Ipswich East Suffolk II 2 Felixstowe 2THE spoils were shared in this local derby after a hard-fought encounter between two evenly matched sides in Division Two North of the Printwize East League.

Ipswich East Suffolk II 2 Felixstowe 2

THE spoils were shared in this local derby after a hard-fought encounter between two evenly matched sides in Division Two North of the Printwize East League.

IES started brightly and put Paul Ellis in the Felixstowe goal to work, but gradually Felixstowe began to steady themselves and get into the game.

Both sides had chances to open the scoring but it was Felixstowe who took the lead when Gavin Haggart latched on to a direct ball out of defence by Mark Parker, turned Ian Watson and ran free into the circle where he slipped the ball past the advancing Simon Rose.

Felixstowe enjoyed a period of supremacy, but were unable to extend their lead before a lapse in concentration allowed Ipswich East Suffolk a penalty corner from which Gavin Cole equalised after Ellis had made an initial save.

The second half started much as the first with IES in the ascendancy and launching attacks through their midfield playmaker, Kevin Day. From one such attack, Day was allowed too much space and got in a shot.

Again Ellis made a vital save but the Felixstowe defenders were slow to react to the rebound and Guy Whiting slotted the ball home.

IES sensed victory and should have gone two goals clear when Whiting found himself free but his shot hit the post and was scrambled clear.

The stroke of luck spurred Felixstowe back into action and with a tactical substitutions to play four forwards, they laid siege to the IES goal for the last 20 minutes.

Rose was in inspired form and single handedly kept the visitors at bay with top saves from James Judge, Steve Taylor, Haggart and Rob Earl.

With time running out, Felixstowe finally found the equaliser when a well-worked penalty corner found Taylor with space to tuck the ball home.

Felixstowe were denied victory when Haggart was deprived of a winner when the umpire failed to allow advantage following a foul, but a draw was probably a fair result with both sides having contributed to an entertaining game.