Slazenger EHL

Premier Division

  Ipswich v Chelmsford

Won 3-2  (K Hector, B Baker, J Hall)

For the second year running Ipswich go into the Slazenger EHL Premier Division Christmas break celebrating a win against local rivals Chelmsford. Despite the satisfaction at claiming derby bragging rights the 3 points were the most important thing for Ipswich in this game and the Suffolk team move up into 5th place, while Chelmsford drop to 7th.

The game started with Ipswich dominating possession and showing a passion that their visitors could not seem to match. Ipswich defender Lucy Unwin in particular enjoying a great game against her former club. Despite the early pressure it took the home side 16 minutes to finally break through the Essex teams defence. England U18 star Jenny Hall, deflected the ball high into the net from a brilliant cross from Vic Sandall, to score her seventh goal of the season.  Ipswich continued to pile on the pressure and 9 minutes later extended their lead. South African International Kate Hector showing her class with a superb short corner strike that left Chelmsford Goal keeper Katy Roberts no chance and gave Hector her 4th goal of the season.

Despite dominating long periods Ipswich were still aware of the Chelmsford threat from short corners. Sure enough on the 30th minute the visitors struck back;  their first strike was well saved by Charlotte Lee-Smith in the Ipswich goal but the rebound was picked up by Ciara O'Brien and she flicked the ball into the open net.

Despite the setback Ipswich continued to play to their patterns and gained several short corners. With half time approaching the home side knew this would be the ideal time to strike back and it was Captain Becky Baker that extended the home sides lead back to two clear goals. Her deceptive slap hit wrong footed Roberts in the Chelmsford goal and the ball bobbled over the line to see Baker score her second goal of the saesin.

The second half started with Ipswich once again playing some pleasing hockey but Chelmsford had finally managed to find the passion they seemed to lack in the first half and were intent on bringing the game to the Suffolk side. As the game became more and more scrappy the umpires decided on a tighter control and Ipswich midfielder Evie Van- Poortvliet was unlucky to be shown a yellow card when she could not avoid a Chelmsford player who ran into her.  With the home side now one player missing the game turned the visitors way and only some good goal keeping by Lee-Smith and some excellent goal line clearances from Baker kept Chelmsford from exploiting their numerical advantage. To make matters worse for the home team, they then suffered a second yellow card as Emma Lee-Smith was sent off for a stick tackle.  Down to nine players Ipswich were working flat out to keep their 2 goal advantage but a good short corner strike by Lisa Wooding with 7 minutes to go gave Chelmsford renewed hope of a point.

 Back up to 11 players Ipswich began to regain possession of the ball and Emma Millar had a great chance to make the game safe, after a superb through ball by van-Poortvliet, but she was denied by the outstretched leg of Roberts in the Chelmsford goal. With time ticking away the game turned into a frantic affair but Ipswich held firm and claimed the vital 3 points.

Attention now turns to the Indoor season for the next month and Ipswich will resume their outdoor campaign on 27th January with a home game against Doncaster

EH Cup

4th Round

 Ipswich v Doncaster

Won 8-5  (K Hector, E Millar, J Ellis (2), L Aldous (3), E Lee-Smith)

Ipswich welcomed struggling Doncaster to Tuddenham Road on Sunday for a 4th round cup tie and after being knocked out of the competition by the Yorkshire side last year Ipswich were keen to get some revenge.

The game could not have started better for the home side who scored within 3 minutes, Lizzy Aldous netting her 9th goal of the season. 8 minutes later and Aldous cored again as Ipswich outplayed Doncaster all over the pitch.  Ipswich pinned their visitors back in their half but despite prolonged pressure it took until the 29th minute for Ipswich's 3rd goal to arrive. Jo Ellis thumping in a shot from an acute angle making it 3-0 to Ipswich at half time. the second half started in the same vein with Ellis scoring her second of the game, within a minute of the re-start. Doncaster though always know how to keep battling and they scored their first goal through their striker Jo Ellis on the 38 make to make it 4-1.

With Doncaster now looking to push forward to try and get back into the game Ipswich caught them  on the break. A great through ball from Sarah Tallent, gave Emma Millar the chance of a one on one with the keeper. Millar calmly moved the ball past the Doncaster keeper but was brought down by her despairing dive and a penalty stroke was rightly awarded. To make maters worse for the visitors the keeper was also shown the yellow card and left defender Helen had to kit up to face the penalty. Kate Hector stepped up to take it and celebrated her last game for Ipswich this year before returning back to South Africa for Christmas with an unstoppable shot to make it 5-1 to Ipswich.  2 minutes later and Ipswich were cruising to a 6-1 lead as Emma Lee-Smith fired home for her 2nd goal of the season. Ipswich then seemed to take their foot of the gas and Doncaster then scored 3 goals in 4 minutes to turn the game on it head. Sensing that their visitors felt that they could still get something out of the game Ipswich once again stepped up the pressure. This time Aldous turned provider and her great run and cross was met by Millar who slotted the ball past the stand in keeper to make it 7-4. Aldous then completed her hat-trick on the 70th minute. 

Hat-trick heroine Lizzy Aldous

Doncaster though finished with a short corner and fired it home to make the score line an amazing 8-5.

Ipswich now face Slazenger EHL North Division team Liverpool Sefton away on Sunday 25th February for a place in the semi-finals.

East League

Div 1 North

Dereham v Ipswich

Won 2-1 (L King) 

Slazenger EHL

South Division

 Ipswich  v St Albans

Won 3-1 (K Dixon, I Smith, P Messent) 

East Veterans League

Cambridge City v Ipswich

Drew 1-1 ( Glading)

Ipswich lost their 100% record to a useful City team, a fair result at the end of the day although either team could have snatched victory in the dying minutes. Unfortunately the game will be remembered more for the unpleasant behaviour of one or two of the home team who felt that it was acceptable to question every decision that did not go in their favour.

The match started well for Ipswich and they took the lead in controversial circumstances, the home gaolkeeper inexplicably let the ball run through to goal and Glading came blind side to force the ball home but a couple of defenders felt the ball had already crossed the line before his touch. Minutes later Glading thought he had scored again but was denied by a fine goal line clearance by a covering defender. From there on in the game became scrappy and bad tempered and neither team produced any hockey of worth.

The second half began as the first had finished as the home team continued to query decisions but eventually as the umpires were forced to have harsh words and with this both teams started to play pleasant and enjoyable hockey. During this period Cambridge pulled level, the Ipswich defence failed to clear on a number of occasions before the left winger neatly lifted the ball over Steward. Ipswich reorganised in the final quarter and began to produce some excellent scoring chances, but Glading was unable to latch onto Foster's cross and then saw another effort roll just wide. The home team had a chance to take all three points but Steward was able to prevent a clear shot before Tew covered to clear.

Next week Ipswich entertain Cambridge South another team they have not played before but from the results so far they do not seem to travel much beyond their own town!