PremierIpswich 1 Bury St Edmunds 2IPSWICH 2s welcomed local rivals Bury St. Edmunds to Tuddenham Rd on Saturday.In need of a win to stay mid-table, the home team hoped to build on some of the positive play displayed in last week's game against Sudbury.

Premier

Ipswich 1 Bury St Edmunds 2

IPSWICH 2s welcomed local rivals Bury St. Edmunds to Tuddenham Rd on Saturday.

In need of a win to stay mid-table, the home team hoped to build on some of the positive play displayed in last week's game against Sudbury. Ipswich started well and looked the stronger side, maintaining constant pressure on the Bury defence for the first 15 mins. Right defender, Lucy Gallagher pushed up high, linking well with Phoebe Walker and Chloe Hunnable.

And Connie Bedingfield worked tirelessly at left midfield to provide a link for Hannah Godfrey and Sophie Kesterton to work the ball forward. But despite winning several penalty corners and numerous free hits just outside the D that should have been converted into goals, Ipswich failed to make it happen.

Meanwhile Bury were finding their stride and started to break down the Ipswich attacks.

Sam Bennett made some critical interceptions during her spell at right defence and Kat Wrinch and captain, Claire Gould, were both called upon to recover the defensive composure following overload from the Bury midfielders. However Bury finally broke through to put themselves 1 goal up at half-time.

The second half proved to be a fairly well-matched battle. Anni Nunn made a welcome return to the club and turned in an impressive performance in midfield setting up several attacking moves. But the young & fast Ipswich midfielders still came unstuck too often against some of the more experienced Bury defenders, losing possession and failing to capitalise on some great build up play.

Bury won a penalty corner and caught Ipswich out with a quick slip left at top D to beat Ipswich runner Kat Wrinch and get a clear and, unfortunately for Ipswich, successful strike into the right corner of the goal.

With Bury now 2 goals clear Ipswich turned up the heat but despite numerous opportunities including several short corners, Ipswich only managed to grab a single consolation goal when Anni Nunn made a great drive down the left and crossed to Chloe Hunnable to knock in on the far post.

Although a disappointing result for Ipswich, this is primarily a young squad still getting used to playing at NE14HOCKEY East Premier level and there were many encouraging signs of the potential that has yet to be fully realized.