Ipswich sit a handsome four points clear atop the East Premier League after a weekend win double, writes Emma Millar.
First up, on Saturday, the Suffolk side saw off previous table-toppers Wapping 3-1.
It was the visitors that scored the first goal, after Ipswich gave them the ball in their defending 25 metre area and left them with a overload in the circle.
That was how it stayed until half-time, when head coach Mariette Rix fired up her troops and they were soon level as Chloe Williams played in Katie Wingar to score her first-ever first team goal.
Then a turning point of the game came as co-captain Lucy Dunnett saved the ball off the line at a penalty corner.
Wapping looked more and more frustrated and Ipswich sensed they could turn the screw. This they did when Dunnett played a super pass to player of the match Williams, who made it 2-1.
Then, with two minutes left, Lizzy Wheelhouse got the finishing touch to a Williams’ effort and Ipswich were top of the league.
They solidified that position just a day later, when they welcomed Cambridge University to Suffolk and sent them home on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline.
Ipswich quickly started to dominate, and opened the scoring in the first five minutes.
Wheelhouse netted her eighth goal in six matches with a great drive into the circle that saw her fire the ball into the corner of the goal.
It was all Ipswich pressure and they should have extended their lead but shots flew just wide or over the goal.
However, Micha Knowles eventually scored a well deserved second goal, with a clever lift over the keeper.
The home side were moving the ball well in patches but the students also had a few chances at penalty corners – but player of the match Ali Barham made some smart saves to keep the ball out.
Half-time saw Ipswich reminded that the match was still in the balance and the home side were determined to extend their lead. Despite a few half chances for Ipswich it was the students that had the majority of the possession but Ipswich were never under too much threat.
The Suffolk table-toppers travel to West Herts on Saturday.
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