Women 1’s

Saturday 27-03-10

English Hockey League

Women’s Conference East

Old Loughtonians v Ipswich

14.00 @ Luxborough Lane

Ipswich Women’s 1^st team clinched the EHL East Conference title in the most dramatic of circumstances on Saturday and with it earned a place in the  4 team Premier League play-offs at the beginning of May.  A top two finish there would see Ipswich promoted back to the Premier League at their first attempt.

Needing to match or better Sevenoaks result Ipswich started the game with a few understandable nerves. Those nerves were soon made worse as within four minutes the Champions elect were a goal behind. Loughtonians scoring after a shot hit an Ipswich foot in the circle and took a huge deflection to leave goalkeeper Mariette Rix no chance.

Despite such an early setback Ipswich did what they have been doing so well this season and fought back. Some determined play by Issy Sheldrake and Vanessa Roberts saw the visitors come close to drawing level but the final important touch was missing.

Then on the 20^th minute Sheldrake again created a great chance. A drive along the baseline and a good final pass set up co-captain Emma Millar who made no mistake in firing the ball in for her 5^th goal of the season.

Ipswich were now dominating and creating several chances. The closest effort coming from some great skill by Millie Mc Whirter who saw her shot fire narrowly wide. With the home team pinned in their defensive area it looked only a matter of time before Ipswich scored, but the teams went into half time level.

With the news filtering through that Sevenoaks were trailing to Harleston Ipswich knew that the point at that stage would be enough but the Suffolk side were determined to claim the win and remove any danger of a Sevenoaks comeback.

The second half once more saw Ipswich dominate possession and they watched in agony as two chances flew off the post and cross bar. The first one a great deflection by Jess Bloom and the second an amazing shot from Vanessa Roberts.

With time running out and news of a Sevenoaks equaliser at Harleston, Ipswich’s title hopes then took a huge hammer blow. A speculative ball by the home team into the Ipswich circle bobbled over several Ipswich sticks and found Loughtonians striker Miranda Weeks in front of goal. She took her time and picked her spot to make it 2-1 to Old Loughts.

With only 3 minutes to go and with Sevenoaks tied with Harleston the title was now heading to Kent. Where other teams would maybe lack belief that they could get back into the game, Ipswich did what they have done so many times this season and fought straight back.  With an attitude worthy of champions the visitors put Loughts under huge pressure in defence and sure enough striker Anni Broster made an excellent tackle to disposes a Loughts defender in the circle.  With the tackle being impressive enough, what Broster produced next was nothing short of legendary. Showing no nerves she powered the ball into the top right hand corner, leaving the home team’s keeper rooted to the spot.  Ipswich were now back on level terms and the title once more was heading to Suffolk.

A nervy 2 minutes remained with Ipswich not entirely sure whether a point was enough.

With the Sevenoaks game having a delayed start all Ipswich could do now was wait.  The longest 5 minutes in history finally ended with the news that Sevenoaks too could only manage a draw, so Ipswich were crowned 2009-2010 East Conference Champions.

After the disappointment of relegation last season it is amazing testament to coach James Kingstone and his squad of players that this rebuilt team have now been crowned league champions.

The team have 5 weeks to prepare for the play-offs where they will be looking to finish in the top two and

 NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2C

Result: 

Scorers:

S

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NE14HOCKEY East League

Prem B

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2N

NE14HOCKEY East League 

NE14HOCKEY East League

Saturday 27th March 2010 

Hockey East Veterans League

Ipswich Mens Vets v Norwich Exciles 

Result: 5- 1 

Scorers: Curzon 2, Glading, Tew, Foster

Ipswich maintained their challenge for the league title but made life difficult for themselves in a lack lustre first half. Ipswich lost stalwart keeper Steward to illness on the morning of the game and were fortunate to be able to call on John Gordon to make his comeback.

Ipswich began the game in determined mood but it took until the fifteenth minute to pierce the Exiles defence, a long ball out of their own half found Curzon; he exchanged passes with Glading before tapping home. Exiles to their credit defended in numbers and were rewarded when an appalling pass from the Ipswich right found the opposition who counter attacked in numbers. Gordon in goal made the save but was powerless to save the follow up. Ipswich resorted to speculative through passes which came to nothing and some harsh words were said at half time.

Glading restored the lead pouncing on a defensive lapse and then Tew converted a penalty flick after his penalty corner strike hit a foot on the line. Ipswich's attacking flare started to return and chances appeared, Curzon notched his second latching on to a superb pass from Calver and then Foster, more used to providing, placed his shot past the advancing keeper.

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