Results

LADIES DEVELOPMENT XI B - 27/01/2018 VS NORWICH CITY A (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI B 
DATE: 27/01/2018 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI B VS 27/01/2018 
HEADLINE: Brilliant game between evenly matched teams. 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: NCHC A 3-4 NCHC B 
 
REPORT: 
Norwich City B just edged this fascinating encounter with Norwich City A, although the real winners were the spectators who witnessed an end-to-end battle in which both teams impressively came from behind to take the lead and which combined tough tackling and quick pressing with silky skills and abundant creativity.  
 
Both coaches were delighted with the performances and this week saw the re-introduction of the coaches’ player of the match awards… 
The player of the match for the A’s was: Everybody 
The player of the match for the B’s was also: Everybody 
One of the coaches was even heard to say that every single player on both teams were simply brilliant! 
 
The B’s took the lead early in the second quarter when Madeleine latched on to a through ball down the right and put in an inch-perfect cross for Lucy W to hit first time with delightful technique into the goal. Madeleine netted the second for the B’s after some fabulous play down the right from Niamh and Saskia. With the half-time score at 2-0, the A’s appeared to be facing an uphill struggle. 
 
With the half-time team talk ringing in their ears, the A’s began the second half firing on all cylinders and it wasn’t long before Emily slotted the ball home and set up an enthralling thirty minutes of Dev’s hockey. Lily tucked in the rebound from a thunderous shot by Effie and Tilly’s deft pass to Evie was fired through a crowded D to put the A’s 3-2 up at the end of the third quarter.  
 
The B’s pressed forward as the last quarter got underway and it wasn’t long before Madeleine was celebrating her brace with a cool finish from Sophie’s through ball. A thrilling finale ensued and with chances foiled at both ends by Imogen and Sophia, the match appeared to be heading for a draw. Sophie, however, had other ideas and won the spoils for the B’s with a lovely goal after a mazy run and cross by Niamh. 
 
Final Score: Norwich City A 3-4 Norwich City B 
 

LADIES DEVELOPMENT XI B - 20/01/2018 VS YARMOUTH (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI B 
DATE: 20/01/2018 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI B VS 20/01/2018 
HEADLINE: Even a jack-knifed lorry can't stop City Bs 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Cliff Park Academy 
RESULT: Great Yarmouth 0-1 Norwich City 
 
REPORT: 
A half-frozen pitch, the closure of the A47 and starting with 10 players was still not enough for a significantly older Yarmouth team to see off the impressive City Bs.  
Despite many of the girls playing in unfamiliar positions and players unable to run on the still frozen pitch there was still some lovely hockey being played but at a rather slower pace than normal, ball retention was excellent especially from the defensive trio of Mia, Sabina and Tabby. With the girls unable to outrun defenders due to the conditions the few chances that presented themselves were due to some excellent distribution from the dynamos in midfield, Niamh and Saskia and the space being found by Emily, Evie and Rosie upfront. With the game being slow Yarmouth had the occasional opportunity and for the first time in 2018 Imogen was called into action and dealt easily with the threat. 
As conditions improved and with the pitch slightly thawing after half time, the girls totally dominated the 3rd quarter and following some lovely triangles in the midfield between Niamh and Saskia they worked their way towards the Yarmouth circle. Niamh won a free hit and her quick restart and clever slip to Emily saw a clinical pass finding Evie Hood waiting at the back post to open the scoring. Lucy Walton and Rosie Wharton came more into the game and they made some excellent forays down the left flank and were unlucky not to further increase the scoring. 
The final quarter saw Yarmouth press high up the pitch but with Niamh and Saskia dominating the middle and eliminating players at will, counter attacks were prevalent, with Kate Ellis making some great runs in her unfamiliar role higher up the pitch. With time running out Yarmouth threw everything forward but Mia, Sabina and Tabby ably prevented any threat on Imogen's goal. 
 
 

LADIES DEVELOPMENT XI B - 13/01/2018 VS PELICANS (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI B 
DATE: 13/01/2018 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI B VS 13/01/2018 
HEADLINE: Improved Pelicans provide tough test for City Girls 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: LynnSport 
RESULT: Pelicans 0-3 Norwich City 
 
REPORT: 
A much improved and well-drilled Pelicans side proved difficult to break down, but the City girls were once again up to the task and eventually turned their domination into a well-deserved victory. 
 
The diversion in place around LynnSport was the biggest threat to the Norwich defence as the first quarter got underway. Goalkeeper Sophia was stuck in traffic as Pelicans pushed forward to make the most of their advantage. As always through, the City defence of Tabitha, player of the match Sabina, Daisy and sweeper/keeper Imogen were the immovable object of Dev’s hockey and did not allow the opposition to have any shots on goal. At the other end of the field, the irresistible force of Niamh, Evie-Mae, Amelia and Emily were creating chance after chance but were repeatedly foiled by a splendid Pelicans goalkeeper. 
 
The second quarter was notable for Sophia’s belated but welcome appearance in the City goal and an almost infinite amount of shots on the Pelly’s goal with saves made from Niamh, Evie, Evie-Mae, Emily, Sabina, Lucy, Kate and Imogen. 
 
Half Time Pelicans 0-0 Norwich City 
 
The City girls began the second half in complete control and continued to create multiple chances through excellent work by Niamh and Emily down the right and left flanks respectively. Pelicans had their only chance of the match when a long ball through was convincingly cleared by Sophia moments before the attacker arrived. A collective sigh of relief went up seconds later when Amelia’s fabulous run and cross was tucked in at the far post for a well-deserved goal from Emily. 
 
The final quarter began with wonderful poise from Emily on the left as she controlled the ball and passed infield to Evie-Mae who subsequently dribbled half the length of the field and slotted the ball past a helpless Pelicans goalkeeper. Much as they did for the preceding 45 minutes, Norwich controlled possession and the Pelicans goalie was the busiest player on the pitch. Finally, with their ninth short corner of the game, Niamh shaped to shoot but craftily cut the ball sideways to Evie-Mae who hit a reverse shot in to the far corner of the goal. 
 
Full Time Pelicans 0-3 Norwich City 
 

LADIES DEVELOPMENT XI B - 06/01/2018 VS WATTON (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI B 
DATE: 06/01/2018 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI B VS 06/01/2018 
HEADLINE: Business as usual for exceptional City Girls 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: Norwich City 9-0 Watton 
 
REPORT: 
The first Dev’s match of 2018 was played on this incredibly chilly January afternoon at Taverham. In a game that was played almost exclusively in the Watton half of the field, the Norwich girls put on a scintillating display of hockey in one of their finest performances of the season so far. Debutant Evie Hood at only ten years old, deservedly became the youngest City Dev to be named player of the match in over two years. 
 
It didn’t take long for the first goal to nestle in the Watton net. Receiving the ball just inside the D, Niamh looked momentarily up at the on-rushing defender before lifting the ball with incredible precision and superb technique over both defender and goalkeeper into the very top corner of the goal. Shortly afterwards, Niamh’s mazy run and cross was splendidly finished by Lucy to make the score 2-0 at the end of the first quarter. 
 
The second quarter was more of the same from the yellow and green hockey machine, Tilly almost snapped the back-board with her trademark thunderbolt from a short corner before Freya fired a magnificent shot into the bottom right of the Watton goal. 
 
Half-Time: Norwich City 4-0 Watton 
 
The second half began with a re-shuffle of the Norwich players, but rather than having the desired effect of making the game more of a contest, the utterly relentless City girls took to their unfamiliar positions like collective ducks to water. Evie Hood playing at centre forward played Freya through to bag her brace before turning a Watton defender and passing to Evie T for City’s sixth. A pinpoint cross from Niamh was controlled and slotted in by Evie T before Evie T returned the earlier favour by beating a Watton defender and threading the ball to Evie H who scored in quite some style. 
 
The fourth quarter was memorable for the spectacle of the Norwich defenders playing their own game of keep-ball, recycling from one flank to the other in preparation for tougher tests to come. The final goal of the game sealed Evie T’s hat-trick as she shimmied to the right before sweeping to the left and hitting a powerful reverse sweep millimetres inside the Watton post. 
 
Full-Time: Norwich City 9-0 Watton 
 
 
 

LADIES DEVELOPMENT XI B - 02/12/2017 VS HARLESTON MAGPIES (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI B 
DATE: 02/12/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI B VS 02/12/2017 
HEADLINE: City Girls edge a close one at Harleston 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Shortford Heath, Harleston 
RESULT: Harleston Magpies 0-1 Norwich City 
 
REPORT: 
 
These two giants of Norfolk Womens development league hockey met for the second time this season on this bright but chilly Suffolk morning. Both sides played fast flowing attacking hockey and both sides were resolute in defence with quick passing and ferocious tackling in equal measure. Ultimately though, the City girls just edged this one in a ‘must win’ game which keeps the league title race wide open until these sides meet once again in February. 
 
In a first quarter of few chances, Norwich looked to be the stronger of the two teams but other than a dubiously disallowed goal from Evie, were unable to break down a well disciplined Harleston defence who soaked up most of the Norwich pressure and hit back with quick counter-attacks which were stopped in their tracks by Sabina, Tabby and Mia in the City back three. 
 
The second quarter was somewhat of a role-reversal with Magpies in the ascendency and City resorting to counter-attacks of their own. Midway through the quarter, the first real chance of the day came from an uncharacteristic errant pass across the City back-line which was snapped up by the Magpies centre forward. Through on goal and with only the keeper to beat, she planted her feet and swung her stick, hitting a beautifully placed shot towards the the right of the City goal. Sophia Colman’s left foot moved like a striking cobra to deflect the ball wide, saving an almost certain goal in a splendid display of goalkeeping that kept the match delicately poised at the half way stage. 
 
Half Time: Harleston Magpies 0-0 Norwich City 
 
It was the Harleston goalkeeper’s turn to pull off a top-class save as the third quarter got underway. After a good start by Norwich, the first short corner of the match was dribbled to the left by the nimble-footed Niamh before she unleashed a piledriver of a reverse sweep towards the top corner. How the keeper got her hand to it is a question that only she could answer, but she did, and the stalemate continued. As the quarter progressed, player of the match Lucy H began to pull the strings in the centre of midfield and showed exceptional vision to thread through balls to Niamh and Lucy W before a beauty to Evie was perfectly placed for her to turn the last defender on the 25-yard line and race in to the Magpies D, coolly slotting the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper to put City in front. 
 
The fourth quarter was much like the first with both defences in control and chances few and far between. The Norwich girls had the better of the sparse opportunities with the second short-corner of the game won by Niamh after good interplay with Livi down the right and Lucy H drawing another fabulous save from the Harleston goalkeeper with a thunderbolt shortly afterwards. 
 
Final Score: Harleston Magpies 0-1 Norwich City 
 
 

LADIES DEVELOPMENT XI B - 18/11/2017 VS NORWICH CITY A (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI B 
DATE: 18/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI B VS 18/11/2017 
HEADLINE: Deceptive score in clash of the Cities 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: Norwich City B 6-1 Norwich City A 
 
REPORT: 
 
Norwich City B got the better of Norwich City A in an incredibly competitive match in which the 6-1 score did not accurately reflect how very evenly-matched the two sides were. Goals from player of the match Niamh Campbell (2), Loulou Ford (2), Millie Hay and Tabitha Witte were enough to take the spoils for the B’s and despite creating a hat-full of chances, it just was not the A’s day with debutant Madeleine Ebbage scoring the consolation goal and Imogen Basset taking the player of the match award. 
 
The early exchanges suggested a re-run of the previous match between the two sides with Niamh Campbell dominating the midfield and creating the opportunities for Tabby Witte to superbly finish off a lovely move down the left before playing Loulou Ford through to slam the ball home from the right of the opposition D for the B’s 
As apprehension began to spread throughout the spectators, the A’s began to find their feet and looked stronger and stronger as the half wore on. Amelia Waghorn was a constant threat down the right flank and the midfield trio of Emily Leeming, Abbie Watling-Brucki and Livi Tighe were winning their personal battles and creating good chances for Evie Thorpe and Madeleine Ebbage up front. However, a speedy and crisp counter attack was completed in some style by Loulou Ford to give the B’s a 3-0 lead somewhat against the run of play. 
 
Half Time B’s 3-0 A’s 
 
The second half began with the teams trading blows as the ball went from end to end whilst Daisy Clabburn for the A’s and Hannah Possener for the B’s began to assert their authority as defensive leaders for their respective teams. The second-half deadlock was broken by Millie Hay, who scored from the right after consecutive short corners had been foiled by a string of wonder-saves by Imogen Basset. The A’s were not going to take this lying down and came out all guns blazing after the restart. After several good chances, Madeleine ran half the length of the field to slot the ball beautifully in to the B’s net before Zara Hunter was quick off her line to thwart first Evie, then Amelia. 
The fourth quarter was almost a mirror image of the first, with Niamh in control whilst faced by a tiring A’s midfield and subsequently scoring a quickfire brace, which on balance was very well deserved. Imogen somehow got a foot to a thunderous shot from Sabina Baker and just when it looked as if the A’s would capitulate, they found an extra gear and spent the last few minutes of the match almost permanently camped in the B’s D in search of an ultimately elusive second goal. 
 
Well done and thank you to all the girls. The consensus amongst the parents and coaches was that this was a hard-fought, sometimes nail-biting, but fantastic match to watch and that you all played very well indeed. 
 
Full Time B’s 6-1 A’s 
 

LADIES DEVELOPMENT XI B - 04/11/2017 VS PELICANS (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI B 
DATE: 04/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI B VS 04/11/2017 
HEADLINE: Dominant win for City girls 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: Norwich City 17-0 Pelicans 
 
REPORT: 
 
City were victorious in the one-sided encounter played in the Autumn rain at Taverham. First-Half goals from Lucy I, Sabina, debutant Abbie Watling-Brucki, Lily (2), and fellow debutant Claudia Hudson-Madge gave Norwich a comfortable half-time lead of 6-0. 
The floodgates were then opened up in the second half with goals from Lily (2), Lucy H (2), Evie, Claudia, Sabina, Tilly (3) and Abbie making the final score 17-0 to City. 
The third debutant of the day, Izzy Morgan-Evans slotted beautifully into the stoic City defence, and Goalkeeper Imogen once again showed great patience at spending sixty minutes without touching the ball, although she came close in the fourth quarter whilst playing as a sweeper-keeper. 
Player of the Match unanimously went to Lucy Ingram who played brilliantly in the centre of midfield and capped her performance with a beautifully taken goal. 

LADIES DEVELOPMENT XI B - 07/10/2017 VS NORWICH DRAGONS (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI B 
DATE: 07/10/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI B VS 07/10/2017 
HEADLINE: Derby day at the Dragon's Den 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Dragon's Den 
RESULT: Norwich Dragons 0-8 Norwich City 
 
REPORT: 
 
The pre-match anticipation of a tense, closely-fought Norwich derby evaporated within seconds of the push-back as City strolled to an 8-0 victory over their fireless opponents on a rain-soaked afternoon at the Dragon’s Den. It was an impressive feat that the City goals were scored by six different girls, and even more impressive that after almost an hour of standing alone in a deserted City D, goalkeeper Imogen was still able to make three fabulous last-minute saves to preserve her third clean sheet in four matches. Debutant Phoebe Williams slotted seamlessly in to the meanest defence in the league, and her splendid performance was capped by picking up a well-deserved Player of the Match accolade. 
 
Coach Graeme sent the team on to the field with the tongue in cheek instruction to score two in the first five minutes, which they punctually did through a reverse stick effort from the edge of the D by Tilly, followed by pinball wizard Niamh hitting a close range shot off the stick of a defender, followed by both feet of the Dragons goalkeeper before tricking over the goal line. Later in the quarter, Niamh nimbly took the ball around two Dragons defenders before crossing for Lucy to slap the ball home at the far post. End of Q1: Dragons 0-3 City. 
 
The second quarter was a scrappy affair, mainly played in the Dragons half of the pitch, with little else to report until a late short corner was walloped in to the top corner of the Dragons net by Effie. 
Half Time: Dragons 0-4 City 
 
City looked more fluid in the second half and as the rain began to fall, the girls began to play the sort of free-flowing, attacking hockey that we have grown accustomed to. Chances began to be created by the bucket-load, and it wasn’t long before Niamh’s cross from the right was controlled by Evie, who proceeded to lob the goalkeeper for the fifth. A short corner worked from Niamh to Evie was crossed and tucked in neatly at the far post by Lucy, prior to another identical short corner this time eventually lifted by Evie to Sabina, who showed marvellous co-ordination to strike the ball on the volley into the Dragons goal. End of Q3 Dragons 0-7 City. 
 
The fourth quarter was rather like the second, but with more rain. On the pitch, a well worked move down the right between Phoebe and Tilly released Emily, whose barnstorming run and cross was swept in at the front post by Evie. The remainder of the half was all City, punctuated by the last-minute foray by dragons for their first attempts on the City goal. Time appeared to stand still, as the rain poured, and the temperature plummeted, but eventually and thankfully the full-time whistle whistled, and the sodden participants trudged back to the welcome warmth of the clubhouse. 
Full Time: Dragons 0-8 City 
 
 

LADIES DEVELOPMENT XI B - 30/09/2017 VS HARLESTON MAGPIES (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI B 
DATE: 30/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI B VS 30/09/2017 
HEADLINE: One for sorrow, Four for joy! 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: Norwich City 4-1 Harleston Magpies 
 
REPORT: 
 
Norwich City ground out a hard fought but nonetheless impressive victory in this match against a technically gifted and well coached Harleston Magpies squad. The almost capacity crowd at the Taverham Recreational Facility were treated to some scintillating hockey from both teams in this end to end encounter. Goals from Effie Bowley (2) and Matilda Butterworth (2) along with last ditch goal-saving defensive challenges by Mia Edmond and Tabitha Witte were enough to secure the three points for Norwich, and leave them perched at the top of the league table for another week. 
 
Magpies were on the front foot from the beginning, forcing an early short corner which was admirably blocked by Tilly Butterworth. City responded with some slick interplay down the right between Niamh Campbell, Effie Bowley and Tilly, followed by two brilliant runs and crosses by Niamh which were somehow cleared from a congested Magpies D. Norwich continued to press, and an excellent through ball from coaches’ player of the match Millie Hay allowed Lucy Hutchinson to win a short corner. Sabina Baker fed the ball to Niamh, who pushed the ball right to Effie Bowley. Effie slotted a delightful ball through to Lucy H who was unfortunate to have her first time shot cannon back off the post with a loud clang! Shortly afterwards, an almost carbon copy short corner was nudged from Niamh to Effie, who this time struck a beautifully placed shot beyond the Harleston keeper and into the left corner of the goal. Magpies almost stuck back immediately with a long ball from their veteran defender slicing through the middle of the pitch to their left forward, whose shot was comfortably saved by Imogen Basset in the City goal. City, however continued to cause problems for Magpies down both flanks, this time with Emily Leeming asking questions of the defenders down the right and Saskia Williams causing them problems down the left. 
End of first quarter City 1-0 Magpies 
 
The second quarter began with Effie once again testing the Magpies goalkeeper after an exchange of passes with Lucy H, followed by Niamh holding off defenders whilst making two strong runs down the right flank. A tactical re-organisation following City substitutions appeared to cause a temporary befuddlement in the Norwich ranks, and Harleston used the opportunity to take the initiative, with their centre forward shooting just wide after picking up a long pass from midfield. Another long pass through was missed by millimetres by the Harleston forward, whose subsequent chase for the ball was curtailed by Imogen who craftily let the ball run harmlessly into the goal. With the long ball working well for Magpies, Mia Edmond showed exceptional vision to cut out a pass with two Harleston players charging forward ready to pounce. The travelling Harleston supporters sensed that a goal was coming, and were abuzz with anticipation. They didn’t have to wait long, as some lovely quick passing down the right ended with the centre forward coolly knocking the ball just inside the far post for the equaliser. 
Half Time City 1-1 Magpies 
 
Evie Thorpe chased down the Magpies push-back like a terrier to reclaim the ball for City, and set the tone for a dominant third quarter performance by the Norwich girls. Millie and Lucy Ingram combined well down the right before Lucy I won the ball on the edge of the Magpies D, and pitched a lovely pass inside to Effie who let the ball run across her body before firing a sublime reverse stick drive in to the right of the Harleston goal. After the re-start, Effie ghosted past three players on the right and crossed to Evie, whose shot was superbly pushed wide by a defender. Lucy H continued to cause havoc down the left flank, and with Magpies stretched, it wasn’t long before City scored their third. Effie burst through the midfield and passed to an unmarked Evie, who pushed the ball into the path of the onrushing Tilly to hit a first-time reverse stick shot past the flailing keeper. Harleston began to make a little more headway towards the end of the quarter, but Sabina, Mia, and Tabby were a forcefield around the City D, which the Magpies forwards were unable to infiltrate. 
End of third quarter City 3-1 Magpies 
 
Both teams knew that the next goal would be vital in deciding the match, and Magpies were first out onto the pitch, determined to pull one back early. It was City, however through the tenacious Lucy H winning tackles on the left who took the early initiative. Magpies inevitably hit back and three successive forays down the right were thwarted only by the authoritative tackling of Tabby. Niamh summed up the attitude of this City team by chasing down a loose ball which was destined to be a Magpies sideline until she improbably kept it in play and made a great run into the D. A counter-attack by Magpies was stopped by Lucy H, who began a fabulous display of recycling the ball with Tabby, Mia and Sabina combining to quickly move the ball from left to right where Tilly played the ball forward to Niamh to win the short corner. It was from another short corner minutes later that Niamh passed right to Tilly, whose shot hit the Magpies back board with such a thud that it was reportedly heard in Drayton. With the score at 4-1, and the seconds ticking down, Magpies had to throw caution to the wind and piled forward. A super move down the left was ended as Mia managed to get stick to ball just as the centre forward was preparing to shoot from four yards out. Another long ball down the middle was deftly taken off the attacker’s stick by Tabby just as she looked certain to score, and seconds later a three on three situation broke down with an over hit pass from the Harleston left forward, which was allowed to roll into the net by Imogen. It was City however who ended the game on the attack with Lucy H winning the ball in her own half, and running almost the length of the pitch to cross for Effie, who was denied a hat-trick by the Harleston goalkeeper. 
Full Time City 4-1 Magpies 
 
Player’s player of the match: Tilly Butterworth and Effie Bowley 
Coach’s player of the match: Millie Hay 
 
 

LADIES DEVELOPMENT XI B - 23/09/2017 VS DEREHAM (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI B 
DATE: 23/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI B VS 23/09/2017 
HEADLINE: Dereham defeated by creative City U13's 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Dereham HC 
RESULT: Dereham 0-6 Norwich City U13 
 
REPORT:  
 
City came away from Dereham with a well deserved 6-0 victory in their first away game of the season. A second consecutive hat-trick for City captain Effie Bowley, along with a Niamh Campbell brace and a debut goal for Lily Macdonald wrapped up the three points for City, and continued their super start to the new campaign. 
 
City came out of the blocks quickly as the first half got underway, putting a well organised Dereham defence under pressure from the very beginning. Dereham played an adult in central defensive role and her experience told as she cut out many of City's early forays in to the Dereham D, but the excellent attacking interplay between Emily Leeming and Effie Bowley eventually led to a well taken first goal of the season for Niamh Campbell who slotted the ball home beautifully. Soon afterwards, the terrier-like Evie Thorpe nicked a deflected Effie Bowley shot from the Dereham keepers' toe and passed back to Effie who knocked in City's second. As the half progressed, the City midfield dominated possession and bamboozled thier opponents with Saskia Williams and player of the match Lucy Hutchinson combining superbly down the left flank, Effie Bowley and Freya Myhill controlling possession in the middle, whilst Emily Leeming and Niamh Campbell marauded down the right side. With the half drawing to a close, the Dereham defenders reverted to playing long balls downfield for their attackers to chase. An imperious City defence comprising of the always composed Sabina Baker and the impeccably positioned Sofia Kazimierczak combined with the outstanding duo of Mia Edmond and Kate Ellis to make interceptions, win tackles, and play their way back in to the opponents half with some lovely passing, but most impressively ensured that the half finished without a shot on the City goal. 
 
As the second half commenced, the City girls began to play around Dereham's adult defender, and cut her out of the game with some fabulous passing and movement. City were dominant and forced numerous short corners before Effie Bowley masterfully rounded two Dereham defenders before stroking in her second and City's third. Soon afterwards another Evie Thorpe cut-back was put past the keeper by Effie, who will be going into next week's clash with Magpies looking to complete a hat-trick of hat-tricks. City kept up the pressure for the duration of the second half, with Lucy Hutchinson a constant threat and unlucky not to score after forcing two incredible saves from the Dereham goalkeeper. City didn't have to wait long for their fifth, as debutant Lily Macdonald cut in from the right and thumped in a brilliant solo goal from just inside the D. As the half drew to an end, a long ball from the Dereham defence squeezed through to their centre forward who provided a delighted Imogen Basset with her first serious action of the season as she made an initial save from close range before knocking away the rebound and averting the danger to the City goal. After another City short corner the ball dropped to Niamh Campbell who hammered home the sixth goal from just inside the D. The satisfying thud of the ball hitting the Dereham backboard was the last action of the match, and set up an early season top of the table clash with Magpies next week.