Slazenger EHL

Premier Division

Leicester v Ipswich

Drew 2-2

Scorers: L King (2)

Ipswich’s new Spanish signing Miriam Fabregas opened her goal scoring account in the Slazenger EHL Premier League and set Ipswich on route to record a win on their opening home game of the season. 

The home team beat newcomers Poynton 2-1 and whilst disappointed not to have taken their numerous chances Ipswich will have been happy with the amount of good chances they created. 

The Suffolk side was boosted by the inclusion of Jo Ellis, who fought off a wrist injury but once again had to do without defender Kirsten Spencer who is still struggling with a calf injury. In spite of this loss Ipswich coach Royce Waters had an impressive squad to choose from and quick rotations meant that the visitors were kept under continuous pressure throughout the game. 

Starting well Poynton looked to grab an early goal and could count themselves unlucky to see a good reverse stick shot hit the crossbar. Ipswich too had clear chances but found ex-GB and Welsh goalkeeper Michele Thomas in good form. As the game bedded in Ipswich began to take control and with King and Ellis taking control up front and Sandall looking untroubled in midfield it looked a matter of time before the home side opened the scoring.

 In fact it took until the 26^th minute for Ipswich to finally breakthrough. A superb shot from Miriam Fabregas from a short corner saw her score her first ever goal in the Slazenger EHL. 2 minutes later and it was captain Becky baker adding to the score line. A well rehearsed move from another corner saw her shot fly into the top of the net to make it 2-0.  Poynton to their credit continued to work hard and only a goal line diving clearance form player of the match Vice Captain Millie Sharp saw the score line remain the same. 

The second half though was all one way traffic for Ipswich and with a mounting short corner total it was disappointing that the home side could not convert their chances. 

Both King and Ellis had good chances to increase the lead but Thomas was in inspired form and a quick break away saw the visitors awarded a dubiously Penalty stroke, which they converted,  with 6 minutes left on the clock. 

Despite the renewed threat of their visitors Ipswich remained clam and even had a final chance to extend their lead when Emma Millar won a short corner from a superb Vic Sandall pass. However as was the pattern of the second half the Suffolk side could not find the killer blow and they had to settle for three points and a 2-1 win that did not reflect their territorial advantage. 

Next week Ipswich face a much tougher test away at Slough and know that they will have to take their chances in that match should they want to win the 3 points.

Suffolk Premier League

Ipswich v Sudbury 2's

Won 5-2

Scorers : L Ramsden, L Pinnell

With a bit of a disorganised start, IES put us under pressure from the beginning with 2 early goals. However, we all battled hard with some exceptional saves from our young keeper Allie Olding - well played. As we were unable to get the ball through to the forwards, IES continued to push forward and unfortunately Michele Scarff converted an excellent own goal into the top corner. Shame it wasn't the other end as this would have given us a real boost. Second half was a different story with some good attack play down the sides with Charlotte McWhirter and Alex Chidgey. From this we were able to score 2 goals from Lucy Ramsden and Laurence Pinnell. This upset the IES defence, but with their strong determination they were able to finish the game off with some well worked goals.

Suffolk Div 1

Ipswich v IES 2’s

Lost 2-0

Ipswich played very well and teams were evenly matched throughout the first half,

with even 0-0 scores at half time.

Ipswich came out to face the 2nd half with fighting spirit to win the game

but unfortunately we lost Linda Howard (defence) 10 minutes into the 2nd

half due to a nasty injury - Suspected broken foot and finger + nasty

gash to her knee. This then left us "a man down" and with 10 players we

were just not strong enough to hold off our opposition.

EH Cup

2nd round

University of Cambridge v Ipswich

Result: Lost 3-2

Scorers: J Gall, B Gallagher

For the second weekend running Ipswich took a trip up the A14 to local rivals Cambridge university. The first match had seen Ipswich win 3-2 and take home 3 vital league points. The students had lost their opening 3 league games and were no doubt desperate to get a win in round 2 of the cup to kick start their season. With Ipswich resting 5 of the team that had played in the previous game, it was a chance to play some of their promising youngsters. In came Micky Franklin, Ed Youngman and Jonny Gall all hoping to work their way into the team permanently. 

The game started with a steady pace with both teams looking to keep it tight at the back. After around half an hour Cambridge struck first to take a 1-0 half time lead.

The second half started with a quicker tempo and shortly after the break youngster Jonny Gall fired into the roof of the net from an acute angle. With their tails up Ipswich's young team pressed forward and striker Ben Gallagher put them ahead after a good passing move.

Cambridge however were not finished yet and, with the home crowd cheering them on, equalised to take the tie into extra time. 

With both sides tiring and mistakes occurring there were opportunities at each end to snatch the glory, and with only 2 minutes to go and penalty strokes looming, Cambridge converted a short corner to go
through to the next round. 

The Ipswich team felt hard done by at the end but coach Iain Gall was keen to stress to them how delighted he was with the performance." With the young side we had out today we never really expected to win, but some of the hockey we played just shows the kind of quality coming through at Ipswich".

East League

Prem A

Ipswich v Cambridge City

Result: Lost 3-2

Scorers: A Cook, C Palmer

A bad start for the Men's 2s, and a sloppy start cost them dear with Cambridge scoring a penalty flick after only 6 minutes. Ipswich grouped together and then found a little rhythm and Cook was fouled inside the circle winning a flick. Palmer dispatched it comfortably and Ipswich were back in the game. But  Cambridge found it easy to run through Ipswich's midfield and defence and scored  another 2 goals before half time.

Ipswich will take positives out of the 2nd half where they dominated long  spells in the game and this was aided by the introduction of Harry Martin at  half time who played through Cook, who smashed home 1 back for the home side. Ipswich will welcome back James Walker and Paul Calver for what will be a  big test travelling to St. Albans next week and Captain Geoff Reed knows a  similar start in that game to that on Saturday could spell big problems.

East League

Div 2 N

Cambridge City 3's v Ipswich 

Result: Lost 5-2

Scorers: J Godfrey(2)

This game was a sharp reminder to the team that not just skill is needed on a Saturday.

Cambridge used a combination of wise heads and brawn to unsettle Ipswich. And with an uncharacteristically non-potent forward line failing to make the most of chances, which will be far harder to come by this season.
Going into half time 1-0 down, a win was still more than in sight, with such a large amount of possession being enjoyed by the away side.
A combination of bad luck and lack of physical prowess resulted in Cambridge scoring a total of 5 goals. 
A very disappointing start to the season, however two goals from the ever improving Josh 'Rogan' Godfrey and another strong performance form Jono Gall, are just two of the positives that can be taken from this game.

In all not a bad performance and with players to come back into the side Hopes and spirits will still be high going into next week's game.

East League 

Div 4NE 

Result: Won 8-1 

Scorers: O Holloway (5), Reed, Fisher

Ipswich took to the field confident that the team was even stronger than that which had won every game last season. The game flowed from end to end in the first half with Ipswich scoring two easy short corners with Holloway mis-hitting a couple through the wrong-footed keeper.

The second half was better as Ipswich's pre-season fitness campaign proved successful. Despite Scarff belying his horizontal normal hockey attitude to argue, Palmer like, to turn a free-hit into a short corner - from which Railway lashed the ball beyond Kwan to give them a simple goal - Ipswich culminated the second half with Holloway scoring another 3.

Fisher and Reed completed the scoring,

East League

Div 6NE

Result: Won 1-0

Scorers: O Cook  

Ipswich 5s started life in 6NE with a win & a clean sheet in their first league game of the season. Owen Cook opened the score for the home side when he drilled home the second attempt @ a penalty corner mid way through the first half. Until the goal, Ipswich struggled to find any rhythm or pattern in their play. Although the attacks by North Walsham were limited in the first period, Ipswich keeper & man of the match Jamie Bowden making his debut in senior hockey made several fine saves throughout the game to keep the home side in the driving seat. 

A stern half time team talk saw Ipswich play far better in the second half & they began to play far more composed hockey. Although most of the play was in the North Walsham half, Ipswich were unable to convert the chances into more goals.

East League

City of Peterborough v Ipswich

Result: Lost 1-0

Scorers:   

Ipswich made the long trip to Peterborough, made a bright start but were reduced to 10 men when Crowe was upended and received a dislocated shoulder. Despite this set back Ipswich were not out played but suffered a blow when a reverse stick shot somehow avoided Steward in goal to find the net. Ipswich were denied a equaliser when Glading's shot from Barrett's pass was well saved.

The 10 men were spurred on at half time and they always felt that an equaliser was on the cards, providing they could keep the home team at bay. In fact the visitors defense held firm and with Langton starting to cause problems down the left Ipswich came into the game. The best opportunities came from penalty corners, in particular Tew fired a rocket shot inches wide, but as the legs tired Ipswich failed to gain a reward for a valiant effort.

Next week the vets have rest from league action before another difficult away game at Shefford & Sandy.