Results

WOMENS 2ND XI - 02/03/2024 VS IPSWICH EAST-SUFFOLK 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 2nd XI 
DATE: 02/03/2024 
FIXTURE: Womens 2nd XI VS 02/03/2024 
HEADLINE: Crikey, what a game!  
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 1 NORTH 
VENUE: IES  
RESULT: 0-0  
 
REPORT: 
As half the team were Ipswich bound, the other half were team bonding, pushing Ange and her car to safety.  
With the warm up underway, City were pleased to see a familiar face as Lucy Tilbrook appeared and stayed to support the team.  
 
The match started with an Ipswich East-Suffolk push back. City went in strong, putting IES under pressure from the off, making it hard for them to make any ground on the attack. Standing firm in the middle, Ange & El sought to feed the ball out wide to Winnie & Milly. While City dominated play, the torrential rain came to test everyone a little more. However, City didn't falter, with several short corners being worn. IES made some breaks through, but the defensive line made it difficult for them to find success. Half time arrived with a score of 0-0.  
 
Milly & Lucy T led the half time talk, while the team huddled for shelter and warmth. With the talk giving City some food for thought, the team shivered their way onto the pitch for the second half. It started as it had finished, with end to end play and shots from each team being fired at goal.  
Sally & Jess played the ball down the line, either side of the pitch, picked up by Georgie, Helen, Lucy & Emma. Frustration grew in IES, and with the rain continuing, their play became more dangerous. With sticks flying through the air and feet being targeted by IES sticks, El's potty mouth caused trouble. But City stood firm, and the game ended 0-0.  
 

WOMENS 2ND XI - 24/02/2024 VS KETTERING 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 2nd XI 
DATE: 24/02/2024 
FIXTURE: Womens 2nd XI VS 24/02/2024 
HEADLINE: A long awaited victory  
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 1 NORTH 
VENUE: TRF  
RESULT: 4-0  
 
REPORT: 
As with the spring sun giving signs of the seasons changing, city wanted to bring about their own change at taverham and finish with a win. Though even the team didn't know how absolute the win was going to be.  
 
It took a while for either team to get some shots on goal and retain possession but city slowly started applying pressure and using the sun in opponents eyes as an advantage. It wasn't until over half way through that we utilised Niamh’s superb space finding to allow her to feed up the pitch to the waiting mids. Winnie drove it down and fed through to Evie who showed pure skill with a top corner reverse stick shot.  
 
Morale up, city pressed on with Helen attacking every ball and generating plenty of turnovers mid pitch. Another goal game from a short corner for city, which Lucy worked hard to slip past the goalie on the floor and several defenders.  
 
Second half was much of the same, Milly had numerous runs on the edge and was fed plenty of balls from defence, all of which were a brick wall Kettering couldn't get past. Another run from mid and fed to Evie, who located herself tactically ahead of winnie, because although city players were free top d, Winnie still has yet to master a pass to the right. This was goal number 3.  
 
The last one started with great composure from Sophie who brought it forward, fed to Emma who sent it straight across the d to Evie on post, almost an exact replica of training... 
 
Onwards and upwards for the next few matches, but in the meantime 2s will be enjoying telling everyone that they did in fact win a game, and it was a beautiful win at that.  

WOMENS 2ND XI - 21/10/2023 VS CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 2nd XI 
DATE: 21/10/2023 
FIXTURE: Womens 2nd XI VS 21/10/2023 
HEADLINE: New formation still falling into place for improving City 2s 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 1 NORTH 
VENUE: TRF  
RESULT: 3-2 Loss  
 
REPORT: 
Going into the game against Cambridge Uni 2s, City's captain Milly recognised it for the opportunity it was; a chance to bring the game to a team in the same league position as themselves, with very similar results. A chance to turn around their misfortunes of the week before, and to finally shake off past confusions with the new formation and get the result their quality deserved. Thanks to coach Cookie, the warm-up was energetic and positive, compared to the somewhat lacklustre drills of the Cambridge Uni fifteen. City's thirteen-strong squad were optimistic and ready for the game.  
 
The first half started strongly, the teams evenly matched (despite Uni's youth and much larger squad); City making several penetrating moves through the pitch using the triangle passes practiced in training, and Ange and Jemma dispossessing Uni players through the middle of the pitch. But Uni were equally finding ways through, although nothing that would result in a shot in goal thanks to Sally's low challenges and Leigh-Ann and Jess's clearances. However an unlucky foul in the D gave Uni a corner, and they took their chance to open the scoring for the game.  
 
Norwich didn't take this lying down, and play through the middle of the pitch remained even, quick paced and tight from both teams, Helen putting in her usual high-energy performance in the centre. It wasn't long before Hannah Jarvis put a ball into the attacking 25, taking a deflection from Frankie's stick into the D, and ultimately resulting in a short corner for City - which Evie confidently landed against the Uni backboard.  
 
At half-time heads were high, Manager Rosie filled with confidence; the score was 1-1 and Norwich were edging dominance. However the game was exhausting with man-marking a tireless job. Regardless, City were giving it their all as the second half got underway.  
 
City had fewer opportunities to connect passes this half, and Uni were relentless in their pressure on the Norwich D. However, a ball through from the screens soared towards the far right corner of the pitch, where Evie again drove into the D and found the top left corner of the goal.  
 
2-1, and less than half of the half remaining, but the large squad of the Uni team was starting to show, and they were certainly having the lion's share of possession and attacks. City's whole team were working back in defence - Evie, El, Milly and Frankie all finding themselves back from midfield and the forward line to hassle and tackle in the 25, keeping City ahead. But with so much pressure, short corners were conceded. Eventually Uni were able to put one away with not much time left for City to react.  
 
City's heads did not drop, but unfortunately it was Uni who reacted, scoring from a break-away of two players, three minutes from the final whistle. Jo in goal had done the job for City many a time, but this time there was nothing she could do. The match ended 3-2, with the whole team knowing they had worked hard for one another one the day. More tactical discussion and understanding of the formation will undoubtedly see City finally benefit from all the work and progress made by the City team, and it will be thoroughly deserved.  

WOMENS 2ND XI - 23/09/2023 VS NORWICH DRAGONS 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 2nd XI 
DATE: 23/09/2023 
FIXTURE: Womens 2nd XI VS 23/09/2023 
HEADLINE: City will rise from the ashes stronger than before 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 1 NORTH 
VENUE: Dragons  
RESULT: 3-0 Loss  
 
REPORT: 
A strong opposing team to kick the season off for Norwich City womens 2s.  
Dragons showed their strength from the off, but City fought hard in retaliation to show they were not going to make it easy for them.  
 
Mikayla-Mae Glover, after coming out of retirement, proved her 5star talents had not been lost. She showed top notch goal keeping skills and did it with ease and style.  
 
A strong and composed defence from Jess Taylor-Balls, Leigh-Ann Worrall and Sally Rose kept Dragons on their toes, and forced them to make many mistakes. Thanks to their efforts, Dragons failed to reach the goal.  
 
A very superior defensive midfield performance from Lauren Lawrie, Ange Hindle and Frankie Birkenhead. Their slick team work made it tricky for the Dragons to find their forwards.  
 
City’s mid field, Jemma Falconer, El Jarvis, Milly Brown and Helen Harper-Lambert, showed absolute superior efforts from end to end. They worked hard for each other, their triangle passes were text book and between them, managed to carry the ball to the forwards, rattling the Dragons defence as they went.  
 
A tenacious and determined forward line of Charlie Hudson-Madge and Lucy McNarry, made it very difficult for the Dragons defence to keep up. Their hard work won them short corners, but City were very unlucky that their efforts could not quite find the net.  
 
The end result did not reflect the game in anyway. City will rise from the ashes stronger than before.