Ipswich 2 Canterbury 0

Slazenger Women's EHL

Premier Division

Ipswich 2 Canterbury 0

Canterbury's poor record in Suffolk continued as Ipswich despatched the Kent side on Saturday.

The visitors arrived at Tuddenham Road looking for their first win in the county since 2004 and soon found Ipswich dominating the early exchanges.

With Kirsten Spencer back in the starting line up, Ipswich comfortably dealt with England forward and ex-Ipswich striker Cathy Gilliat-Smith.

Player-of-the-match Hannah Tallent controlled the left hand side and the only surprise was that it took 33 minutes to finally break through.

A short corner strike from captain Becky Baker clipped the leg pad of the prone Canterbury keeper Becky Duggan and flew high into the next. It was Bakers second goal of the season and her ninth outdoor goal for Ipswich.

Going into half time 1-0 up, Ipswich were the happier team but were also aware that the slim lead was vulnerable against a side with Canterbury's attacking formation.

The second half saw the Kent side create more opportunities, but a mixture of missed chances and some good Ipswich defending kept the home side in front.

Ipswich too had chances and felt extremely aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty stroke when Leisa King was fouled as she bared down on goal.

However, in the 59th minute, the home side eventually were awarded a stroke, for a foot on the line, and King stepped up to fire it past Duggan to make it 2-0.

It was King's fourth goal of the season and means she is the team's top goal scorer so far.

Canterbury continued to push for a goal, but some resolute Ipswich defending by Lucy Gallagher and Tallent in particular, saw Ipswich end the game with their first clean sheet of the season and move up to fourth place.