WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Doncaster 2 Ipswich Ladies 3. In a game where both sides needed to win to escape the relegation zone, Ipswich Ladies finally came out on top in a classic game of two halves.

Doncaster 2 Ipswich Ladies 3

IN a game where both sides needed to win to escape the relegation zone, Ipswich Ladies finally came out on top in a classic game of two halves.

Doncaster were clinical in their finishing for the first 35minutes while Ipswich relied heavily on keeper Jo Thompson to make several crucial saves.

The home side restricted the Ipswich midfield from playing their favoured passing game and they took the lead after 13 minutes when a cross from the right was deflected in by Joanne Clark.

The jubilation of the home crowd highlighted the tenseness of the game and Ipswich looked shocked at being behind.

However, worse was to follow as right on half-time, poor marking in the circle let Rachael Smith increase the lead with a switch from a short corner.

Stern words from captain Leisa King inspired Ipswich and after the break the forwards pressed Doncaster's defenders into errors while the midfield became more influential.

The Suffolk side reduced the arrears when Jo Ellis gained a short corner and after the Doncaster keeper had cleared the initial shot, Emma Wooding drove the ball back in for Vicki Sandall to score with a reverse stick effort.

Belief that they could salvage the game visibly swept through the Ipswich team and within three minutes they had equalised. Movement off the ball created openings up front and Leisa King weaved through the midfield, Colleen Adcock switched the ball quickly and Sarah Bamfield capitalised on the hard work by connecting with a cross from Ellis.

Tanya Barnard and Bamfield continued to force the defenders to give away cheap passes and with eight minutes left, Adcock found Barnard with a superb through ball and the striker gave Ipswich the lead for the first time in the game.