HOCKEY: All the hockey action with a full round-up of all the local men's and women's matches.

HOCKEY

WOMEN'S HOCKEY

Chelmsford 4 Ipswich 1

IPSWICH Ladies conceded three late goals to slump to a Women's English Hockey League Premier Division defeat at local rivals Chelmsford.

The visitors started badly when Chelmsford drove through the middle of the pitch, a half-clearance was not good enough and Tracy Willmore fired home with a fierce shot to give the Essex side an early lead.

Ipswich responded and, with much greater composure and commitment, Sandie Lister's team began to gain control of the ball. Quick passing and good movement behind the Chelmsford defence led to the equalising goal from Tanya Barnard.

Chelmsford resumed in the second half in a determined mood, soaking up the pressure from Ipswich and proving expert at the quick counter-attack.

The hosts began to take the majority of the possession and Willmore set up Kirsty Smith to score with ten minutes left. Lisa Wooding then scored a third goal from a penalty corner, and set up Lynn Bollington for the fourth just before the end.

Ipswich coach Lister will be disappointed at the performance of the team, who know that if they are to stay near the top of the table they must be more clinical at turning attacks into goals.

Chelmsford II 2 Ipswich II 3

FIVE goals in the second half of this Printwize East League Premier Division game brought the derby match to life – and it was Ipswich who deservedly emerged the winners after a nail-biting finish.

Ipswich started full of confidence and dominated possession, but although they created several chances they could not finish them off.

The game came to life in the second half. A penalty stroke awarded for a foul on the line was clinically dispatched by Ipswich player-coach Sarah Juggins and Chelmsford equalised via Laura Stonebank from a short corner.

Ipswich regained the lead when Juggins stepped up to convert a second penalty stroke.

Chelmsford seemed beaten when captain Emma Millar's shot from the top of the circle beat the keeper to make it 3-1 but then Chelmsford were awarded a stroke. Trinidad & Tobago international Tammy Nancoo converted to set up a nervous finish, but Ipswich held on for the points.

Bourne 2 Ipswich ES Ladies 2

IES were keen to make a positive start and their work was rewarded with a rapid opening goal.

A 16-yard hit out from Maria Whelan found waiting captain Fran Poppleton skilfully beat the Bourne keeper to give the visitors the lead.

Bourne responded swiftly to restore parity and the second half saw a different IES squad, this time not as confident.

Claire Lait sent the second goal in from a short corner to give IES a 2-1 lead but Bourne again

responded and from then the game deteriorated.

Visiting goalkeeper Avril Adams stood her ground to keep the hosts at bay and secure a point.

Christchurch 2 Ipswich IV 1

UNLIKE the previous week when they could only field nine players and no goalkeeper, Christchurch managed to scrape together 11 players for this home fixture.

Due to illness and unavailability Christchurch recruited from the second team and Melissa Chapman, Joyce Jay and Lucy Farrington all came into the side.

Christchurch were fairly slow to start and it was the visitors who opened the scoring with a well-taken effort. The home side gradually clawed their way back into the match with the returning Sheri Garnham and Lesley Elsom beginning to win the midfield tussles. After a series of fine saves by Penny Dunnett in goal Christchurch pulled themselves level ten minutes from the end of the first half when Debbie Clements found herself in space and made no mistake slotting past the outstretched goalie.

The second half was end-to-end with Melissa Chapman combining well with Becky Hudson to whip over several penetrating crosses which unfortunately Christchurch could not convert.

With time ebbing away to the home side struck the killer blow with Melissa Chapman capping a fine performance by meeting a right-wing cross to deflect the ball home.

Grasshoppers 0 Christchurch II 2

CHRISTCHURCH returned to winning ways in this match played at Gainsborough before the rain set in for the day.

Overall the game was quite a scrappy affair but when either side put together a slick passing move they looked dangerous.

It was Christchurch's sparkle in front of goal which won them the match.

Trudy Sharman made her mark on the match with some powerful dribbling runs down the pitch.

It was Sharman's fourth minute run and an intelligent pass by Margaret Gray that gave Harriet Peachey the chance to open the scoring.

Gray – who later struck a post – then saw her shot from a short corner well saved.

Grasshoppers' best chance was thwarted when Carrie Kelly calmly cleared off the goal line.

The second half continued in the same vein as the first with the visitors looking more of a threat in front of goal, but both sides having chances.

But Christchurch eventually sealed victory when Gray laid the ball back to Deborah Munro on the edge of the D, from where she hit a cracking shot into the corner of the Grasshoppers' goal.

MEN'S HOCKEY

Peterborough II 0 Ipswich 4

IPSWICH produced an excellent display to take the Printwize East Premier Division A points from Peterborough.

A new-look midfield of Matt Walker, Simon Miller, James Smith and Jon Cuff dominated and excellent running by Richard Stainthorpe created several chances.

Ipswich broke the deadlock after 20 minutes when Smith passed to Stainthorpe, who cut in from the right and set up Richard Fox to fire high into the net.

Ipswich were two up after 40 minutes when a slick short-corner routine found Cuff with time and space on the left to bear down on goal and score.

Ipswich went further ahead five minutes later with Cuff's fierce shot lifting off the keeper's pads into the net.

Asif Rais and James Walker were solid in the middle of the Ipswich defence to keep out the Peterborough attacks and Stainthorpe capped another solid performance with an excellent fourth goal, lifting the ball over the keeper after Miller seized on a weak ball out of the Peterborough defence.

Ipswich 2 Cambridge City 1

IPSWICH progressed to the fourth round of the EHA Cup with a victory over Cambridge City.

Ipswich took the lead after just six minutes when Richard Stainthorpe's quick turn and first-time shot beat keeper Nick Clarey at his far post.

Ipswich were two up within ten minutes when James Walker scored with a short-corner strike that the Cambridge defence could only admire.

James Smith might have added to the Ipswich lead and City's Jeremy Farrant missed a good chance at the other end.

Cambridge pulled a goal back after 45 minutes when Ben Van Rodyen deflected Gadsby's short-corner strike high into the roof of Stuart Hendy's goal. Cambridge continued to press hard for the equaliser with chances falling to Will Earl and Matt Cooper but the Ipswich defence stood firm.

Crane 2 Harlow 2

HARLOW scored first from open play and retained a hard earned first-half lead with numerous chances missed by both sides.

Crane drew level through a well worked goal from Stuart Thornton.

A spell of sustained pressure presented Harlow with the lead early in the second half. The game then proved to be a tussle in midfield with centre half Paul Arthy dominating play for the home side.

Crane controlled the game for the final quarter but failed to convert a succession of short corners. Seconds before time Mark Day got the faintest of touches from a free hit outside the D to return a deserved 2-2 draw.