Spalding 2 Ipswich III 3

NE14HOCKEY East League

Division 2N

Spalding 2 Ipswich III 3

Ipswich started quite well, though as has been seen regularly this season, they lacked the patience in a packed 25, particularly in the first half, to make there possession count with several final balls being slow or telegraphed.

When the young guns did breach Spalding's defence, they squandered their chances with the keeper riding his luck on several occasions and when, he should have run out of luck, Lever hit the ball straight at him.

Spalding were fairly direct, both on the ground and aerially and from one of these sporadic sorties, an aerial bounced up and was played by the Spalding forward over the on rushing Glading and into the goal.

Ipswich were sure that the final touch was well out of the area but the umpires decision is final and the goal stood, much to the delight of the vocal home support.

One nil down at half time, Ipswich started the second half well and scored a good goal from Gibson after good work from the back and right hand side.

Ipswich relaxed with the equaliser and then James Wrinch bombed through the heart of their defence before giving the ball away and after about three passes, Spalding had regained the initiative.

Ipswich finally scored twice, one from a short corner with Lever bundling the ball home. Some tactical changes in the team saw the Sham Patel receive a cross field pass from Bouttell and smash the ball past the dazed keeper.

Spalding's best chances came on the break and after another kamikaze charge by Ipswich, Spading were thwarted by Ben Glading with a great save.

Jono Gall earned Ipswich's man of the match award for a commanding performance, particularly when needed in the second half.