![]() WOMENS 3RD XI - 04/10/2025 VS NORWICH DRAGONS 3 (A)
TEAM: Womens 3rd XI
DATE: 04/10/2025
FIXTURE: Womens 3rd XI VS 04/10/2025
HEADLINE: Disappointment for the 3s at the Den
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH EAST
VENUE: Dragons Den
RESULT: 2-3 loss
REPORT:
On a blustery morning, our 3rds started strongly against Dragons 3’s, playing the ball around with confidence and creating chances, but unfortunately we could not take the advantage. On one of their first breaks, Dragons took the lead from a goal line scramble, before adding to their total from a quick break. City heads did not drop, despite losing our skipper from the field due to an injury, and Harriet’s determination paid off as she pressed and won the ball back setting up Anna for a composed finish. In the second half, Dragons extended their lead from a questionable short corner, which fired City up further. Jo was on fire in goal, quickly coming off her line to shut down any further opportunities. Some superb work on the left from Jen and a pinpoint ball from Lotte created a well deserved deflection for Harriet. City continued to apply the pressure, winning short corners until the end, but unfortunately we could not find the equaliser. Final score 2-3.
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![]() WOMENS 4TH XI - 04/10/2025 VS WATTON 2 (H)
TEAM: Womens 4th XI
DATE: 04/10/2025
FIXTURE: Womens 4th XI VS 04/10/2025
HEADLINE: NCHC L4 v Watton 2's
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST (NORTH)
VENUE: Taverham High School
RESULT: 3 -1 (win)
A (windy) game of 2 halves
Norwich City battled the elements and a tough first half to come out 3–1 winners against Watton in a windy and hard-fought match. Emma stepped up brilliantly as captain, leading by example with a calm presence and strong defending throughout the game.
The first half wasn’t our finest – we were lacking energy and didn’t quite seem to believe in ourselves, which made it hard to find any rhythm or control in the game. Watton took their chance and went 1–0 up, leaving us a bit frustrated going into half time.
But Pies delivered a motivational team talk that lifted the whole squad. We came back out with new energy, sharper focus, and way more bite.
Amber was relentless up front and her pressure won us three short corners. Jess made the most of the first one, calmly putting it away to level the score. Shortly after, Sue stepped up and smashed home a brilliant straight strike from the top of the D to give us the lead. Jess then added her second of the day to make it 3–1, showing great positioning and cool finishing under pressure.
At the back, Lucy was a rock – strong tackles and also totally composed under pressure. Alongside the rest of the defence, she helped shut down Watton’s attacks and kept us in control once we’d taken the lead.
All in all, it was a game of two halves – a shaky start, but a brilliant response and a full team performance in the second half. Bring on the next one!
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![]() MENS 1ST XI - 05/10/2025 VS CITY OF PETERBOROUGH 1 (A)
TEAM: Mens 1st XI
DATE: 05/10/2025
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 05/10/2025
HEADLINE: Old foes meet once again. History suggests goals won't be in short supply.
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS
VENUE: City Of Peterborough Hockey Club
RESULT: 4-1 L
REPORT: The early-season pace-setters were set for a collision this weekend as a rampant Norwich City side traveled to face a resilient Peterborough. Norwich arrived with the wind in their sails and a perfect six points from their opening fixtures, having dismantled defenses to the tune of nine goals already. However, Peterborough were also sitting pretty on four points; they represented Norwich's sternest test yet. History dictates that when these two meet, the midfield becomes a mere transition zone, the rivalry is defined by end-to-end hockey and a gluttony of goals. With both sides favoring an aggressive high press, the stage was set for a frantic encounter where clinical finishing would be the ultimate decider.
And a feisty affair it was. Elliot Hibell set the standard in the first five minutes by breaking down a Peterborough counter-attack, earning himself a two-minute "rest" as a reward. High-octane hockey ensued, but neither side was able to enter the D with real threat. The quarter was characterized by tight-angled shots and balls flashed across the face of the goal that failed to find an attacker. With no penalty corners awarded to either side, despite both being lethal at PCAs, the quarter ended 0-0.
The second quarter saw far more action. Penalty corners for both sides forced a pair of excellent saves from Fraser Evans. Not to be outdone, the Peterborough keeper produced an even better stop when Cameron Cooke flicked the ball high toward the top corner.
The deadlock was finally broken by an excellently worked team goal. Cameron Cooke beat two defenders but was halted by a third; thankfully, the ball fell to Nic Urquhart, who won a free hit. Louis Preston stepped in to take it quickly, feeding Jonty Black on the baseline. Black moved it back toward Max Wilson at the P-spot with a clinical one-touch pass. Wilson controlled it and flicked it past the rushing keeper into the bottom corner. Halftime: 1-0 to Norwich.
Both teams maintained their pace and offensive energy in the second half, forcing both keepers into a series of athletic saves. This was most evident when Peterborough earned their third and fourth penalty corners. Where the latter saw a shot that Simon Dolan saved brilliantly high to his right. The ball was cleared by George Bedford to Louis Preston just outside the 23, he found Thomas Cooke out wide, who played a rapid ball to Max Wilson just outside the D. Max beat the center-back and unleashed a reverse-stick hit, but the Peterborough keeper made an excellent save down to his left. Despite the superb attacking play, the score remained unchanged. Until a sustained three-minute spell of Peterborough pressure. After a quick turn at the top of the D and a sharp ball to the back post, the inevitable happened. 1-1.
The story of the final quarter was penalty corners leading to penalty strokes. Peterborough’s fifth corner of the day resulted in a rebound hitting Harry Brown on the goal line: 2-1.
The drama intensified during Peterborough's seventh corner. Louis Preston chased down a rebound, but what appeared to be a fair contest for a free ball was judged as a deliberate foul in the D. A penalty stroke was awarded. Following a ten-minute delay to tend to a nasty gash sustained by Louis, and a quick trip to the conveniently located hospital across the road, the flick was converted. 3-1. (Thankfully, Louis was fine after a few stitches). Early in the final push, Norwich threatened via a PC. Tom Cooke’s drag-flick was saved back to Cam Cooke, whose follow-up was deflected into a melee of players. Jonty Black, Ben Chapman, and Max Wilson all saw shots saved in a frantic goal-mouth scramble before a free hit finally relieved the pressure. In the dying minutes, Peterborough earned their eighth and ninth corners. Once again, a body on the line led to a penalty flick, bringing the final score to 4-1. An unfortunate day for Norwich where the 4-1 scoreline doesn't quite reflect the end-to-end carnage of a match that was a genuine joy to watch.
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Jemma Falconer,Lauren Lawrie,Lauren Lawrie
Hannah Jarvis