Cranes remain undefeated!!!

Ipswich Cranes took on Sudbury 4s away in their first return match of the current season.

Sudbury won the toss and elected to take the first push back. The game started off at a fairly fast pace both teams looking to win the early ball. Sudbury had the first real attack on goal as they broke through the Cranes midfield. Only for some good defending by the Cranes defense to keep Sudbury out of the D. The ball was played quickly out from the defence to Jack Abbott who took the ball on a driving run up the middle, before laying the ball off to Steve Foster out on the right. Steve drove the line and then crossed just outside the Sudbury D. The ball fell nicely for Harry Fosker, who took the ball in and was tackled. Fortunately for Cranes it was judge that the tackle was a stick tackle Ipswich Cranes first Corner of the match. The short corner was taken by Jack Abbott, who pushed the ball out to Jason Spring. The ball was stopped nicely outside the D before being brought in to the D and struck. Sudbury's defense was quick of the line and unfortunately for there captain, the ball struck him off the ankle, meaning he would be force to miss the rest of the game. Ipswich Cranes took the resulting short corner and again nothing came of it.
The game was a fairly even affair through out the opening 20 mins with nothing really of note happening. Both teams where playing really well and moving the ball nicely around the field. Andy Elden and Tim Hands played some lovely balls out to Jack Abbott and Harry Fosker. While Owen Ditcham and James Stephenson put in some really nice tackles out wide. it wasn't until around the 20 minute mark where Ipswich Cranes started to take control of the game. Owen Ditcham made a great tackle at left back before playing the ball up the line to Jim Allwood. Jim slipped the ball inside to Harry Fosker who took on a midfield before slipping the ball out wide to Steve Foster on the right. Steve took on had a driving run forward before hitting a ball across the D missing several players from both teams but straight to a waiting Jim Allwood, who had continued his run up the line. The ball came across the D with Jim sweeping at the ball. The ball had pace and was precise straight into the bottom left corner. (Ipswich Cranes 1 -0 20mins). After the restart Sudbury had some very good possession of the ball but it wasn't long until Cranes struck again, this time from a short corner. Jack Abbott pushed the ball out to a waiting Tim Hands, who controlled the ball nicely and then pushed the ball just inside the D. Tim looked like he was going to strike the ball before holding off and then striking the ball hard and low to the bottom right hand corner. (Ipswich Cranes 2 - 0 26mins).
After the second goal things calmed down a little, both teams now sitting back and defending and just waiting to see the game out until half time. Best chance for a third goal for Cranes. Owen put in a decent challenge to win the ball on the left, before passing the ball up the line to a waiting Mat (Rambo) Morgan, with his read head band. Mat managed to take the ball around a player and then slid the ball up the line to Jason Spring. Jason ran the line before cutting back inside past a defender. Jason slapped the ball through the middle of the defense from the 23 meter line. Jamie Mallon charging in from the right of D almost getting onto the end of it but missing out by inches. A few minutes after this and the whistle went to end the first half.

After the break Ipswich Cranes started positively again with lots of fast flowing hockey. The ball was being played fast and accurate to a Cranes players stick. Sudbury continued to defend and counter attack well, not allowing Cranes past the 23 mtr line. Then in 7 mins into the second half things got worse for Cranes, as Harry Fosker was judged to of deliberately stop the ball with his foot. For this action Harry received a green card. This action seemed to help spur on Sudbury as their attacks became more frequent. Fortunately for Cranes once again the defensive line of James Stephenson, Andy Elden, Tim Hands and Owen Ditcham held strong. In the following minutes of the green card and Harry returning to the pitch Sudbury continued their attack making great progress down the left, also winning several short corners. Slowly Cranes managed to begin to gain control of the second half again. Andy Elden and Tim Hands working well together passing the ball out to the waiting midfield of Jack Abbott and Harry Fosker. Who then worked will with passing the ball out wide to Steve Foster and Jamie Mallon, Jim Allwood and Mat Morgan. Cranes themselves even won a few additional short corners. Cranes came close to extending there lead through a short corner. Jack Abbott pushed the ball out to Tim who stopped the ball, pushed it in and stuck it cleanly. A great save by the Sudbury keeper force the ball wide. Jason Spring managed to get hold of the ball and went to hit the ball but it was a terrible shot by him, as he just edged the ball straight of the back line. A few mins later and Cranes had another short corner. Once again Jack Abbott pushed the ball out, this time to Jason Spring who stopped the ball and brought the ball into the D, topping the ball it bounce through the defenders to a defender on the line. Unfortunately for the defender it also came of his foot on its route to goal. Penalty Flick Cranes. Jason stepped up to take the penalty flick, umpires asked if each player is ready before blowing the whistle.Jason goes to flick the ball and it is such a terribly poor flick should of done so much better. The ball barely leaves the floor before hitting the keeper in the foot. Clearest goal scoring opportunity squandered by a absolutely abysmal flick.
With only a few mins left of the game after this the game both sides continued to try and get the all important next goal but it just wasn't going to be.

Ipswich Cranes would just like to thank Sudbury 4s for a very competitive game of hockey. We would also like to wish them all the best with the remainder of the season.