Canterbury 0 Ipswich 2

Slazenger EHL Women

Premier League

Canterbury 0 Ipswich 2

IPSWICH travelled to third placed Canterbury on Saturday in the Slazenger EHL Premier League and can count themselves extremely unlucky not to have got a point from this game.

The hosts were red hot favourites in a rich vein of form but it was the Suffolk side that will have been happier with their overall performance.

The game started at a good pace with both sides looking for an early goal. Canterbury had the early pressure but Mari�tte Rix in the Ipswich goal was in fine form and made several saves to deny the home team. It was then the visitor's turns to create chances but their first batch of corners were off target and did not test the keeper.

As the game proceeded Canterbury looked to hit Ipswich with some counter attack hockey but some great work by Ipswich all over the pitch kept their opponents out.

With Ipswich forward Jess Bloom also opening up the Canterbury defence with her pace, Ipswich began to carve out chances of their own.

The second half saw probably the best opportunity created by Bloom. A great mazy run through midfield saw her dummy the Canterbury keeper but the ball over ran slightly and her final shot was blocked on route to goal.

Canterbury did have the best opportunity to take the lead when awarded a stroke after the ball was stopped illegally on the line but the stroke was poorly taken by Cathy Gilliat-Smith and a surprised Rix smothered it with ease.

Despite the let off Ipswich did eventually succumb when Canterbury scored in the 41st minute from a short corner. Five minutes later and Canterbury extended their lead, despite Rix making a great save.

Ipswich now looked to chase the game and in fact had some excellent passages of play pressing Canterbury hard and intercepting a large amount of ball.

Despite some great efforts and an amazingly high work rate, the visitors could not break through the last Canterbury line and as the final whistle sounded Ipswich knew that the best they could do now was finish in the relegation play-offs.

Next weekend Ipswich play their last home game of the season against Poynton. The Manchester team did Ipswich a favour by beating Chelmsford 2-1 on Saturday but the Suffolk side will be offering no thanks in return as they look to take a win that could see them confirm their play-off spot.