed

Extras

Match Reports

20th & 21st October 2007

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