IES on smash and grab raid

HOCKEY: Charlie Farrow takes his Ipswich East Suffolk side to Bedford tomorrow on a smash and grab mission. With just three games left, the Rushmere-based side desperately need three points to overhaul their opponents and push them into the second bottom slot in Premier Division A of the Printwize East League.

CHARLIE Farrow takes his Ipswich East Suffolk side to Bedford tomorrow on a smash and grab mission.

With just three games left, the Rushmere-based side desperately need three points to overhaul their opponents and push them into the second bottom slot in Premier Division A of the Printwize East League.

Following that, IES have two home games left against Colchester and Clacton, but failure to win at Bedford would almost certainly seal their relegation fate.

Said Farrow: "It's a massive game for us but one we can win. The whole squad knows what's at stake and while we came away from Crostyx with nothing, we certainly deserved at least a point.

"We may have left ourselves with too much to do, but the season is not over yet and we will fight to the bitter end."

The seconds, who lost 4-1 to Norwich Union, entertain Peterborough Athletic who are fourth from bottom, while a James Klug goal earned the thirds a 1-1 draw with promotion-seeking Saffron Walden's first team. Tomorrow they take on another promotion-chasing side, Colchester seconds, at Tuddenham Road.

A hat-trick from Matt Crane and two apiece from both Tony Elsom and David Walsh saw the fourths cement a respectable mid-table position with a 7-2 win over Romford thirds, but their trip to Saffron Walden thirds may prove a tougher test.

Neither the fifth or sixth team have a league fixture tomorrow and the friendlies arranged with Felixstowe have fallen by the wayside.

However, the sixth team, with one game left, virtually ensured themselves promotion after Ian Reed, Brian Mitchell (3), Tom Grant (3), Barrie Whelpton (2) and Robin Weston helped demolish Romford fourths 10-0.