Ipswich grab 3 points on derby day

Ipswich Women’s 1st team made the most of a quick drive up the A12 to take all three points in the local derby against Chelmsford W1s.

Perfect hockey conditions and a strong side meant Ipswich could begin the fixture with confidence, knowing that nothing less than 3 points would do. The team started well, creating chances via Lizzy Wheelhouse, Holly Dean and national league debutant Grace Nichols.

It wasn’t long before Ipswich won their first attacking PC, with joint POTM Sophie Sexton forcing the rebound and Wheelhouse pressuring the goal. A run of good play with superb linking by Nichols, Emma Rix, Lucy Dunnett and joint POTM Sophie Sunderland soon saw Ipswich camped round the Chelmsford D with the Chelmsford goalkeeper playing well.

A brief lapse in concentration allowed Chelmsford to put the pressure on, winning their first attacking PC. But it was no match for the defensive team of Molly Marshall, Emma Williamson, Ellie Scott, Wheelhouse and GK Ali Barham.

It wasn’t long before Ipswich took one of their many chances with Lizzy Wheelhouse intercepting a defensive transfer, playing the ball to Grace Nichols who slotted beyond the keeper.

Chelmsford’s best opportunity soon followed when a forward managed to break through the defence leaving a one on one with Barham who was able to get enough on the ball to prevent the shot, allowing Marshall to clear.

Ipswich turned up the pressure in the second half with Sexton running riot on the left, receiving some awesome balls from captain Dunnett. May Percival and Sunderland were also able to pass the ball around Chelmsford on the right, with Williamson clearing up behind when needed.

Ipswich thought they had scored when Holly Dean ran towards the D and got off an excellent reverse shot which rebounded off a Chelmsford stick and looped the keeper into the goal, but the umpires deemed the strike to be outside the D.

Despite a momentary slip in discipline which saw Ipswich go down to ten players in the final 10 mins and Chelmsford substituting their GK to take them up by two players, Ipswich held on confidently to win the 3 points which takes them out of the relegation zone.

Next week sees a tough home fixture for Ipswich against Bromley & Beckenham who are just one spot above the blues, but with the home team riding high on the back of their first win, it could easily go either way.