Results

LADIES 2ND XI - 11/03/2017 VS LODDON 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 2nd XI 
DATE: 11/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 2nd XI VS 11/03/2017 
HEADLINE: The battle is still on! 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK PREMIER DIVISION 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: Won 5-0 
 
REPORT: After the team talk with coach Ali Wardale, Norwich City 2’s knew exactly what they had to do today to keep their battle for promotion alive.  
City faced Loddon 1’s - the only team to defeat the strong City 2’s side earlier this season. On their home turf, City were determined to add another 3 points to their tally.  
 
In the first half City worked hard as always, putting pressure on the opposition from the get go. The work rate from attacking midfielder’s Annabelle Phoenix and Hannah Jarvis soon paid off as Hannah was awarded with a short corner. Ange Hindle, who was patiently waiting at the top of the ‘D’ took a shot which found the end of Milly brown’s stick for a deflection into the bottom right corner, 1-0. Loddon were keeping themselves in the game, they continued to pressure City and found themselves penetrating the ‘D’ on a few occasions however, keeper Serena Scott was having none of it! She slid to the ground claiming the ball as her own. Defenders Leigh-Ann Worrall, Danni Garwood and Karren Dagless confidently cleared any threats that came their way. Forwards Emily Francis and Ellie Brine worked tirelessly upfront, making some lovely leading runs and were looking dangerous in the oppositions half. City were awarded more short corners but couldn’t manage to convert before the half time whistle.  
 
Second half, City had adjusted to the unexpected warmer weather and proceeded to keep the play predominantly in Loddon’s half. It wasn’t long before Ange picked out Becky Gaffney making a piercing run down the right hand side who ran to the base line, pulled it back to Ange who found Milly lurking in front of goal, 2-0. City stepped up their game, there was some lovely ball distribution between the back 5 with Ellie Pitcher confidently switching the play and the front 5 linking up well with quick, simple passes. City condensed the play into Loddon’s 25 which resulted in captain Rosie Humphrey battling in the goal mouth to score two goals in quick succession, 4-0.  
 
The final goal originated from a 16. Karren sent the ball with pace down the right hand side of the pitch where it was picked up by Kate Hartland. Kate managed to jab it past the oncoming defender where Rosie picked it up, drove into the ‘D’, drew the keeper out of her goal before releasing it to Kate who had made a looping run on the left post and smashed it into the open goal to make the final score 5-0. 
 
City 2’s have regained their position at the top on goals ‘for’. Broadland are still hot on their tails with equal points and goal difference. The battle for promotion continues into the last two games of the season.  
 
Player of the match - Rosie Humphrey.  
 

LADIES 3RD XI - 11/03/2017 VS BROADLAND 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 3rd XI 
DATE: 11/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 3rd XI VS 11/03/2017 
HEADLINE:  
LEAGUE: NORFOLK PREMIER DIVISION 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 1-3 L 
 
REPORT: 
A tough match was expected for Norwich City 3rds against top of the table Broadland 1sts. To date Broadland had only lost one match this season to the NCHC Womens 2nds and we knew that Broadland would be feeling the pressure, needing all three points and a good goal difference to stay in with a chance of promotion so the womens 3rds took on the challenge with eagerness and welcomed the Norwich City spectator support which lifted our spirits into the game.  
 
Broadland were first out of the blocks, taking an early lead following a quick free hit in the Norwich City 23. However, this did not dampen the hearts of the City 3rds who worked hard defending on the bouncy away pitch. Towards the end of the first half an opportunity opened up for City’s Alex Le Mesurier to take on the defenders and score to bring City back into the game. City were showing their worth at being at the top end of the table and kept the score at 1-1 for some time. The City midfielder’s covered much of the pitch aiming to keep Broadland contained, but despite some lovely movement and skill by Hannah Bush up front coupled with some great opportunities for the forwards, it just wasn’t to be our day and unfortunately, despite some solid defending, were unable to contain the pressure as Broadland scored a further two goals.  
 
 

LADIES 6TH XI - 11/03/2017 VS BRECKLAND (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 11/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 11/03/2017 
HEADLINE: End-to-end play  
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 2 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE:TRF 
RESULT: 0-1 
REPORT:With Yarmouth pushing for promotion, City expected a fast-paced battle and went out fighting from the off. Match-day coach Dave Skinner led a high-energy warm up and put the team through some heart-rate raising sprints that had City fired up and ready. The first half saw end-to-end play with dangerous breaks by both teams but no conversions. A skilful Yarmouth captain acted as the key playmaker in the opposition team’s centre, sending dangerous balls out to her forwards who looked constantly threatening. Full back defenders Carol McNarry and Vicki Myhill had to dig deep to mop up the balls and use their signature hitting skills to make some hard-ball clearances out to safety. City goalie Charlotte Harrad was repeatedly called into action, making some great saves and winning the player-of-the-match award. Meanwhile, City frequently counter attacked with some excellent work by midfielder Jane Loughridge acting as a central pivot for City and some notable right wing runs by Lucy McNarry.  
After a break, the game continued at the same intensity, but unfortunately 10-minutes into play Yarmouth scored from one of the many short corners awarded to both sides in the match. A powerful strike was deflected in at an impossible angle and Yarmouth went one goal ahead. City refused to give up and looked likely to score at any point, but couldn’t quite find an equaliser leaving the final score at one nil to Yarmouth.  
 
 

LADIES 7TH XI - 11/03/2017 VS LODDON 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 7th XI 
DATE: 11/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 7th XI VS 11/03/2017 
HEADLINE: A loss that should have been a win 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 3 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 0-1 
 
REPORT: The Womens 7s had 95% of the possession in this game but lost with a goal 2 minutes from time. City played well with some crisp passing building on excellent defensive work. Several opportunities to score were generated but none were converted and this came back to haunt City in the latter stages of the second half when a resilient Loddon made the best of one of their rare forays up the pitch, broke through the defence and scored. With only two minutes to play a game that City should have won was lost. Despite the disappointment of the loss some positives can be taken from some excellent performances. As in previous weeks several players received votes for POTM: Jan, Charlotte, Amy, Sarah S and Helen but the winner was Sarah Bird for her great work at half back. 
 

MENS 2ND XI - 11/03/2017 VS HARLESTON MAGPIES 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 2nd XI 
DATE: 11/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 2nd XI VS 11/03/2017 
HEADLINE: 2-2 Loss 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 1 
VENUE:Harleston  
RESULT:2-2 
 
REPORT: 
Norwich City 2's had to win to stand any chance of staying in Div 1 
An inspiring team talk on how to treat this as a cup game, seemed to fire everyone up. 
City were pegged back for the first 10 mins Harleston with a high press restricting city's defence from distributing the ball out. 
Along ball up to halfway line to Silvester who released Gill to out pace the Harleston defence & go one on one with the goalkeeper only for his fierce shot to be saved. City's confidence started to build Duffy battling well in centre of the park, some great movement down the right from the ever dependable Bingham. Crichton & Pallister shepherding the back four with great calmness.  
A move down the right from Bingham who released The pacey Gill who in turn drove to the ball to the byline & pulled the ball back to the p-spot, Harleston struggled to clear this & Hindle took full advantage as he picked the ball up to unleash a ferocious (back stick) reverse stick shot to Draw level 1-1.  
It looked like all this hard work was about to be undone. A penalty flick awarded to Harleston for Pallisters heroics on the goal line keeping out a short corner strike with his bare hand. 
City's goalkeeper pulled off an amazing save to his right to keep out the flick. 
Harleston's high press seemed to deteriorate & allowed City to stretch them Plumb & Morgan getting more of the ball in the middle & in turn Bingham being used as a wide outlet. Link up play between Bingham & Silvester was causing several problems for Harleston. Frustrations were shown & green cards were issued after some wild stick swipes on Silvester in full flow on a charging run. 
Ingham on the left started to have some space on the left & made full advantage on several occasions. The left & right outlets being used well, City on top Duffy with some great stick skills pressing forward. 
A move on the right with Bingham who linked up with Silvester again to fire the ball just outside the right post for Silvester to latch on to & sweep the ball into the far left corner. 
Game on 2-1. City were still in control, great calmness at the back from Pallister & Crichton. 
With 2 minutes to go city tried to keep the ball high in the corners. 
The ball was then intercepted on the Harleston left a hopeful ball played into the top of the D for a Harleston player to touch the ball towards the goal to his surprise & everyone else this trickled into the right corner of the goal. 
2-2 and a minute to go as much as City tried there just wasn't enough time to go get another goal. 
Yet again a great entertaining game for the spectators but a sad day as City looked to be relegated after another hard fought performance  
Didn't seem to go City's way. 
Player of the match: 
Richard Silvester 
 

MENS 3RD XI - 11/03/2017 VS CAMBRIDGE NOMADS (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 3rd XI 
DATE: 11/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 3rd XI VS 11/03/2017 
HEADLINE: Fading Hope with Loss to Nomads 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH 
VENUE: Taverham High School 
RESULT: Norwich City 3s : 2 - 5 : Cambridge Nomads 
 
REPORT: 
City started this fixture with a high tempo as did the Nomads team as well. The defensive unit of Perry, Ling, Higginbotham and Tomlinson managed to absorb and dealt with the first few attacks with ease. City also managed to create some early chances at the other end as well with some aerials from Perry making their way through to the forwards and some well worked play through the midfield from Painter, Brine Jr. and Cooke. Land, Brine and Konieczny were unfortunate to capitalise on the chances with some good goal keeping from the Nomads keeper. Nomads opened the scoring against what most would say was the run of play. A short variation that Keeper Thrower and the defensive 4 didn’t expect saw the ball hit the back board. City did not let this phase them and carried on battling to get back on level terms. Perry came very close from a corner with a low flick to the left corner, the line man had to take 2 swipes at the ball to stop it crossing the line. Once again against the run of play Nomads managed to double their lead with a counter attack that found an attacker pushed wide in the circle but with a quick turning short caught out the defence and keeper and saw the ball squeeze through the smallest of gaps at the near post. It just didn’t seem to be City’s day again with the ball just not finding the net. The half ended 2-0. 
City came out in the 2nd half with a real fire in their bellies knowing they were still in the game, it wasn’t long until City managed to put a goal on the board. A short corner variation finding Brine who managed to sweep the ball home, bringing a ray of hope for the home the team. City continued to push but playing against a bigger and fitter squad the game became longer with big gaps appearing in the middle of the pitch. The game started to become end to end play but Nomads were able to take more advantage of their chances scoring a couple more goals. City still did not let their heads go down and continued to battle. Painter, Cooke and Brine Jr, worked very hard creating chances one of which fell to Brine who found himself in the circle albeit with a lot of work to do but managed to beat 2 players and with his back to the goal and keeper managed to find the back of the net. Brine Jr almost made it 3rd but his reverse stick shot hit the post and the rebound could not be converted. Unfortunately there was still time for Nomads to score one more, a well hit strike from the top of the circle left the keeper little chance.  
The game ended 5-2 to Nomads but many felt this was a flattering score line for the actual game.  
With Cambridge South sneaking a point it now means City must win their final 2 games to be able to stay up that is if other result go our way as well. 
 

MENS 4TH XI - 11/03/2017 VS PELICANS 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 4th XI 
DATE: 11/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 4th XI VS 11/03/2017 
HEADLINE: City hit Double Figures 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: Won 10-1 
 
REPORT: 
City fielded a youthful side and were rampant against bottom of the table Pelicans 2's 
 
Too many goals to remember the order, other than it was 3-0 at the break and 10-1 at the end 
 
Goals came thick and fast with the final tally of Rees Leonard (3), Josh Bailey (2), Joe Cowan, Nathan Taylor, Will Kidner, Alfie Cooper and MOTM Dan Phillips 
 

MENS MASTERS XI - 12/03/2017 VS STOCKTON O40 MASTERS (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens Masters XI 
DATE: 12/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens Masters XI VS 12/03/2017 
HEADLINE: Norwich City O40s Masters through to Final of EH Shield Competition 
LEAGUE: ENGLAND HOCKEY MENS O40 MASTERS SHIELD 
VENUE: STOCKTON-ON-TEES 
RESULT: NORWICH CITY 3, STOCKTON 2 
 
REPORT: 
 
Norwich City Mens O40s Masters have made it through to the finals of the England Hockey National Shield Competition after a very long away win at Stockton-on-Tees. It was Matthew Brine who opened the scoring for Norwich City after a great run up front where he managed to receive a long aerial from Haren Patel and beat two players before slotted the ball over the advancing Stockton keeper. The second came from a trademark precision short corner placement by Haren Patel, the travellers now 2-0 ahead. The game drew closer when Stockton managed to get a goal back, 2-1 still to Norwich. It was Pete Morgan who scored the City third goal, an initial save from a Haren Patel short corner was followed by Morgan to slide the ball under the keeper, 3-1 ahead. The home side then started to push forward and it was only so long that the visitors could hold on, eventually Stockton getting a breakaway goal to make it 3-2. The final 5 minutes proved excited for the crowd as City attempted to retain possession and Stockton pushed everything they could forward. It was a 3-2 victory at the final whistle and Norwich City now find themselves down at Lee Valley against Old Cranleighans on the 29th April in the final.