HOCKEY: Ipswich 7 Ben Rhydding 2. Defending EHA Women's Cup holders BTexact Ipswich took early control of their fourth round game when Lizzie Aldous scored off the rebound from a penalty corner.

HOCKEY

Ipswich 7 Ben Rhydding 2

DEFENDING EHA Women's Cup holders BTexact Ipswich took early control of their fourth round game when Lizzie Aldous scored off the rebound from a penalty corner.

The continuous pressure from Ipswich led to a number of short corners. Kirsten Spencer struck the ball past the diving keeper and Ipswich led 2-0.

Another attack up the Ipswich right saw Tanya Barnard get her first, followed quickly by another when she got hold of the ball after a poor clearance to put the ladies 4-0 ahead.

However, Docherty caught Ipswich on the break to give Ben Rhydding their first goal and another fast break from a saved short corner by Ben Rhydding down the right led to Ipswich conceding a second.

Ipswich looked a little shocked at having allowed the ball to be moved so swiftly through their ranks but responded with another short-corner goal from Spencer.

The game was sealed when youngster Ella Kenny scored her debut goal with a superb deflection into the corner leaving the keeper stranded.

EHA Women's Cup Round Five, ties to be played on Sunday, February 2, 2003: Harleston Magpies v Canterbury, Olton & West Warks v Chelmsford, Rover Oxford v Hightown, Slough v Loughborough Students, Southgate v Doncaster, St Albans v Liverpool Quilter, Trojans v Epsom, Worcester Norton v Ipswich.

Cambridge 2 Ipswich II 2

IPSWICH did not get the three points they wanted in this Women's Printwize East Premier League match but a draw was a fair result.

Both teams started the match at a high tempo and Cambridge drew first blood, scoring from a short corner.

Ipswich however responded with a new passion and good build up play released Sophie Sheldrake in the D, and her shot left the keeper with no chance.

As half time approached City won another short corner and City bundled the ball over the line to make it 2-1.

Ipswich were soon level. Another short corner saw player coach Sarah Juggins pick out and unmarked Nicky Keely on the far post, who only had to touch the ball into the goal to score her first Premier League goal and make it 2-2.

Ipswich had a few chances in the second half, the best falling to Lucy Philp, who will feel she should have done better than a tame shot straight at the pads, when one on one with the keeper.

Crostyx 2 Ipswich 3

IPSWICH staged a remarkable comeback in the Printwize East Premier A Division on Saturday to claim the biggest upset of the season so far.

Crostyx are currently sitting pretty at the top of the table and went into this match with a 100 per cent record and were attempting to equal the record of ten straight wins set by Ipswich in 1999.

Crostyx showed their Suffolk visitors exactly why they are favourites to win the championship this season with a first-half display full of fast, flowing hockey.

Ipswich struggled to get to grips with the pace of the game and conceded the first goal after five minutes from a short corner strike by Peter Ware.

The Essex side were two goals to the good shortly afterwards when Russ Pirie was on hand to convert another well-worked short-corner routine.

Ipswich started the second half with more conviction and the midfield pairing of Chris Palmer and Paul Calver disrupted and hassled the Crostyx playmakers.

The breakthrough came in the 44th minute, courtesy of leading goalscorer Richard Stainthorpe, who was on hand to steer home a short corner strike after the ball had been switched to James Smith.

Sensing that Crostyx were beginning to get agitated, Ipswich continued to press higher up the pitch.

A rare defensive lapse by sweeper James Belsham allowed Richard Fox time and space at the top of the D with only the keeper to beat.

The Ipswich captain rounded Neil Lofthouse, but was cynically fouled before being able to shoot.

Man-of-the-match Chris Palmer calmly dispatched the penalty stroke to make it all square. With 15 minutes left in the game, Crostyx threw caution to the wind in search of victory.

However, the Ipswich defence of James Walker, Asif Rais, Matthew Stainthorpe and Andy Swindin soaked up the pressure and keeper Stuart Hendy was rarely troubled.

Another devastating counter attack, this time started by Matthew Stainthorpe, led to his brother Richard winning a short corner.

James Walker stepped up to score his fourth league goal of the season with a perfect direct strike for the victory that will send shock waves through the division.

Lowestoft 2 Christchurch 1

CHRISTCHURCH had to concede defeat in this near top-of-the-table clash to their old bogey team.

Christchurch fell a goal behind after 15 minutes when the defence did not fully clear the ball and it was deflected in. Ten minutes later from a short corner, Lowestoft went further ahead with a short corner, that firstly beat Linzi Everett in goal after a series of fine saves.

The second half saw a better performance by Christchurch as they competed on an equal footing and from a strong run by Trudy Sharman, who was unceremoniously upended, a penalty flick was awarded. With the regular penalty taker absent, captain Val Coote stepped up and confidently converted with a well-taken flick.

Christchurch tried to get an equaliser, but could not break through. At the other end of the pitch player-of-the-match Lesley Elsom had an excellent game at the heart of the defence to prevent Lowestoft adding to their tally.

Christchurch II 4 Lowestoft II 0

THE final scoreline did not do justice to an extremely well-contested match, in which Lowestoft dominated play for large spells, but Christchurch scored some magnificent goals.

Despite the early dominance of Lowestoft it was Christchurch who scored first, when Deborah Munro followed up her own shot to slot home from the tightest of angles.

The goal lifted the home team and Margaret Gray was within a whisker of making it two when her solo run and shot was deflected just wide from the inside of the keeper Debbie Davies' pad.

In the second half Christchurch's midfield took more control with Edwards and Cathy McInerney winning the ball and moving play into the Lowestoft's half.

The best goal of the match came on 42 minutes when Harriet Peachey held the ball up well on the wing and six neat passes later Margaret Gray laid the ball back to Cathy McInerney to fire home and make it 2-0.

Christchurch's third goal owed a lot to luck, as a firmly hit cross was subtlety deflected by Deborah Munro and the ball flew into the net, giving the keeper no chance.

At 3-0 and with just two minutes to go the match was still not over, and Harriet Peachey made another foraging run down the left, before Deborah Munro's cross was met by Melissa Chapman at the far post to make it 4-0.

Old Buckenham 1 IES 2

IES had a worthwhile trip to Watton to face the hosts Old Buckenham.

Full of determination, Fran Poppleton's team showed a good start with the first goal, which was set up by Katy Edwards and placed away by Gill Mayhew.

In the second half, after a short-corner push on from Jackie Godderham, Katy Edwards performed a textbook shot, firing the ball towards the goal with a perfect drop to the back board leaving the keeper a little stunned.

Old Buckenham managed to pull a goal back but were unable to penetrate through the defence again.

Sudbury 4 Hadleigh 1

SUDBURY started strongly, attacking the Hadleigh goal.

Good defensive play stopped Sudbury finding the back of the net, but a foot in the D awarded Sudbury a short corner. Gemma struck the ball to Collette Cottrell, who fired home a superb opening goal.

A break from Hadleigh was halted when Sudbury defended well and were given a 16-yard hit. After a good passing move, Debbie King squared the ball to Cottrell, who slapped the ball on to the stick of Gemma Jones, who slotted it around the keeper for Sudbury's second goal.

Just before half time Sudbury were awarded a long corner. Hit by Alison Smith, the ball found Cottrell who gain found the back of the net.

After half time Hadleigh played the ball around well, but were denied a goal from Mandy Coleman who then took the hit to Helen Towers, she played it down the line to find Tracey Caddick. Caddick found Cottrell at the top of the D who struck the ball well to score her third.

Hadleigh still pursuing a goal, pushed themselves into Sudbury's D and were given a short corner which they converted.