| 1'st's |
.Slazenger
England
Hockey League South
Sunday23rd
Feb
Ipswich
v Oxted
Won 2-1
Scorers: B
Gallagher, I Smith,
After two massively disappointing
weekends, goals from Ben Gallagher and Ivan Smith helped Ipswich re-discover
their form to defeat fifth-placed Oxted 2-1 at Tuddenham Road. It was an
outstanding result for the home side, and the first time this season that
the team has beaten a side higher-placed than themselves in the league. With
key defender Asif Rais struggling with a hamstring injury, 16 year old Max
Underwood was given his debut at left back and put in a near faultless
performance. Due to an injury to goalkeeper Ned Martin, Tony Burch was also
given his opportunity to shine, and took full advantage with a brilliant,
match winning display. His performance gives coach Ian Gall a massive
selection headache ahead of next Sunday’s match against Cardiff based
Whitchurch.
“We were a million miles away
performance that we put in last week” said captain Ivan Smith, referring
to the defeat against the league’s bottom side Teddington. “We were
hungrier, wanting to win every ball and just never stopped running, and it
paid off.”
Ipswich coach Gall decided to tweak
the playing system to cope with Oxted’s two most influential players,
South African internationals Justin King and Ken Forbes. That decision
seemed to be paying off, as Gallagher, Rich Stainthorpe and Will Hearne all
took turns trying to reduce the impact that these high quality players had
on the game. After just eight minutes, Ipswich got the breakthrough when
Royce Waters fired a searching pass into the circle from the left to
Gallagher, who confidently hit the ball first time into the goal with his
reverse stick. It was his first National League goal since October, but his
work rate has surely deserved more. Shortly afterwards Oxted went close to
equalising, much to the fury of Ipswich goalkeeper Burch, who watched his
defence undone by a long pass from Forbes before Johannes Kloess smashed a
reverse stick shot onto the post. It was a warning for Ipswich, but the home
side raised their standards to reduce further lapses in concentration.
Ipswich have been guilty of starting
the second half of matches slowly in recent weeks, but that was far from the
case in this match. The home side realised that they had an outstanding
opportunity to secure all three points, and pressed hard for second goal. In
the 40th minute Richard Rutterford’s saved effort fell to Rich
Stainthorpe, but the forward was cynically fouled as he was about to score,
giving the umpire little other option than to award a penalty stroke.
Defender Mark Wheelhouse bravely stepped up to take the stroke, but his
effort smashed the right post and rolled away. Luckily for him, the Oxted
goalkeeper had stepped off his line before the stroke was taken, and
Wheelhouse was given a second bite at the proverbial cherry. Incredibly, the
normally reliable Wheelhouse crashed his second effort against left post and
watched agonisingly as the ball ran away to safety. Oxted immediately
pressed forward and won a penalty corner, but a brilliant save from Burch
with his right foot kept the score at 1-0.
In the 44th minute, Ipswich finally
got the second goal that they so desperately needed. Rich Stainthorpe picked
up the ball near the centre spot and accelerated past two players before
passing to Ivan Smith in front of goal, who cleverly flicked the ball over
the Oxted keeper before passing the ball into the net. Oxted looked for an
immediate response, and pushed Justin King further up field in a bid to
unsettle the youthful Ipswich defence being marshalled by 16 year old Mickey
Franklin. Oxted won another penalty corner, but as Burch pulled off another
excellent save, Justin King swung dangerously at the airborne ball and hit
Franklin on the head, forcing the 16 year old to fall to the ground in
agony. The England youth player would play no further part in the match, but
was not seriously injured. Ipswich re-adjusted their line up and continued
to defend solidly. Eventually though, the pressure told and Johannes Kloess
smashed in a spectacular reverse stick effort that Burch could do little
about. With just one minute to go, Oxted were awarded a controversial
penalty corner. However, the Ipswich defence blocked the opportunity and
Matt Stainthorpe cleared the ball to safety to secure a much needed victory
for Ipswich.
The result moves Ipswich onto 24
points, 12 points clear of the automatic relegation spots and eight points
ahead of Cambridge University in the dreaded relegation play-off position. A
victory over next weekend’s opponents Whitchurch should all be guarantee
National League hockey for next season.
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| 4th's |
NE14HOCKEY
East
League
Div
4NE
Ipswich 4's
v Gorleston
Result:
won 3-0
Scorers:
Richardson, Sebborn, Whetton
This top of the table clash involved
Gorleston setting off from Norfolk before half the Ipswich team had got out
of bed.
Captain Godbold had had a hard week
sorting out the team and had been forced to draft in his brother from the
5th XI and Fletton from the Vets. But with those exceptions the team was at
full strength against a Gorleston team also missing a couple of key players.
The game started slowly but Ipswich
generally had the upper hand in terms of territory and possession. Numerous
half chances and short corners were squandered before Richardson forced the
ball home.
Gorleston had one short corner in the
first half where miraculously Williams charged down the shot and Kwan kicked
clear.
Then Ipswich scored a stunning second
with the ball worked across the back from Swain to Williams then to Sneddon
then down the left side to Scarff and then Jon Reed. Then a cross and
Sebborn, yes Sebborn, scored the classic.
Gorleston started the second half more
strongly and pressed Ipswich higher up the pitch. But then Gorleston
suffered a self inflicted blow in an acutely painful spot as every other
player winced - and their top scorer Jones waddled off to recuperate.
Then following a succession of short
corners Sebborn was barged off the ball and a penalty given. Up strode
Whetton to slot the ball home.
Ipswich then set back a bit and
Gorleston continued to play hard although they were not helped when Jones
got himself sent off within minutes of coming back on. But they did create
two good chances which both eluded the player on the far post.
So Ipswich ran out 3-0 winners to
strengthen their grip on the table - and yes Kwan did only have the one
touch all game.
The team still have a 100% home record
with 9 wins out of 9 and 66 goals for and 5 against. In total, however the
third goal left the 4th XI stuck on 99 league goals with the first
goalscorer at Norwich Union next week winning the special prize that will be
donated by captain Godbold.
|
| 5th's |
NE14HOCKEY
East
League
Div
6NE
Ipswich
5'sv Norfolk
Nomads
Result:
Won 8-1
Scorers: Fisher
(3), Messent (2), Mays, Barker, Payne
It was an overcast day at Henley road
and Ipswich men 5ths relished the challenge of hosting a feisty Norfolk
Nomad team. Everyone was in high spirits after last week’s triumph win
over Lowestoft ‘no railway in sight’ railway. Howaaaard’s briefing was
short and sweet, ‘win this and we’re promoted!’
Snake, a rather vocal player, donned a
babyish pink t-shirt and looked set to officiate the match. Everything was
in place….
The match started very evenly with
both sides cancelling each other’s play out. Play was good on both sides
and Ipswich’s rock hard defence wasn’t showing any weakness. However the
game soon fell into place with Ipswich showing their dominance. The first
goal was overdue but the deadlock was finally broken when Mays took a
cracker of a shot from the top of the D only to be denied by the ‘inside’
of the woodwork. Fisher however was lurking in the right place at the right
time to score the opener, darting in behind the keeper to slot the ball
home.
Goals followed shortly in quick
succession with Messent grabbing his first of the season. His effort was
more of a testament to Kevin Pietersen, as his cricket like volley even
surprised him as it swooped into Nomad’s net. The Cheshire Cat would have
been more than proud of Messents superb grin, which lasted the remainder of
the match. At half time it was 3-0 and the second half looked set to see a
few more tidy efforts.
The second half continued to build on
the success of the first with goals coming in thick and fast. Fisher,
Messent, Barker and Payne all scored, showing the Nomads why we’re top of
the league. But a special special mention has to be made to Andy Mays, who
in my view scored goal of the season. His quick pace, skill and dribbling
ability from the half way line; which could easily have landed him a cap for
the 1956 Indian Olympic team who patented the now famous ‘Indian dribble’;
took him past four of the Nomad defence, and then with such style and grace
he slotted a thunderous reverse sweep past the keeper. The crowd
(attendance: 2) went wild and so did the one and only Gobbas. Nomad’s
consolation was a very tidy effort and showed that even our defensive
fortress had its faults. The last ten minutes saw Godbold continue to warm
the keeper up with his shooting, as he had done all match, and showed how
deadly the almighty Payne was during the slick short corner routine.
The victory has left Ipswich 5s with
perhaps a deceivingly easy rest of the season as promotion is guaranteed.
However pride is at stake and therefore second place is not an option.
|
| Vets |
NE14HOCKEY
East
League
Vets
Ipswich
v Colchester
Result
: Won 5-2
Scorers:
Foster 3, Wake Askins
Colchester arrived with an unusually
strong squad and consequently Ipswich had to be on their best form to defeat
the local visitors. Early exchanges were fairly even with perhaps Colchester
enjoying the greater possession, but it was Ipswich that raced into a 2 goal
lead, Ipswich counter attacked in to devastating effect when man of the
match Foster broke free rounded the keeper and fired home, and then wake
creamed one in from the top of the circle. Colchester however, pulled
themselves back level taking advantage of some very lapse play from the
normally reliable Ipswich defense. This stung Ipswich back into contention
and the lead was restored when Askins neatly converted a Foster cross.
Indeed Foster should have added to his tally when an excellent move via
Curzon and Glading found him free only to fire wide.
Ipswich very much took control of the
second half and the solid defense of Gaffer, Gray, Tew, Langton and Hampton
rarely allowed Steward in goal to be threatened and at the other end Ipswich
were creating loads of scoring opportunities. The home team however, made
the game safe as Foster completed his hat trick; in fact he could have
doubled his tally as a string of chances came his way. Despite these set
backs Colchester continued to look dangerous and Collett will consider
himself unlucky as his deft touch to deflect the ball home was not spotted
by the umpire.
Next weeks game at Cambridge City has
been postponed as they and us have over 50s matches on Sunday attempting to
reach the quarter finals as Ipswich take on Isca from Exeter at 11.00 on
Tuddenham Road.
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