Chelmsford started well, piling their forwards up the pitch to put pressure on the Ipswich defenders Ellie Scott, Kat Blake and Lizzy Wheelhouse who held strong. Ipswich managed to compose themselves and began using their strength in midfield with joint man of the match Maddy Barnes creating space for balls to be played through to forwards Chloe Williams and Steph Small.

But it was a PC against Ipswich which created Chelmsford’s first goal, with GK Ali Barham making the first two saves but Ipswich unable to clear and despite a diving effort on the line by Wheelhouse and Scott, the ball rolled into the goal.

A formation change saw Emma Fairhead move to left back with Wheelhouse putting in a shift up front which created a good passage of play by Ipswich. “Retired” ex-captain and joint man of the match Emma Millar ran around the pitch like she’d never left and put in some great tackles on the left hand side. But Ipswich were unfortunate to concede again after a foul against Scott was missed and Chelmsford pushed the ball under a diving Barham.

Ipswich continued to push forwards, with Williams unfortunate not to score, forcing the GK into a save. Debutant Jess Logan slotted into the team well, forcing the ball up the pitch with ease, but it just wasn’t to be for Ipswich, with the score remaining at 2-0 to Chelmsford.

Next week sees Ipswich travel the distance to Wimbledon 2s.