Ipswich 2 Sutton Coldfield 2

Slazenger Women's EHL Premier Division

Ipswich 2 Sutton Coldfield 2

On Sunday, Ipswich again started slowly and there was no doubt they were missing the mercurial skills of Vic Sandall who was still sidelined with a back injury.

With Sutton working hard across the pitch and determined to pin the home side in, the most of the first half was played in the Ipswich defensive 25-yard area. In fact, had Charlotte Lee-Smith not been alert in the Ipswich goal they could have easily fallen behind, but her good saves insured that the game was still 0-0 at half time.

The second half looked initially like a carbon copy of the first, but in the 52nd minute a spark of magic from Jenny Hall set the game alight. A superb drive into the circle saw her free to shoot past the keeper only for the ball to hit the post and spin out, however luck was on Ipswich's side and the ball fell kindly to the waiting Emma Millar who made no mistake to claim her 11th National League goal.

Disappointingly for Ipswich, rather than spur the home team on they seemed to sit back and soon Sutton were level after a cross from the right found Sara-Jo Coakley unmarked on the back post and she deflected it in.

Suddenly, spurred into action Ipswich seemed to find their true form and a superb four pass move involving Kate Hector, Lizzy Aldous and Emma Lee-Smith saw the home side carve open their hosts with ease. Such was the movement of the attack it was left to top scorer Jenny Hall to score her ninth goal of the season with an easy tap.

Ipswich now looked for the killer goal and Lizzy Aldous thought she had it with a great diving effort but it was pushed round the post at the last second.

Fighting for their Premiership lives Sutton threw everyone forward and with three minutes to go Ipswich were again breached. An almost repeat move saw Katie Long claim the equaliser and condemn Ipswich to another hugely frustrating draw.