Ipswich 4 City of Peterborough 6

Premier A

AFTER a long and well attended pre season the men’s first team hosted City of Peterborough at Tuddenham Road for their first league fixture. The warm up and changing room was notably quiet due to first league match nerves, this was quickly compounded during the game by City of Peterborough who scored a diving deflected goal within the first 30 seconds, not the start Ipswich would have hoped for. However Ipswich soon awoke and began playing the fast paced intense hockey that they had done for the most of preseason. The fight back began when a miss trapped short corner was slipped left to Dixon who Hit, yes hit the ball into the goal to make it 1-1. This was shortly followed by another shortcorner, following some good work from Godfrey and Underwood, which was then dispatched from the top by Dixon. A third short corner followed shortly afterwards thanks to some tight skills in the D from Tom Dunnett, Dixon again from the top, 3-1 Ipswich.

Ipswich were flying and dominated the first 20 minutes of the game however ten minutes from half time they began to lose their shape and gaps began to appear, these gaps were taken advantage of by Peterborough’s experienced central midfielder allowing their forwards more action than we would have liked. The result of this was Peterborough scoring a second goal and a sucker punch third just before half time, this one another excellent sliding deflection, the second of the game.

With the momentum with them, Peterborough went on to score shortly after half time; Ipswich knew they would have to put their foot down if they were to win the game now coming back from behind for the second time of the match. An equaliser was forthcoming after some great work down the left between the tireless Richardson & Godfrey, this allowed a loose ball across the face of goal, Ipswich’s Australian import Jason Brocklehurst was on hand to spin and shoot from a tight angle and into the net, 4-4 and the game was back on.

Unfortunately not for long as 10-man Ipswich, following Underwood’s yellow card for tackle from behind, found themselves struggling to fill the gaps and Peterborough scored a breakaway goal. This was followed shortly afterwards by yet another sliding deflection to make it 6-4. Ipswich had chances to put themselves back in the game, Dixon having a short corner hitting the crossbar and one saved on the line by the defender but it was not to be.

Ultimately, Peterborough’s excellent finishing and ability to widen the goal won them the three points. Ipswich disappointed not to gain any sort of points from the tie now head to Bedford on Saturday, fully focused and intent on a good performance. Man of the match went to Tom Watson who on his first team debut looked skilful and composed at right back throughout.