England Hockey

National Indoor Finals

Sunday 27th January 2008

Bowdon Hightown v Ipswich

Lost 7-6

Scorers: L King (3), L Aldous (2), E Lee-Smith

For the second year in a row Ipswich scored six goals past Bowdon Hightown in the National Indoor semi-finals but again it was not enough to see the Suffolk side through to the Final.

A dreadful start by Ipswich saw Bowdon take the lead after 30 seconds when Leisa King fouled Tina Cullen to concede a penalty stroke. Seemingly unnerved by the start Ipswich then proceeded to let Bowdon run the game and within 11 minutes Ipswich were 4-0 down. Ironically this was a complete reverse of last years semi-final when it was the Suffolk side that raced to a 4-0 lead.  To compound Suffolk misery Cullen claimed her fourth goal on the 14th minute to make it 5-0. At last sparking into life Ipswich finally breached the Bowdon defence, Emma Lee-Smith firing home from a short corner to make it 5-1 and offer a glimmer of hope. However on the half time hooter Bowdon extended their lead to 5 goals once more as Sally Walton fired a short corner into the roof of the net.  6-1 down at half time and Ipswich looked a beaten team.

With Bowdon surely dreaming of a final meeting again with Slough, Ipswich coach Royce Waters took control of the half time talk and urged his team to play the hockey he knew they could and reminded them to enjoy themselves and play as a team. 

Clamed by Waters belief in them Ipswich started the second half like a different team, shrugging off the stilted play that crippled them in the first half the Suffolk side tore into the Bowdon defence and within 4 minutes a re-invigorated Leisa King, now playing up front, had grabbed her first goal of the game to make it 6-2. Two minutes later it was Lizzy Aldous ramming the ball home with all the power and pace she is famed for, now it was 6-3.  Then it was King's turn again, firing home after another piece of skill had left Bowdon defender Sally Walton in her wake..6-4.  Now Bowdon were really wobbling and the momentum was all Ipswich. Sure enough Aldous added her second on the 29th minute to make it 6-5 and the crowd cheered in disbelief at the shear will power that had seen Ipswich rise form the ashes. Bowdon looked lost but managed to gain some composure and bit by bit forced Ipswich onto the back foot again, only some good goalkeeping by Charlotte Lee-Smith in goal and some great tackling by Kirsten Spencer kept them at bay.  

Kirsten Spencer 

Ipswich though were not to be denied and fittingly it was the inspired King who drew them level at 6 all when she fired home from a penalty corner.  With the crowd now cheering madly the game was poised on a knife edge and it was Ipswich that had the first chance to take the lead but a great drag flick effort from Lee-Smith was just inches over the bar. With time running out Bowdon surged forward one last time and somehow managed to squeeze the ball to Annalisa Bishop on the penalty spot and she made no mistake converting from 5yards out.  With only 2 minutes to go Ipswich took off their keeper for one more roll of the dice.  As per last year the Suffolk team earned a short corner on the stroke of full time but unlike last year it was not to be and the ball was cleared to safety insuring another semi-final heartache for Ipswich.

While the initial feeling was of disappointment that once more the team had fallen at the semi-final hurdle, the abiding memory of this Ipswich team performance will be of an amazing show of team courage, spirit, ability and belief. There are not many teams in the Country that would have shown such strength of character to find a way back from 6-1 down and such a battling performance will have won the team many new friends.  

Ipswich now turn their attention back to the outdoor game as they prepare for a tough away game at Canterbury on the 9th February.

 NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2C

Sudbury 2's v Ipswich 3's 

Lost 2-1

Scorers: V  Dixon

 Not the best game the 3s have ever played. Perhaps the worst?

One nice goal from Vickey Dixon. Otherwise a lack lustre performance.

Normal service will be resumed next week!

Suffolk Premier League

Suffolk Div 1

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NE14HOCKEY East League

Prem A

Ipswich v St Albans

Drew 3-3

Scorers: E Youngman

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2N

Ipswich v Sudbury

Result: Won 3-2

Scorers: 

Ipswich traveled to Sudbury on a glorious day, fielding a side containing two hung-over invalids!!!!! Ipswich were struggling to get a full side, and only having 9 players on Friday evening with the help of divine intervention a drunken Tom Gallagher who was enjoying a savage evening of curry and beer agreed to play at the 11th hour. Ipswich were still missing the final piece of their jigsaw, a frantic Gibbo trawled through the remainders of his black diary and managed to get a player. Ipswich started slowly with Sudbury having plenty of possession. Once Ipswich settled their skills and creativity shone through. With the ball being played around. Ipswich attacked down the right with the Sultan of Hangovers playing the ball into the top of the D with Paul (I can hit and pass the ball to my own team) Graves picked out with a pin point pass Oliver Holloway who with the touch of Sachin Tendulkar eased the ball pass the stranded keeper. Ipswich piled on the pressure and were awarded a short-corner, with the ball placed at the top of the D Samuel Gibson attempted a drag flick and unleashed the ball which was traveling at a recorded 5 mph and found the gap in between the keepers pads for what seemed to be an attempt outside the D. It was later claimed that 'Toy-Boy' Rhodri Davies got a touch. For the second time in two weeks Ipswich made a defensive mistake by loosing the ball, with a Sudbury player picking up the ball and then having the mental nerve to find the goal with a clinical finish. Once again Ipswich piled the pressure on, and scored. The goal scorer once again being 'Toy Boy' who pounced all from two yards, with 15 mins to go Sudbury fought back to score a well deserved goal. In the end Ipswich ran out 3-2 winners and remain second in the league and look to continue to push for pole position with a victory over local rivals ES next week.

NE14HOCKEY East League 

Div 4NE 

Ipswich 4's v Pelicans

Result: Won 3-0 W/O

Scorers: 

Not often the match report author scores a hatrick with three assist from Sneddon and a clean sheet for Sneddon and Thomas.

That will increase my fantasy league score spectacularly.

Pity Pelicans have conceded and that was all just a dream.

But 3-0 means another win even if the goal difference would have been improved more, probably, if the game was to be played.

So still top of the league.

Next game Holt away at 4.30 start!!!

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 6NE

Ipswich 5's v Norwich City 5's

Result: Won 6-5

Scorers: Payne, Godbold, Gladding, Mays (Reverse), Fish, Own Goal

It was a beautiful sunny day in the UE of A as the fives arrived, hoping to kill off any chance of the 3rd place Norwich 5s being able to catch them up in the table.

The omens looked good pre-match with the ruthless Payne powering practice shot after practice shot into the back of the net with intent.

Due to the Pelicans conceding in 4NE, Ipswich were lent the defensive expertise of Whetton and Sneddon and the hoe Wroe was looking forward to a comfortable day between the sticks. However, that was not to be and a wily Norwich front four looked dangerous from the offset and it was against the run of play when the legendary Payne slotted home the opener after ten minutes.

Ipswich were punished for lack of concentration though, and Norwich were soon level, although a fine short corner effort from Godbold and a textbook Glading goal off the p-spot seemed to suggest Ipswich were on the way to another easy win.

Alas, it wasn't to be and Ipswich's lack of shape and width in midfield was exposed, as was much dodgy marking.

Within 5 minutes of the second half Norwich had a 4-3 lead.

Heads did pick up in the end; and the booming voices of Sneddon and Godbold put some fire into the bellies of Ipswich, who had always looked impressive and threatening as an attacking unit. The latter's trademark "Good job he's S***" taunt also did much to distract Norwich's dangerman. Chance after chance was created, although the best efforts were excellently saved by the opposition keeper. Luckily however, he couldn't deal with the deflected pea-roller that got Ipswich level and from than on it was the inevitable occurring when Fish pushed the ball home to clinch a fine game of hockey.

The standard was generally short of the mark but it was another exciting game for the Fifth's and a well deserved win.

NE14HOCKEY East League

Vets