Olton & West Warwick 4 Ipswich 1

Slazenger EHL

Premier Division

Olton & West Warwick 4 Ipswich 1

Ipswich squandered a lead to eventually lose 4-1 to Olton & West Warwick on Saturday.

The Suffolk side started the game brightly, moving the ball round the back with pace and purpose, but there were also early signs of danger from Olton's Great Britain duo of Rachel Walker and Lucilla Wright.

A short corner routine in the fifth minute saw Spaniard Miriam Fabregas score her second goal of the season and things were looking good for the visitors.

However, just as Ipswich were beginning to take a firm grip they suffered a cruel blow when the highly experienced Kirsten Spencer had to come off with a knee injury.

Spencer was replaced by Lucy Gallagher but the loss had caused disruption in the Ipswich set up and Olton were quick to pounce.

Ex-GB striker Denise Marston-Smith opened her account on the 22nd minute with a lob shot that Charlotte Lee-Smith in the Ipswich goal will have been disappointed not to have kept out.

Back on level terms Olton surged forward and only one minute later it was Marston-Smith that gave them the lead.

Ipswich finally regained some composure and began to attack the home side but half time arrived with the scores still 2-1 to the home team.

The second half saw Ipswich work tirelessly for an equaliser, however in the 48th minute Olton were awarded a heavily disputed penalty stroke which Rachel Walker converted.

Ipswich now had to react and an all out attacking option once again left them open to the counter attack and sure enough Walker grabbed her second in the 64th minute to seal the win.