Men's hockey: Colchester 3 Ipswich 3IT was honours even in this Printwize East Premier Division local derby, but it was Ipswich left cursing themselves at two points dropped.
Colchester 3 Ipswich 3
IT was honours even in this Printwize East Premier Division local derby, but it was Ipswich left cursing themselves at two points dropped.
The visitors started brightly with plenty of attacking play and broke the deadlock through a perfect short corner strike from James Walker.
Soon after, a fantastic individual run from Simon Miller saw the midfielder beat two defenders before being fouled as he was bearing down on the keeper. Umpire Steve Graham had no hesitation in awarding the penalty stroke which Miller duly converted.
Colchester pulled a goal back midway through the first half from their first short corner but Ipswich's two-goal advantage was restored by Richard Stainthorpe following excellent play between himself and the electric Miller.
Colchester fought tooth and nail for every ball in the second half and Ipswich started to feel the pressure. Although both sides were creating chances it was the Essex team that always looked more likely to score.
Midway through second half Colchester won a short corner that was slipped to the left and fired home passed the hapless Stuart Hendy in the Ipswich goal.
The visitors' situation went from bad to worse when, with ten minutes left, Ipswich's playmaker Miller fell awkwardly following an attempt at goal and could take no further part in the game.
Miller was immediately taken to hospital and will be out of the game for up to two months having torn ligaments in his
shoulder.
Miller's exit shook the Ipswich side and Colchester took advantage and equalised shortly afterwards to the delight of the home side.
Ipswich never gave up in their hunt for
victory and had several chances to take all three points.
Debutant Will Fulker and captain Richard Fox both had attempts blocked and Ipswich's short corner routine suffered from Miller's absence.
At the final whistle it was a point a piece but Ipswich who will know that, without
having the ability to kill teams off, it may be a season of mixed success.
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