East Premier League Canterbury II 0 Ipswich 5 High-flying Ipswich recorded a third consecutive win and clean sheet with a clinical 5-0 victory over Canterbury.
The result sees the Suffolk team go into the Christmas break top of the league, having only conceded nine goals in 13 games.
Ipswich started full of determination and from the start were pinning their hosts back into their defensive area.
On the ninth minute top goalscorer Lizzy Wheelhouse hit a thunderous strike to put Ipswich in front and 15th minutes later they extended their lead, as player of the match Sarah Daley set up strike partner Chloe Williams for a neat finish. Canterbury were battling hard but Ipswich were defending well and half-time arrived with the visitors from Suffolk controlling the game at 2-0.
Coach Mariette Rix asked her team for more in the second half and they duly responded with a third goal five minutes after the re-start as Daley netted the first strike of her eventual hat-trick.
Ipswich were playing some wonderful hockey and sure enough they extended their lead, Daley this time with a lovely reverse stick finish over the GK.
Canterbury, to their credit, kept battling and thought they had scored from a penalty corner.
But co-captain Lucy Dunnett cleared the ball off the line after an initial save by GK Ali Barham and then Ellie Scott cleared the follow-up shot off the post.
Despite the comfortable lead Ipswich were determined to keep forcing the pace and some great work rate up-front, matched by tight defending at the back saw them carve out one more chance.
With four minutes left on the clock Ipswich won a penalty corner and Daley secured her hat-trick with a crisp finish. Her celebratory cartwheel was almost as impressive as the goal!
It was a professional display from Ipswich and one which showed how this team is improving with each game.
The side will now turn their focus to Division 2 National League indoor matters, before resuming their outdoor campaign in the East Premier League on January 13 against Cambridge City 2’s.
Top of the league and playing superbly, 2018 looks to be a very exciting proposition for Ipswich.
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