No Game

Printwize East Premier

Sat 5th April 2003

Folkestone v Ipswich 2’s

Result Won : 2-1

Scorers: E Kenny, S Sheldrake

Ipswich ended the season the way they started it with a win against hard working opposition. 3 points against Folkestone sees Ipswich claim a highly creditable 3rd place only 4 points off top spot.

Ipswich started the game brightly and should have been 1-0 up within minutes but Captain Emma Millar pushed the ball wide after having done the hard job of beating the home sides keeper. Ipswich however continued to push and won several short corners. A combination of the very bumpy pitch and good defending though frustrated the Suffolk side and gave Folkestone the confidence to start moving the ball. A few close misses by the home team reminded Ipswich that would have to work hard to win this match and with both sides playing attacking hockey it was only a matter of time before a goal was scored.  Ipswich struck first; a wonderful sweeping move down the right, started by Debbie Rawlinson saw Emma Millar drift into the circle where she calmly slipped the ball to Ella Kenny to make it 1-0.

The second half saw the tempo stay high but it was Folkestone's turn to claim a goal a well struck shot from  the top of the circle leaving Ipswich keeper Laura Peskett with no chance. Ipswich stepped up the pace and forced a series of short corners but Folkestone held firm and the game was beginning to look like a draw. A bit of fortune for Ipswich soon changed the score line though, a good shot by Sophie Sheldrake from the right hand side of the circle was deflected past the Folkestone keeper by her own defender and Ipswich now led 2-1.  Then with 5 minutes to go Folkestone broke through. Jo Jo Anderson making a last ditch tackle was adjudged to have stopped the ball illegally on the line and a penalty stroke was awarded.  Player of the match Laura Pesket in the Ipswich goal however had the last word, making a fantastic diving save to her left to touch the ball onto the post and enabling Ipswich to end the season with a hard earned 3 points.

Ipswich have had a season they can all be proud of and know that if they can keep the majority of this squad together then better things are to come next year.

Printwize East League Div2 North
Sat 5th April 2003
Ipswich 3 v Long Sutton Result Won : 5-1
Scorers: F Shaw (2), E Baker, A Little, V Dixon

Ipswich 3s put on an excellent display of commitment and teamwork to secure their 
place is East Super League with a convincing 5-1 victory over Long Sutton. With 
both teams fighting to finish above the relegation zone, a closely fought match was 
expected and end to end play in the first 15 minutes saw neither team dominant.
Ipswich finally went ahead midway through the first half when Fiona Shaw latched 
on to a cross from Vickey Dixon. Keeping up the momentum, Ipswich continued to 
threaten the visitors goal, Louise Fletcher, Nicky Keeley and Sarah Allsop 
combining well to supply Di Alexander, playing strongly on the right. Midfield 
support play set up the attack which put Ipswich 2 up when Shaw picked up a loose  ball on the post following a barrage of shots from which both Keeley and Dixon 
were unlucky not to score.

Long Sutton fought back but inspired defending from Jenny Kelly, Amy Kemp and 
Amanda Todd backed up by sweeper Amanda Little ensured few serious attempts 
on the home goal.

The second half saw more excellent play from the midfield and defence. Kate 
Adams, worked tirelessly in goal to mop up any threatening balls from Long Sutton 
and it wasn’t long before Ipswich were dominating again and forcing the visitors to 
defend a string of short-corners. Emma Baker eventually put Ipswich 3-0 up with a 
lifted ball which just caught the inside of the post.

To Long Sutton’s credit they kept battling and were rewarded when a deceptive ball 
in from the left was nudged past Kate Adams. This gave the visitors a surge of 
confidence and more hard work was demanded from the midfield to successfully 
contained any breaks. A penalty flick was awarded after three consecutive stick 
tackles on Vickey Dixon and she stepped up to extend the Ipswich lead. But at 
4-1, Ipswich were far from complacent and continued to drive forward. Amanda 
Little put the game well beyond Long Sutton’s reach from a short corner.