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Women
1’s
Sunday
21st March 2010
English
Hockey League
Women’s
Conference East
Ipswich
v Harleston
Result
won 1-0
Scorers:
A Broster
Another resolute
performance by Ipswich saw them maintain their lead at the top of the EHL
East Conference and continue their 100% record of wins and having never
conceded a goal, against their Norfolk rivals Harleston.
With one game left in the season
the destination of the league title now comes down to next weekends away
clash against Old Loughtonians. Should Ipswich win, fellow title chasers
Sevenoaks would have to win by at least a 6 goal margin to deny the Suffolk
team the title.
Ipswich started against Harleston
with a passion and desire that the visitors struggled to initially match and
it was the Suffolk side that created all the opening pressure. Some great
work by right half Lizzy Aldous and Vanessa Roberts in midfield should have
seen Ipswich open their account but some last ditch tackles denied the
hosts.
As the game settled down
Harleston began to create a few chances of their own but luckily for the
home side the visitors final pass or touch let them down. Ipswich too began
to display some uncharacteristic poor touches and for a while neither team
could keep possession of the ball.
Finally as the half wore on
Ipswich began to once more dominate and some good play in defence by Amy
Tippen and Annabelle Driver ensured that any potential dangers were dealt
with.
On the 30th minute
Ipswich finally broke the visitors resistance. A short corner routine saw
Anni Broster score her 5th goal of the season, with a well taken
deflection.
Half time saw the home side
reminded of their tactics by coach James Kingstone and with their noses in
front Ipswich were determined to build on their score.
The second half once more saw the
home team dominate possession and with Harleston having to work hard to deny
Ipswich time on the ball, a few clumsy late tackles began to arrive from the
visitors. Finally the umpires had seen enough but Angie Wheelhouse will
consider herself unlucky to have been shown a yellow card for a stick
tackle.
Ipswich looked to take advantage
of the extra player and Millie McWhirter used her skill and pace to create a
super chance but the umpire turned down a very valid call for a penalty
stroke.
Harleston were now tiring and a
dangerous tackle on McWhirter by Louisa Greenacre saw the visitors’
captain rightly yellow carded and they were now down to 9.
Despite the extra players Ipswich
could not force the ball over the line, watching in agony as a shot spun off
a post.
Even with all the possession,
with only 1 goal in it the home side knew that their opponents were still a
danger and as time wore on the game took on a frenetic feel.
Harleston were now back to full
strength and with 5 minutes to go it was Ipswich that were the player short.
Jess Bloom being sent off for a rash stick tackle.
Despite some misplaced passes,
that drew a few gasps from the large crowd, Ipswich rode out the danger and
collected the 3 vital points.
Next weekend the team travel to
Old Loughtonians for a game that will decide the destination of the League
title.
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