Ipswich through to semi-finals of EH Cup

EH Cup quarter-finals

Liverpool Sefton 0 Ipswich 1

After last weekends two disappointing results Ipswich showed their true colours as they shrugged of an injury crisis to claim a point in the league and move into the cup semi-finals.

The last time Ipswich made the semi-finals was in 2002, a year they went on to lift the trophy.

After a long five hour journey on Saturday evening Ipswich were determined not to leave the scene of their cup quarter-final without the win. With two divisions between the teams the visitors were red-hot favourites to win the tie but with over half the squad carrying injuries it was obvious that at some point this was going to start effecting the game.

Ipswich started superbly, moving the ball early and at a pace that their hosts could not live with and they soon started peppering the Liverpool goal. Some good saves, coupled with some snatched chances, saw the score line remain 0-0 as time ticked on. Emma Lee-Smith was then very unlucky to see her deflection cannon back off the crossbar as Ipswich kept pushing for the opening goal.

Finally the visitors broke through but Kate Hector's short corner shot was deemed too high and Ipswich began to get more and more frustrated. As half time approached Liverpool finally managed to get out of their half of the pitch and earned themselves a short corner. They too had the ball in the back of the net but once again the shot was called too high.

The second half started the same way as the first, with Ipswich dominating the possession, but still the ball would not cross the goal line, despite another great run and shot by Jenny Hall. Again Ipswich hit the post and it was beginning to look like they would never breach the packed Liverpool defence.

Eventually, Hall's class told as she deflected the ball in after a superb pass from South African Kate Hector.

Ipswich pressed for the winner but as the time ticked down and injuries began to take their toll, the opposition threw caution to the wind and began to attack the visitor's defence. Some great defending by Mille Sharp and captain Becky Baker kept Liverpool's attacks at bay, but as legs tired the home side had a superb chance to level the tie. Luckily for Ipswich goalkeeper Charlotte Lee-Smith had stayed alert, despite not touching the ball for over 60 minutes, and made a crucial save to steer the ball just wide of the post.

That was to be the host's last chance and a tired but happy Ipswich were pleased to make the semi-finals for the first time in five years.

Ipswich will now play either Slough, Chelmsford or Poynton, or Bowdon on March 31 at Reading Hockey Club for a place in the finals to be played on the April 1.