EHL Premier 1 

Sat 25th September

Harleston Magpies v BTexact Ipswich

Won 4-0 (C Gilliat-Smith, J Ellis, L King, V Roberts)

After 3 months of hard pre-season work, BTexact Ipswich finally got the chance to put their plans into action as they faced local rivals Harleston. A commanding 4-0 victory sees the team at the top end of the table and highlights the hard season ahead for their newly promoted rivals.

The game started at a quick pace with Harleston taking the initiative as Ipswich took time to settle into a rhythm. The Norfolk side pushed forward and gained several short corners but could not break down the resolute Ipswich defence, superbly marshalled by debutant keeper Becky Duggan. Keen to impress and cheered on by a home crowd, Harleston attacked with vigour but Ipswich began to dominate the midfield and the Harleston forwards found themselves isolated. With Vic Sandal and Jo Ellis now controlling the centre of the pitch for Ipswich it looked only a matter of time before the visitors opened the scoring. Right on cue  Leisa King drove down the right hand side, beat 2 defenders and her pinpoint pass found new recruit Cathy Gilliat-Smith who slotted the ball home.

The second half saw Ipswich step up the pace gaining them a run of short corners. However the chances were not converted and the score line remained unchanged. Not frustrated by this, Ipswich continued to attack and King set up the second goal of the game when she fired in a cross that was met by the diving Jo Ellis. Harleston, visibly tiring, continued to fight forcing one good save from Becky Duggan. But with 20 minutes to go and with Ipswich controlling the game King rounded off her excellent contribution with a world class goal. A solo run from the attacking 25 saw her ease past the Harleston defence and fire an unstoppable shot into the bottom left-hand corner.

Harleston were now a spent force and Ipswich were creating chance after chance, only kept out by some good reaction saves from Lucy Haymen. The final goal came from 18 year old Vanessa Roberts, whose powerful short corner strike sealed a pleasing victory for the Suffolk club. A satisfactory start for the new look Ipswich team but Slough at home next week will provide a sterner test.

East League Premier 

Sat 25th September

Ipswich 2's v Norwich Union

Won 4-3 (L Philp (3), M Sharp)

Ipswich ladies 2nd team got their East Premier League season of to an encouraging start with a 4-3 win over Norwich Union. In the first half Ipswich were surprised by the pace of the game, however were able to go ahead with their first attack, Millie Sharp and Lucy Philp combined excellently to create a chance which Philp fired home from long range.

Norwich Union pulled a goal back after a deflection wrong footed the Ipswich Goal keeper Hannah Robinson, however after some more fluid midfield play form Sarah Logan, Jo Gray, Nicky Keely and Millie Sharp Ipswich were able to go into half time ahead, again Lucy Philip providing the cool finishing touch to a move involving some good support
running from Beth Golding.

In the second half Norwich Union came at Ipswich with a renewed sense of determination, it needed some excellent communication by Katherine Wrinch and some timely tackles from new comer Sam Bennett, to ensure Ipswich stayed on top.

Ipswich went further ahead when once again Golding and Philp carved an opening for Philp to achieve her hat trick. Then a well worked short corner routine was converted, Millie Sharp flicking the ball over the keepers pads to make it 4-1.

Norwich Union did not give up though, Becky Lawrence and Jenny Ellis working tirelessly in defence for Ipswich to try and keep them out, they did however pulled two short corner goals back with only minutes to go in match to make the final score 4-3 to Ipswich.

This was a hard opener for the team but with a new sense of individual responsibility and determination from all, they can look forward to next weeks game against local rivals Chelmsford 2's.

East League Premier A

Sat 25th September

Harleston Magpies v  Ipswich

Won 4-3 (C Palmer, A Cook 2, R Fox)

Ipswich started their East League Premier A season with a well deserved win on Saturday away at Harleston Magpies. Harleston started well with a couple of good chances falling to junior international James Osborne, who put them just wide much to the relief of Ipswich. Ipswich were finding it hard to get out from their left side of the pitch and all break away attacks were going just awry. Andy Cook then from no where attacked the D at pace and was fouled in front of goal to gain Ipswich a penalty stroke. Chris Palmer stepped up from the back to slot home the first goal of the league season.

 Ipswich then had a shuffle of personnel up front which allowed young Will Turner the opportunity he has been waiting for. Several times he linked in well with Simon Miller and then provided a pin point pass after a great bit of individual skill to get passed the Harleston defence. Turner’s pass provided Cook with the chance to show off why is one of the best strikers in the league, he smashed the ball in to the top left of the goal.

2 nil at half time doesn’t reflect the closeness of the game and coach Kathryn Macdonald urged her team on to play to their own strengths and push for more goals. The start of the second half was ideal with every attack of Ipswich’s seeming to end in winning a short corner or a goal. A fantastic move down the right side of the pitch saw  a well timed pass from Ivan Smith to Cook who struck the ball sweetly past the goal keeper to make it three. Less than five minutes later a short corner strike was deemed wrongly too high when the umpire failed to see the deflection off the keepers pads which would have made it 4 nil, not to worry though Ipswich Captain Richard Fox soon added his name to the score sheet.

With 15 minutes to go 4 goals to nil up would surely have determine an Ipswich victory, however the talented Harleston team who are young and therefore not accepting of fate fought back courageously. What then occurred seemed to be a complete breakdown of nerves in the Ipswich defence with Chris Palmer sent to the sin bin and canteen balls being sent to the Harleston forwards. Ipswich were most grateful to the quick reactions of their England under18 goal keeper George Pinner who kept Harleston from scoring more than 3 goals. Leaving nerves shattered around the ground the final score was a win to Ipswich 4-3.

Ipswich are home to Blueharts next Saturday.