4 teams in the last few weeks look to have been promoted. Not too shabby really. The Men’s 2s and Men’s 1s took league victories the Ladies 3s and Men’s 4s confirmed their 2nd place spots with more emphatic victories. The Men’s 4s are promoted as the best second placed team, the Ladies 3s as runners up should also be promoted once the machinations of East hockey have had their way. The Men’s 4s win under the lights last weekend headlines this week’s reports, excellent support from the club and well done to Ant and his team – they had a plan and they delivered. I'd also draw your attention below to the Ladies 3s report - 2 matches and one of them was victory over Harwich. Felix has never been so joyous as a coach.

Talking of support, we have a great deal to celebrate this season and it’s not only just about promotion: 9 teams, rip roaring goals, quality socials, juniors flying high, coaches and umpires. With that in mind, let’s make the club dinner a memorable occasion. This year we are at Jimmy’s Farm, tickets can be bought online via Pitchero. It really would be rather special to have real representation from each team. Stats, awards, final tables, comedy moments, classic moments – they’ll all be brought alive on the 20th May. I’m looking forward to seeing you all there supporting your teammates, the club and having a ball.

So for the final time this season, here’s the round up of results:

M4 W7-0

M4 triumph with everyone wanting to play in the final game.

The last game of the season and it was do or die. Ipswich knew they had to win to get best placed 2nd position and they started pretty well. The ball changed between Ipswich and IES a few times until Freddie passed to Ant at top of the D, he kept possession evaded a few tackles and reversed the ball with the toe of his stick to the far corner of the goal, it probably wasnt going in but Tom changed that with a hard hit deflecting it in for his first of the game. 1-0. Weirdly no more goals that half but some decent possession and passing in places.

The second half we changed to the same line up from the start of the game, and within 2-3 mins had scored again. This time it was a nice bit of work from Freddie to slot home the second, 2-0. Just what we needed and it also gave the crowds of supporters that were 5-6 deep a reason to continue the deafening noise. The keeper was not happy!!

Two mins later and Tom bagged his second, excellent work from Harry Mercer. He weiggled past what felt like 18 defenders, pushed the ball to Tom who hit the ball on his reverse. Time stood still as the ball looped into the air really quite slowly and over the outstretched right srm of the keeper….we were all just as surpised as Tom, but noone cared 3-0!

It was constant pressure by Ipswich and they were rewarded with two shorts in a row. The first came to nothing, but the second made it 4-0. Ant pushed out, Tom pushed it back to Ant who had time to stop and hit it between the keepers legs.

The 5th was the rudest goal of the day, topping Toms earlier rude goal. Ipswich were passing the ball hard and swiftly, and IES defence couldnt do anything. Tom was spare in the left of their D, noone marking him and he received the ball….the defense all pushed up?! And the keeper took a couple of steps out of the goal for some reason, which basically gave Tom an open goal to shoot for, which he did and simply passed the ball into the net. 5-0.

Ipswich were using the width well and both Austin, Aidan and Charlie were all helping to do this. One ball passed to Ant down the line caused a moment of what some could call madness, after he dribbled past one defender, wrong footed another, got to the byline worked it toward goal evading tackles, flicked it to the P spot only for the ball to go just wide of the far post by Freddie. Shame!

Same again 2 mins later without the dribbling as Ant ran down the line got into the D and flicked it to the P spot again, and this time Freddie bagged his second into the far corner. 6-0. The keeper was going crazy at his defenders.

The last goal nicely summed up his season and ours, and closed the game out. Pete Glading is all i have to say! More work in and around the D and the ball landed with Pete who smashed it home emphatically, followed by some over the top celebrations, probably just to annoy the oppostions keeper. Always at the right place at the right time, always available and whilst the slowest player on the pitch by a country mile is the top goal scorer for the 4s. Well done Pete, 7-0.

What a season, what a pleasure to captain this side and what a result to finally get promotion at the first time of asking with the youngsters. Amazing - thanks to all, old and young, pat yourselves on the back, roll on next season.

L1 D 1-1

The Final Hoorah

The final game of the season, the Ladies 1s hosted East London under the lights at Tuddenham Road. A lot was riding off the final game with who would get 5th spot in the league table. To secure it, Ipswich had to get the 3 points.

The game got underway with Ipswich conceding a few short corners in a row but May Percival was able to read every single call and charge them down without a second thought. After some strong defensive effort, Ipswich were able to gain some momentum up the pitch and through the lines. Minutes before the first quarter ended, Ipswich attack down the right with Emma Williamson on the ball. She found Taylor Ball who led out to receive, eliminate a player with a right to left drag, enter the circle and quickly get a reverse shot off before eating the ground. Ipswich go 1-0.

The next 2 quarters were back and forth from each end with both teams winning the ball in tackles but then giving it back almost immediately. Ipswich started to get a little frantic and struggled to connect through the midfield and forward lines. POTM, Ali Barham had a stormer of a game and was saving hits coming left, right and centre.

Final quarter came around and Ipswich gained possession with some great counter attacks from May Percival and Taylor Ball connecting at pace but unfortunately no conversion. East London then got possession and were allowed to carry into the circle with enough clearance to get a shot at goal to just miss a kicker. 1-1 final score.

The last whistle brought the game to a close with the 1-1 draw. Ipswich were knowingly a little disappointed with the draw result but the Ladies 1s should hold their heads high and be proud to cement themselves respectably 6th standing and up for another season in National League.
The final say goes out to all the girls who are leaving Ipswich and moving onto their next, new chapters. We hope Ipswich stay in your hearts and would be a honour to see you back in a blue shirt one day…

L2 W 7-0

L3 W4-0

Ipswich 3s (Ladies) v IES 2s

Well, there we have it! Last game of the season, and we kept up our winning streak! Having convincingly smashed the League winners 6-0 the previous week, it was always going to be tricky to maintain that momentum and play the same way. This was evident in the first half with some scrappy play from both sides, meaning the flowing hockey that Felix has so successfully achieved with us this year was lacking. However, we kept our heads down and our sticks firmly on the ground and held firm with trying to produce the hockey we have become so well known for this season. We were finally rewarded in the 17th minute with a goal from the well sunned holiday returnee Minal Patel. A few hairy moments briefly in our defensive D followed, as often does a goal, but the calm and cool Sarah Logan, Ellie Saunders and Sarah Jeffrey kept them at bay with a commanding Rowan Calver guarding her goal line very effectively. Fast forward another 10 mins or so, and a fabulously taken goal by Esther Sheldon saw us go into half time with a good 2-0 lead.

A superb, tactical team talk from Coach Felix resulted in a much better display of clever hockey in the second half. IES barely had a look in to the game as we pressed and pressed and had short corner after short corner. The reward arrived only 15 minutes into the second half with another goal beautifully executed by another of our young super stars Caitlyn Wright. What are the oldies- SORRY, more ‘experienced players’ doing I hear you cry? Wait for it, we are not finished yet. A continuous display of the beautiful game from our Ladies 3s, with moves starting in the back line and the ball making it smoothly to the front time and time again we were awarded one last and final short corner. Our normal top of the D receiver was off the pitch, meaning the mighty Sarah Logan had to make the long walk from the back to finish our game in style. And that she did. Doubling her goal tally for this season and 20 plus years, today’s Player of the Match scored our 4th and final goal of the day with a perfect short corner strike into the bottom right hand corner of the IES goal.

L3s W6-0

The Ladies 3s set out for the game we have been waiting for. Top of the league clash against Harwich in home soil. We were determined to show Harwich what we could really do. With a strong starting 11, our first goal came within the first ten minutes from Caitlyn Wright, who showed no fear in going up against their goal keeper. Harwich wanted to fight back, and put us under pressure with winning themselves short corners, but our defensive back line held firm with Gigi, Logan, Jeff, Ellie and Emma. Harwich were not happy with our answer to their short corners and Caitlyn Wright and Kate Smith secured us a secure 3-0 up before half time. Felix's rousing and enthusiastic team talk at half time followed quickly with more positive play from the 3s and it was obvious that Harwich were getting rattled by not being able to stop our forward line. Their usual tactic of thumping through the middle to their high hanging forward was also unsuccessful as our midfield and defence were able to pick off these passes with ease and start off another counter attack. The Ellies (Benfield-2 and Saunders-1) of the team scored three more goals in the second half to inflict Harwich's worst result and only defeat of the season. With one match left to play in this epic season, we are determined to keep up our winning streak and regardless of promotion chances, finish with a bang, watch out IES!

L4 W 5-1

L5 D1-1

Ladies 5’s- As we arrived it started raining cats and dogs and Stretch was there supporting munching on a margarita pizza. However heads were high and we all played with such zest knowing it was the last match of the season.

Gillian was electric running down the wing. Helena was on fire in goal. Albeit Bury St Edmund’s 5th went 1 nil up, we fought tooth and nail to take control of the game. We had a very close goal attempt from Catherine when she hit a screecher off the post from a short corner. Andrea scored after an excellent injection from Chantelle! Final score was 1-1 - what a great end to a fabulous season where hockey was the winner and so were we. Here’s to next season #5sthighsonfire?

M1 No Game

M2 W8-0

Mens 2’s rounded off a championship winning season with an emphatic 8-0 win against Dragons 2’s.

The opening exchanges were helped by the fact the visitors arrived with 10 players & within 10 minutes Foxy opened the scoring with a slipped finish. Ben quickly added a second after a burst past the last man left him with a tight angled flick over the keeper.

Despite dominating possession, it took Ipswich until the 31st minute to make it 3-0. Windy slipping the ball under the keeper from a short corner move. The opening minutes of the second half saw three goals rattled in. Tommy finishing from close range, Greg tapping in & Windy following up a powerful drag flick from Felix at a short corner.

Controversy then ensued as Windy overruled the umpire & disallowed a perfectly good goal by Ollie Pipe that in hindsight, was well within the D when he shot! The best two goals were saved to last. Greg & Giles both scoring with deflected shots after flowing moves involving Pete, Cian, Henry & Tommy.

Match of the match was deservedly won by Jez - both his touches were top draw. The win sealed a terrific season for the 2’s who now head up to Div 1 North.

M3 D1-1 + M3 L1-2

M3 share the spoils and pizzas!

M3 headed to Bury St Edmunds knowing the chasing back were all after 3rd position in the league table. Ipswich dominated the ball in the first half and the only mistake gave Bury the 1st goal.

A good team talk was due at half time and it did the trick with a brilliant hit off a PC from Ant Youngman. This must of woken Bury up and the game got very exciting with a lot of turnover and Bury not keeping tempers down but Ipswich couldn't capitalise on the extra players at times.

The 1-1 draw was a fair result and was topped off with pizzas which we thank Bury St Edmunds for supplying and provided a snack for watching the ladies 5's afterwards! Ipswich M3 then had a final on Saturday where they faced a trip to a Norwich City side still fighting to stay in the division – Norwich came our eventual victors, 2-1.

Stats….final stats to be revealed at the club awards…