Ipswich Ladies’ battle for Promotion to the National Premier re-commenced on the 6th of November after a weeks break. Two tough fixtures which could make or break their season, the first of which was against ex-Premier League rival Chelmsford who were 1 point ahead of Ipswich before the match. Two first half open play goals, one each for Hannah Martin and Faye Curran, gave Ipswich a 2-0 lead at half time. They managed to hold on to their two goal advantage for only 10 minutes after half time, conceding a 45th minute penalty corner, but the Suffolk side were able to achieve an important victory as the game ended 2-1 to Ipswich.
Ipswich then travelled to Surbiton who were top of the table by 1 point, needing a win to put themselves two points clear. Things didn’t go to plan though, as Ipswich conceded from a penalty corner in the first half. A Chloe Hunnable open play goal got Ipswich on level terms, but the game finished 1-1, and Ipswich stay in 2nd place. Ipswich take on Horsham Ladies this SUNDAY, 2pm start at Tuddenham road, please show your support.

As we get ever closer to the December Indoor/Christmas Break (Just so everybody is aware the indoor is played at National & Regional Level in December & January!!!), league tables are starting to take shape.

In the Ladies East Premier Ipswich Ladies 2’s and Lowestoft Ladies 1’s are currently mid-table, with Bury St Edmunds 1’s in 10th and Sudbury 1’s in 12th, but it’s such a tight league at the bottom. Depending on relegations from the National League, 5 sides might be relegated from this division, which makes it such a hard league to stay in. Bury St Edmunds face Lowestoft on Saturday, Bury will be hoping to make home advantage count whilst Lowestoft would move in to some what of a “mid-table comfort zone” if they were to pick up three points.

After the Ipswich Division 1 North Derby, Ipswich-East Suffolk 1’s leap-frogged Ipswich 3’s after a 2-1 victory. Both sides will require at least 4 points before Christmas to have a realistic chance of getting back in touch with the mid-table teams, 6 sides in the league currently have between 16 and 13 points.

Carlton Park are chasing promotion from Division 2NE, they are currently joint second, if they can get through a tough test away against Dereham 2’s there is every chance they could top the table at Christmas. Christchurch and Haverhill face each other this weekend, both teams are near the bottom and desperately need points. Newmarket are in a similar position as Haverhill, bottom of Division 2NW, they host 4th placed Louth.

With Ipswich Men’s 1’s next fixture against pointless Blueharts, there position in Premier A looks pretty secure for next season, with City of Peterborough on maximum points after 8 games, promotion seems impossible which means Ipswich should be aiming to finish as high up the table as possible.

Division 1 can be a cruel mistress, as Felixstowe are finding out the hard way, after pushing for a promotion spot only 3 weeks ago, 1 point from a possible 9 has seen them drop to one place above the relegation zone, despite being 4 points behind 2nd! Division 1 looks like it will be the tightest division this season and Ipswich 2’s are still in with a shout of promotion back to Premier B after they defeat unbeaten league leaders Colchester 3-2 at the Garrison.

Ipswich-East Suffolk Men’s 1’s were beaten 3-1 away to league leaders City of Peterborough 3’s, a result which sees them fall in to the relegation zone, they host 4th place Norwich Dragons where if all results went their way, a win could see them jump to 5th.

Division 3NE has become a two horse race, Sudbury lead Gorleston by two points, with the two not meeting until the last game before the Christmas break. Sudbury take on mid table Bury St Edmunds 2’s this weekend. Ipswich Cranes and Ipswich 3’s are top of the chasing pack, waiting for a slip up from the top two in order to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Lowestoft Railway continue to dominate Division 4NE, their 100% record was maintained by demolishing Pelicans 3’s at Kings Lynn 12-1. They take on Ipswich-East Suffolk 2’s at home before next weekend’s top of the table clash with the University of East Anglia 2’s who are 4 points behind in 2nd.

Sudbury Ladies 2’s still lead the way in the Suffolk Ladies Premier, their 4-2 victory against Lowestoft Ladies 2’s kept their 2 point cushion. Grasshoppers and Castaways are still chasing the leaders, although Castaways have played a game more. Carlton Park 2’s and Christchurch Ladies 2’s are leading Division 1, with Newmarket 2’s 2 points behind in 3rd.