Saturday 15th November 2008

Slazenger EHL Premier League

Ipswich v Canterbury

Result: Lost 4-1

Scorer: E Lee-Smith

Despite the score line Ipswich can take heart from their performance this weekend in the Slazenger EHL Premier League. Canterbury were deserved winners taking their chances well but Ipswich played with a determination and structure that has been missing over the last weeks and it bodes well for the crucial matches to come.

The game started well for Ipswich with the entire team working hard to press Canterbury into their defensive area and the home side earned their first corner within 5 minutes. However  this was defended well and Ipswich missed out on a opportunity to take an early lead.  The game continued with Ipswich looking the most dangerous, with Mille Sharp and Kirsten Spencer controlling the defence and 16 year striker Chloe Hunnable running the Canterbury right back ragged.

Not surprisingly it was Hunnable's skill that earned Ipswich their second corner but once again the home sides routine was slightly off key and Canterbury cleared the ball to safety.

Ipswich though kept attacking and a good run and cross by Jess Bloom was only narrowly missed by the arriving  Ipswich player.

Canterbury though were not happy to sit back and the game was played at a high tempo with both team looking for that breakthrough.

Unfortunately for Ipswich it was the visitors that took the lead. A Mel Clewlow short corner strike finding the back of the net on the 30th minute. Disappointingly Ipswich seemed to lose concentration and within 3 minutes found themselves 3-0 down as the half time whistle blew.

Annoyed but determined Ipswich started the second half with renewed vigor and once more began pressuring the Canterbury defence into making errors. However the visitors had enough experience to frustrate Ipswich and despite a run of short corners the Suffolk side could not find that coveted goal.

With time ticking on Ipswich once more pushed for a goal and for the second time in two weeks it was Emma Lee-Smith that forced the ball into the back of the net to make it 3-1

With 13 minutes to go Ipswich looked to step up a gear but Canterbury held firm and then in the final minute Clewlow added her second to make the score line a rather flattering 4-1 to the team from Kent.

Ipswich were frustrated to have played so well and not got a result but with a week of hard training ahead of them they know that they have a structure and performance to build on.

Next weeks game on Sunday is away against a Poynton side that are only 2 points ahead of Ipswich and with both team desperate for the points it is bound to be a tight tense game. If Ipswich can reproduce the style and passion they showed this weekend then 3 points are a real possibility.

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 1N  

Saffron Walden v Ipswich

Lost 4-0

A much changed Ipswich side travelled to Essex on Saturday to play 2nd placed Saffron Walden. Ipswich dominated the first 10 minutes of  play with good movement and some great linking play moving up the  pitch. Despite solid defending work from Sam Bennett, Hannah Tallent  and Fi Moran, Walden opened the scoreline with a scrappy goal.  
Ipswich continued to battle hard, but seemed to have lost their flow.  The home side scored their 2nd goal from a well struck shot, leading  2-nil into half-time.

Ipswich came back from half-time determined to get something back  from the game. As Ipswich penetrated the Saffron Walden 'D'  their  determination was rewarded with a series of penalty corners, but  after 2 of Jo Gray's strikes hit the post Ipswich started to feel  that luck was not on their side. Walden scored a 3rd goal from a  break down the right wing, and their 4th came from a penalty flick  (awarded for a shot hitting an Ipswich player in the 'D', evidently  preventing a certain goal despite the keeper standing ready in the  goal behind her!?!).

When the full-time whistle blew Ipswich came away feeling  disappointed with their 4-nil defeat and not for the first time this  season, frustrated with those wearing yellow! Ipswich showed good  determination and worked well as a team despite missing some regular  faces. Hannah Brooks, Mitch Chidgney and Alex Chidgney all put in  
great debut performances, with MOTM going jointly to Mitch and Annie  Shayes (GK).

 NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2C

Ipswich v UEA

Results: Won 5-1

Scorer: A Ford (2) R Anderson-Hurst (2) Amy Wall

A welcome home game after an unsuccessful away trip last week saw the 3’s eager to make good against new opposition from the University of East Anglia.  Despite this a scrappy and somewhat unsettled start followed.

A brief bit of respite came after Roisin A-H’s (semi-legal?) mid-air volley of a lifted cross gave the game it’s first goal which went some way to settling the play.  The youthful students didn’t let up however and continued to find the gaps left by some patchy Ipswich defending.  We were soon punished for this as an equaliser came through the middle of the pitch with free UEA players able to work together to put the ball in the back of the net.  Frustrated at ourselves, Ian organised some rearrangements from the sidelines which opened up the play and saw us regain some progression towards the right end of the pitch.  This pressure inevitably led to some short corners, one of which was sweetly converted by Amanda Ford with a strike from left slip needing no further assistance to find it’s target.

We went into the break 2-1 up and perhaps a little confused at the standard of play which was by no means our best.  Half time advice included encouragement to improve ball pace, increase the work rate and meet the ball…

The second half of the match saw some much brighter and better organised play from Ipswich but also a continued determination from UEA not to be pushed out of the game.  Better link up play and early passes began to make us look good and the goals followed soon thereafter.  Amanda hit another strike from a short (getting a little greedy perhaps?) and Ro lifted the ball into the net after some fancy Vickey Dixon stickwork saw the ball pulled back to the P spot for the conversion.

By far the most interesting goal of the game came from Amy Wall however!  After collecting the ball just inside the D, Amy (head down) charged towards goal with the ball under tight control expecting a tackle at any moment…and she got closer…and she waited for the tackle…and then she got bored of waiting for the tackle…and a nice little reverse stick flick into the goal brought the goal tally to 5 with none other than Amy herself being most surprised at the turn of events!  Disappointed and frustrated with themselves, UEA continued to challenge but could do no further damage to a restored Ipswich side.

Controversy followed the match as there were claims and counter-claims that ‘Girlie of the Game’ votes had been rigged (hands up those who think Skigett voted for herself?!) as Amanda stole the lion’s share of the votes with an excellent performance well rewarded.  Teas continued to provide entertainment via the medium of doughnuts, with the impending start of the 1s game leaving us plenty to natter about.

Off to Yarmouth next week with normal goal-scoring service resumed.

Suffolk Premier League

Suffolk Div 1

.Sunday 16th November

Slazenger EHL 

East Conference

Canterbury v Ipswich 

Results: Lost 7-0

Scorers: 

Ipswich were comprehensively defeated by National League South Division leaders Canterbury, who scored three goals in the first half and four in the second to show their championship credentials. Ipswich gave a good showing of themselves against an excellent side, but found themselves outclassed by a team that many believe will win the league title and secure a place back in the National League Premier Division. The result means that Ipswich are currently level on points with local rivals Peterborough, but sit in a relegation play-off place due to a massively inferior goal difference, not helped by this heavy loss. 

The side travelled to Canterbury without influential midfield duo Mark Wrinch and Jonny Gall, but saw a return to the squad for defender Matt Stainthorpe, who had been struggling all week due to a hamstring problem. 

Knowing that the team were facing the league leaders, Ipswich coach Iain Gall set the team up to frustrate their opponents, playing defensively and hoping to catch their illustrious opponents on the break. The tactic was paying dividends in the early stages of the match, as Canterbury struggled to break down a resolute Ipswich defence being marshalled by veteran sweeper Asif Rais. 

Eventually though, Canterbury created an opening thanks to some breathtaking movement from their front line, allowing South African forward Lloyd Norris-Jones to burst into the circle on the right and flick brilliantly beyond Ipswich keeper Fred Whitfield into net. Norris-Jones claimed his second of the match just a minute later with another smart finish to make the score 2-0, but Ipswich began to rally and create some chances of their own. Great combination play from right defender Mark Wheelhouse and Kier Dixon released electric teenager Josh Godfrey down the right, but the young forward was tackled in the circle before he could get his shot away. However, Canterbury confirmed their dominance and increased the score-line when the free scoring Norris-Jones crashed another excellent shot into the bottom corner just before half time. 

Much to the delight of a large and hostile home crowd, Michael Farrer made the score 4-0 with a penalty corner just after half time, but Ipswich steadied their nerves and began to give Canterbury a few worries of their own. Captain Ivan Smith won penalty corner, giving Keir Dixon the opportunity to pull a goal back for Ipswich, but his powerful flick was fractionally over the crossbar. Godfrey was again in the thick of the action, causing havoc down the right hand side and was unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty corner on at least two occasions. Despite these efforts, Canterbury – were simply too good for their opponents, and moved into a 5-0 lead in the 57th minute when Farrer grabbed his second penalty corner of the game, before a brace of sensational reverse stick efforts from Jess Dowsing completed the scoring.

Ipswich face mid-table Holcombe next Saturday at Tuddenham Road, and know that a win is likely to take them out of the relegation zone. 

NE14HOCKEY East League

Prem A

NE14HOCKEY East League

Div 2N

NE14HOCKEY East League 

NE14HOCKEY East League

NE14HOCKEY East League

Veterans League

Saturday 15th November 2008

Ipswich v Chelmsford

Won 3-1

Scorers: Tew Fletton 2

Ipswich eventually defeated Chelmsford in this top of the table clash but only after a hard fought match. Ipswich applied the early pressure but the visitors defense held firm, after a series of penalty corners Tew converted and Ipswich seemed to be on their way to a comfortable victory. Chelmsford had other ideas and for once Gill escaped his marker to convert past Steward in goal.

After last weeks shortage of players Ipswich were able to field a large squad and whilst this disrupted play a bit, this enabled fresh legs to be introduced and gradually to dominate play. Mid way through the half Ipswich regained the lead, Fletton converting a penalty corner. Shortly after which the same player converted following a scramble in the circle. The home team continued to create chances, Curzon and Glading should have scored but Steward was rarely called upon as Ipswich gained victory.

.Ipswich Hockey Club Under 9s

Ipswich A 3 v 0 Felixstowe

Ipswich B 1 v 2 Felixstowe

There were mixed fortunes for the two Ipswich Under 9s against strong and older Felixstowe opposition. The A team battled hard and goals from Tommy Downie, Mary Sacker and Paddy Hughes gave them a comfortable victory in the end. Good defending from Annis Cousins and Lauren Flude ensured a clean sheet.

The B Team went behind early on and only excellent defending from Ismay Whittaker and Nick Borrett kept them in touch. Eventually James Doig was perfectly placed to fire home a deserved equaliser but unfortunately in the last minute a poor clearance found a Felixstowe forward who despite a Thomas Bliss tackle, coolly slotted the ball into an empty net

Ipswich A 2 v 1 Colchester

Ipswich B 1 v 1 Colchester

Against Colchester, both Ipswich sides picked up points in close and exciting matches.

The As game started briskly and Georgia Davies came close to scoring before a fine turn and shot from George Frettingham put the As ahead. Good skills from the Colchester forwards then forced an equaliser and looked likely to score again though solid defending from Saskia Wright and Danny Hughes kept them at bay. Mid way through the second half Gregory Bott won the ball and fed George Frettingham who coolly netted the winner

The B team fell behind to Colchester’s experienced team but brave defending from both Stephanie and Ellie Bally steadied the team. Seth Green came close to scoring and Philippa Taylor and Georgia Bally battling in midfield released Freddie Mason who raced past the Colchester defence to fire home a deserved equaliser.