Results

WOMENS 3RD XI - 07/12/2024 VS HARLESTON MAGPIES 3 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 3rd XI 
DATE: 07/12/2024 
FIXTURE: Womens 3rd XI VS 07/12/2024 
HEADLINE: A tale of two halves  
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 5-2 Loss 
 
REPORT: 
The match against magpies was a tale of two halves. Magpies started strong scoring 4 goals in the first half.  
Regardless of the strong team Marie and Longy did some solid defending, battling hard to win back possession and keep the ball out of our D.  
 
Determined to turn the game around, an encouraging team talk reignited our focus. We wanted to come back strong after half time and score some goals. 
 
After an encouraging team talk at half time. We made some good passes up the pitch and Chloe J used her skills to dribble round the defenders and the team made some good passes up the pitch and into their D. Which lead to Lucy scoring a great goal. The momentum continued, and after a short corner, Helen made an impressive hit towards the goal and Lucy deflected it into the goal, making the score 4 - 2. The team carried on playing some brilliant hockey. We conceded one more goal towards the end of the game.  
 
Overall we played very strong as a team and despite losing the first half, we did win the second half! 

WOMENS 6TH XI - 07/12/2024 VS WATTON 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 07/12/2024 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 07/12/2024 
HEADLINE: A good-natured match in grim weather  
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 4 NORTH EAST (NORTH) 
VENUE: Watton Sports Centre 
RESULT: 3-1 
 
REPORT:Another tough match for City 6s. The grim journey there (in driving rain, with a collapsed electricity pylon on the Watton Road and a police road block) was a portent of the battle to come on the pitch. The weather was another challenge – cold, wet, players soaked to the skin plus a huge puddle to wade through to get to the dug out.  
After a delayed push back, City started well, making several attacks on Watton’s D and keeping their risky-looking attackers at bay.  
Then, 10 minutes after push back, City went one nil up. Liz Hollis capitalised on a scuffle in the D, stealing the ball from the keeper’s feet and scooping it into the net. City were in a positive mood, despite the grim weather, but unfortunately had no sub to bring fresh legs to the pitch. The combination of fatigue and cold saw them begin to flag and Watton equalised before half time.  
City’s defence worked hard as a unit but couldn’t keep out two more goals from Watton in the second half. The home team pressed well and special mention to player of the match Sophie Edwards, who skilfully cleared the ball out and away through a sea of blue shirts. Goalie Sophie Browne also made some notable saves.  
Despite the loss, it was a good-natured match with a friendly opposition. It was an improvement on last week’s performance and lots of positives to take away and build on.  
 

WOMENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 07/12/2024 VS HARLESTON MAGPIES LD (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI 
DATE: 07/12/2024 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI VS 07/12/2024 
HEADLINE: Hockey in Storm Darragh! 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: Lost 4-2 
 
REPORT: 
Despite blowy winds and driving rain during the game, the girls seemed keen to be playing and were unlucky not to draw this game. Magpies started strong while we were still finding our feet with positions and formation and scored 2 goals in the first quarter. With lots of young players who are used to playing 7 a side, they learnt well during this game about where they should be positionally and it was clear to see after the first quarter that everyone had a better idea of where to go.  
 
At the back, Freya had her first game in the devs and grew in confidence throughout the game. In the second half she made some fantastic clearances with such power and confidence! It was great to see how much she progressed in just one game. Her centre back was Sadie who absolutely bossed the game (and was definitely my player of the match!). Having recently switched from playing up front, Sadie has really found her position at the back and shows such confidence and power. She closes down players at pace and wins the ball, distributing it with power to the wide midfield players. Mollie H also grew in confidence during the game and had a fantastic final quarter, tackling, dribbling and passing well down the right wing. Freya progressed well with her marking throughout the game and gained confidence to step towards players and make tackles further up the pitch. 
 
Throughout the midfield we had some very young players in Lily-Grace, Mollie A, Georgie and Cressie - all who are U11/U12! With a little guidance they all worked out where they needed to be when we had the ball and who they were meant to mark when the oppo had the ball. Their confidence grew, with Mollie A diving around and tackling, making some great passes forwards, Georgie beating players with some lovely elimination skills and Cressie working hard in the middle to tackle and drive forwards with the ball. 
 
I convinced Lily-Grace to have a spell up front on the right wing and I think we can say we found the right spot for her! She immediately showed a different level of confidence and was tackling, closing down, running down the line for passes and doing brilliantly. Florence as always was a danger down the wings with her fantastic work rate, fearlessness and speed. She drove the baseline and played the ball into the D and was also unlucky not to score. Captain for the day Emily was centre forward and showed once again how powerful her strikes can be, scoring 2 absolute stormers that flew into the goal at top speed, reverberating off the backboard! India showed lots of skill and thought down the wings, elimination players and making quick passes forward to Emily. She worked hard and also did well with her understanding of where she should be when we didn’t have the ball. 
 
City were unlucky to concede 2 goals int he final quarter as the driving rain got worse, Magpie had some bigger, older and stronger players and our very young City side proved an excellent opposition. Fantastic work by all who played and thanks to the parents who supported in the wind and rain, cheering them on! 
 
Joint player of the match: Sadie and Emily