English National Premier League

Doncaster v BTexact Ipswich

Results: lost 2-3 (V Roberts, L Philp)

BTExact Ipswich lost the match in the initial ten minutes of the game. Though the team had played a number of pre-season friendlies, it was obvious that the new squad struggled to get to grips with the pace of the game. Two early goals put the home team in front and Ipswich could not keep hold of the ball for long enough to inflict any significant damage. As the game neared half time a few tactical changes from Ipswich coach Kath McDonald saw the team start to gel. 

Tanya Barnard began to lead the attack causing problems for Doncaster, and outstanding midfield passing between captain Vicki Sandall and new player Emma Millar saw the Suffolk side begin to take greater control of the game.

It was as a result of this persistent pressure that Ipswich got a short corner. Youngster, Vanessa Roberts struck the ball powerfully into the corner for Ipswich’s first. Doncaster seemed shell-shocked, Sophie Sheldrake continued the forward momentum and missed the goal by inches for Ipswich while Sarah Bamfield saw her efforts deflected wide. Yet Ipswich needed to convert these chances into goals as Doncaster rallied eventually and a goalmouth scramble saw them extend their lead.

 The final goal came from another new Ipswich player Lucy Philp. Again good build up from Millar and Barnard created the opportunity and Philp calmly dummied the keeper to give Ipswich the hope of salvaging a point. With the clock running down Bamfield was up-ended in the ‘D’, but the resultant corner was toe-poked away from Bamfield by the keeper and Ipswich finished strongly but with no points. 

Though it was a poor start Ipswich have a young, enthusiastic team and if they can convert more potential into goals then it could be a very
interesting season for the new coach and squad

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Ipswich2's v Gravesend

Result: 1-1 (S Juggins)

Ipswich entered this game with a much changed squad from the one that finished in 3rd place last season. In came, Jenny Ellis, Amanda Gee, Hannah Golding, Mary Ost, Nicky Keely, Emily Mason and Lisa Jones. Despite all the changes Ipswich settled well and played some good hockey. Gravesend are always a difficult team to break down packing large amounts of players behind the ball and Ipswich were beginning to look frustrated. 13 year old Emily Mason, provided the change Ipswich needed as her first touch saw her being fouled in the process of shooting and brought about a penalty stroke. Ipswich coach Sarah Juggins stepped up and with her usual confidence propelled the ball past the Kent keeper to give Ipswich the lead. Gravesend battled on and with 12 minutes to go they got their reward. A well worked goal to see them share the spoils on this opening day.

All the new players did extremely well and Ipswich will know that they have the potential to get even better.

Ipswich take on Cambridge City next week and will be looking for all 3 points as the squad welcomes back several experienced players missing for last weeks game.

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Ipswich3's v UEA

Result: 4-1 (V Dixon, N Hart, T Theobold, B Golding)

Another Ipswich squad with over 7 changes but this did not stop the 3's from running riot against the students of UEA. The team were an ideal mixture of experience and youth with ex-1st team players Debbie Rawlinson and Vicki Dixon controlling the Ipswich midfield and setting up chance after chance for the eager Ipswich forwards.

A very positive start for the 3's and with a team full of talented youngsters they should have a very good season indeed. 

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Ipswich 1's v Bourne

Result : 5-4
(Scorers - A Cook (2), S Miller(2) C Palmer)

Ipswich started their Premier 'A' division league campaign with a hard-earned victory over newly promoted Bourne on Saturday. A nine-goal thriller at Henley Road saw Ipswich take the lead and then come from behind in a topsy-turvey game typical of a first league outing for the season.

The home side was ahead after two minutes thanks to a clinical finish by Andy Cook. The veteran striker made a welcome return to first team hockey after work commitments prevented him from playing last season. A quick move down the right flank saw defender Asif Rais press high up the pitch before releasing Richard Stainthorpe on the wing who in turn found Simon Miller. Miller had time to place his pass to Cook on the penalty spot and the ball was slipped passed the oncoming keeper with ease.

Rather than settling the Suffolk side, the goal caused a little complacency that Bourne fully exploited. Some neat passing and movement soon had the Ipswich defence on the back foot and from their first short corner The visitors equalised through a fine strike by Simon Green. Bourne show no signs of becoming the whipping boys of this league and to prove their point took the lead after a quarter of an hour. From another short corner, the initial strike was well saved by Ipswich keeper Tony Burch but the rebound fell kindly to Matthew Sutterby who made no mistake from close range.

Ipswich continued to hassle the Bourne defence and thought they had equalised when Richard Fox intercepted a defensive clearance and charged into the circle before unleashing a ferocious shot past Kevin Senior's shoulder. Unexpectedly umpire Steve Graham signalled that the goal would not stand, as the ball had not been struck inside the circle. Despite the protests of the Ipswich captain, Umpire Graham was unwilling to
entertain the idea that he was incorrect, even though his colleague Ray Allum was certain the goal should have stood.

Ipswich rallied hard for the remainder of the first half and were rewarded when Simon Miller equalised from a well-rehearsed short corner routine. Miller who has looked extremely menacing throughout the pre-season dictated the majority of attacking moves and his second goal of the game was testimony to the impact he had on the game.

Asif Rais once again released Stainthorpe down the right hand side and after beating both Ollie Brown and Alex Glover for pace, the Thetford based forward  laid on an exquisite pass to Miller at the top of the circle. Miller took just two touches to steady himself before striking the ball high into the net. Just before the break, Cook added his second of the game courtesy of another slick short corner routine and Ipswich were happy to go into the break with a two-goal lead.

Bourne started the second half with more confidence and gusto with Robert Blood and
Sutterby causing problems in the centre of the pitch. The visitors could have scored on a number of occasions had it not been for a number of last ditched tackles by the defensive duo of Chris Palmer and James Walker.  With the home side continuing to let passes go astray, Bourne still looked likely to take something form this game. With ten minutes in the second half gone another questionable decision led to Bournes third short corner which
they dispatched with as much ease as their previous efforts. Green scored his second of the game from close range after the ball had been switched from David Leggate.

Ipswich began to lose some of their shape in the midfield but debutante Danny Mayhew marshalled his midfield and ensured many attacks were thwarted with a series of well timed tackles. The ex Ipswich & East Suffolk player has settled well into the squad since his summer move and is now  relishing his role in a side more likely to be front runners for
the championship rather than relegation.

On the hour Ipswich nerves were settled slightly when umpire Allum  awarded the home side a penalty stroke. Tom Parry, also making his Ipswich  debut since moving from IES, surged passed Ollie Brown and bore down on goal but the Junior Welsh international was cynically fouled before being allowed to shoot. Palmer stepped up to calmly slot the ball home and restore the two-goal lead.  Ipswich dominated the remainder of the game with Fox, Stainthorpe and Parry enjoying time and space up front. Will Turner also looked comfortable at left midfield and combined well with Fox on a number of occasions. Ipswich
were guilty of putting themselves under pressure by losing possessions cheaply but still seemed to have the edge on the division's new boys.

With barely a minute left on the clock, Bourne's impressive midfielder Alex Glover scored from the penalty spot after umpire Graham had awarded a stroke following a mistimed tackle by Walker. However, Ipswich were happy enough to run down the clock and secure their opening day victory.

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Ipswich 3's v Chelmsford 3's

Result: 2-1 ( K Bromley (2) )