Ipswich 8 Doncaster 5

EH Cup fourth round

Ipswich 8 Doncaster 5

Ipswich welcomed struggling Doncaster to Tuddenham Road on Sunday for a fourth round cup tie and after being knocked out of the competition by the Yorkshire side last year Ipswich were keen to get some revenge.

The game could not have started better for the home side who scored within three minutes, Lizzy Aldous netting her ninth goal of the season. Eight minutes later and Aldous scored again as Ipswich outplayed Doncaster all over the pitch. Ipswich pinned their visitors back in their half but despite prolonged pressure it took until the 29th minute for Ipswich's third goal to arrive. Jo Ellis thumped in a shot from an acute angle to make it 3-0 to Ipswich at half time.

The second half started in the same vein with Ellis scoring her second of the game within a minute of the re-start. However, Doncaster always know how to keep battling and they scored their first goal through their striker Jo Ellis after 38 minutes to make it 4-1.

With Doncaster now looking to push forward to try and get back into the game Ipswich caught them on the break. A great through ball from Sarah Tallent, gave Emma Millar the chance of a one on one with the keeper. Millar calmly moved the ball past the Doncaster keeper but was brought down by her despairing dive and a penalty stroke was rightly awarded. To make maters worse for the visitors the keeper was also shown the yellow card and left defender Helen had to kit up to face the penalty. Kate Hector stepped up to take it and celebrated her last game for Ipswich this year before returning back to South Africa for Christmas with an unstoppable shot to make it 5-1 to Ipswich.

Two minutes later and Ipswich were cruising to a 6-1 lead as Emma Lee-Smith fired home for her second goal of the season. Ipswich then seemed to take their foot of the gas and Doncaster scored three goals in four minutes to turn the game on it head. Sensing that their visitors felt that they could still get something out of the game Ipswich once again stepped up the pressure. This time Aldous turned provider and her great run and cross was met by Millar who slotted the ball past the stand in keeper to make it 7-4. Aldous then completed her hat-trick in the 70th minute.

Doncaster finished with a short corner and fired it home to make the score line an amazing 8-5.

Ipswich now face Slazenger EHL North Division team Liverpool Sefton away on Sunday 25 February for a place in the semi-finals.