Results

LADIES 1ST XI - 12/11/2017 VS DEREHAM (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 1st XI 
DATE: 12/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 1st XI VS 12/11/2017 
HEADLINE: Alice Gill shows which club is the best #allwedoiswinwinwin 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 1 NORTH 
VENUE: Away, Dereham HC 
RESULT: WIN 3-1 
 
REPORT:  
Norwich started the brighter, in what proved to be an entertaining match in rather horrendous conditions. Most of Norwich’s attack’s came down the left with lots of dominant possession, it was a super early ball into the ‘d’ from the left by Felicity Williams who found Olivia Williams who majestically deflected the ball into the far corner of the goal to make it 1-0. Norwich continued to dominate and it wasn’t long before another combination from the Williams sisters made it 2-0 from a very well worked short corner. Dereham started to come more into the game and started to have more joy in the Norwich half. Shortly before half time Dereham scored a goal that was to give them renewed enthusiasm going into the break. Half time Dereham 1 Norwich 2. 
The second half was very similar to the first half,Norwich continued to dominate possession from Rachel Mayne, Jocasta Staines and The Gill sisters but continued to be thwarted by a stubborn Dereham defence. Dereham had the odd foray into the Norwich half but never really threatened the goal because of a very well organised Norwich defence and solid tackles from Danni Garwood and Fongy. Halfway through the second half Norwich’s man of the match sealed victory with an excellent shot in the corner of the goal. City continued to to put the pressure on with some great runs from Ellie Brine, Micayla Tootil, Olivia Williams and Emily Francis. Dereham huffed and puffed but could not make any headway as Norwich were by far the better team on the day and handled the conditions better. Final score Dereham 1 Norwich 3. 

LADIES 1ST XI - 11/11/2017 VS ST IVES (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 1st XI 
DATE: 11/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 1st XI VS 11/11/2017 
HEADLINE: The second clean sheet, and the seventh win for the Womens 1s in their league campaign. 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 1 NORTH 
VENUE: Home. 
RESULT: 4-0 Win 
 
REPORT: 
The Womens 1s played St Ives at home on Saturday. 
 
The first goal came from Krystal Bishop, who drifted right drawing the keeper and then fired the ball into the far corner. 
The defensive unit worked hard to close out and attacks from St Ives and at half time the score was 1-0. 
 
A rallying half time talk from Pies, put the fire back in our bellies. 
 
The second goal came after Jo drove the D beating the St Ives defenders before crossing the ball to Krystal who slapped the ball into the goal. 
The third goal came from a D-D break, Emily passed to Krystal who pulled the ball back and passed it to Flic who lifted the ball into the goal. 
Our fourth and final goal came from Suze who after injecting the short corner ran in and got the ball back on the post, to defect the ball in. 
 
Nominations for Player of the match were given to Ellie and Oli for their great running up front. Krystal for her work in the D. Ange and Rachel for their hard work in the midfield and it was won this week by skipper Jo Staines for her work rate and assist. 
 
Credit to the defence unit for their hard work, for securing the second clean sheet of the season! 

LADIES 4TH XI - 11/11/2017 VS NORWICH DRAGONS 5 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 4th XI 
DATE: 11/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 4th XI VS 11/11/2017 
HEADLINE:  
LEAGUE: NORFOLK PREMIER DIVISION 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE:TRF 
RESULT:2-0 
 
REPORT: 
After a strong start by City against Dragons 5s, the team dominated all the play in the attacking half, with the first goal just 15 mins in, a straight strike at goal by Amelia Ellis-Baumber who smoothly placed the ball past the keeper. 
 
We continued to work hard, determined to get another goal and after several short corners injected by Caroline Illing, Sue Tomlinson managed to put a goal away with a great strike at the top of the D. 
 
As the second half approached, we continued to work fantastically as a team, with our defence Emma Richardson and Lydia Ellis-Baumber remaining strong against a solid Dragons side and goalkeeper Summer Haylock who made some fantastic saves. 
 
However, we still had plenty of chances and with some brilliant runs from Ella Sharrock, Cheryl Brown and Rosie Osbourne, City tested Dragons goalkeeper continuously right until the final whistle. 
 
City’s final score was 2-0. A great team performance from everyone and a well-deserved 3 points. 
 
Match Report kindly provided by well deserved POTM and debutante Lucy McNarry. 

LADIES 5TH XI - 11/11/2017 VS BECCLES 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 5th XI 
DATE: 11/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 5th XI VS 11/11/2017 
HEADLINE:  
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 1 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Hobart High School 
RESULT: 2-2 
 
REPORT: It was a beautiful bright autumn day for a game of hockey for the Norwich City Womens 5s away against Beccles 1. City played a strong game throughout and dominated possession in the first half. Within two minutes of the starting whistle City won an early short corner. The direct shot by Allen was saved by the Beccles keeper. City maintained pressure however and won another short corner in the thirteenth minute with McNarry finding the back of the goal.  
 
Beccles came back strong and it wasn’t long until they had an opportunity on goal but City’s defence held strong and kept the ball out. Cushion fed the ball up the field and Phillips skilfully took the ball around the Beccles defence to score City’s second goal. City maintained control of the ball and achieved several short corners but they were unable to convert them. City went into half-time 2-0. 
 
City started the second half strongly and had two early goal opportunities but they could not find the backboard. Beccles managed to get a break away ball and with some disjointed defending from City, Beccles were on the scoreboard. Taylor-Balls had some great runs up the right side of the pitch, working well together with Marsh. A wild swing from a Beccles player led to another unconverted short corner for City. In the tenth minute Beccles managed to orchestrate a goal from nothing and the score was 2-2 and it was game on. 
 
The game entered a critical period for both teams and some frayed tempers led to a Beccles player and McLellan and Cushion for City receiving green cards all within the space of 15 minutes. Five minutes left and a Beccles player stopped the ball on the line with her feet giving City the chance to take the lead from a penalty flick. McLellan stepped forward, however the Beccles goalkeeper made an impressive diving save to keep the ball out. The game ended 2-2. 
Player of the Match: Gillian Allen 
 
 

LADIES DEVELOPMENT XI A - 11/11/2017 VS WATTON (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI A 
DATE: 11/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI A VS 11/11/2017 
HEADLINE: First points of the season for fabulous City girls! 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Watton Sports Centre 
RESULT: Watton 2-8 Norwich City 
 
REPORT: 
 
After struggling all season to raise a team, this eclectic bunch heroes, many playing together for the first time made the wait worthwhile. A comprehensive 8-2 thumping of a competent Watton side on this glorious autumn morning was nothing short of what the City girls deserved. City dominated from beginning to end and with their first points finally on the board, this team look ready to go from strength to strength. 
 
Within seconds of push-back, a jinking Maddie Hallam run into the Watton D resulted in a short corner which was not-so-subtly cleared off the line by the right boot of a defender. Evie Thorpe smashed the resulting penalty flick in to the net for City’s first goal of the game. Soon afterwards Maddie slotted in a beautifully worked goal, after some lovely passing between City captain Lucy Ingram and Katie Bayfield down the right. Watton responded almost immediately with a long ball down the middle nicely finished by their inside right. Fired by adversity, the Norwich girls peppered the crowded Watton D with shot after shot until the ball fell to Livi Tighe, who thundered it home to restore the two-goal advantage. The second quarter began as the first had ended with City in complete control. A great run by Amelia Waghorn was finished sublimely by Harriet Jolley before the goal of the game saw seven City girls involved in a wonderful display of passing hockey down the right flank which resulted in a pass from Lucy being swept in to the Watton goal by the reverse of Evie T’s stick 
 
Half Time Watton 1-5 Norwich City 
 
Watton emerged after half-time looking determined to make an impact and forced a marvellous double-save from Grace Long in the City goal, before Mia Edmond gobbled up the rebound and coolly dribbled the ball to safety. There were a couple more Watton forays into the Norwich half, which were ably stopped in their tracks by the dynamic duo of Maggie Mayo and Millie Beard. City found their groove as the half wore on, and began to play a more expansive style with Kate Ellis and Amelia combining well on the left, and Evie Hood running riot down the right to such an extent that Watton resorted to assigning two players just to contain her. By the end of the third quarter Lucy was pulling all the strings in the middle of the park, and played Evie T through beautifully for another reverse stick sweep into the goal. Evie T scored her reverse stick hat trick moments later for her fourth and City’s seventh, but Watton replied with another long ball somehow ending in the Norwich net to make the score 7-2. A short corner towards the end of the game was converted by Amelia for a very well-deserved goal to cap a fine performance. 
 
Full Time Watton 2-8 Norwich City 
 
 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 12/11/2017 VS BEDFORD (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 12/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 12/11/2017 
HEADLINE: Norwich progress to round 3 of Cup 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Bedford University 
RESULT: 5-3 
 
REPORT: 
After a long day out the previous day the lads, the men, the stoic defenders of everything Norwich City Hockey Club stands for headed to Bedford for the next round of the cup. Counting up on the mini bus we realised we had been shortchanged… there were 9 of us. Great. However knowledge soon reached them that Louis Preston and Richard Shapland were meeting us there.  
 
During the warm up Dave for some reason, wanted to try and intimidate the nonexistent Bedford team and proceeded in destroying his stick. Yes that’s right we somehow managed to break 3 sticks in a week. (This break, along with the power duo of Ronnie and Harry Paterson earlier in the week.)  
 
After a lengthy warm up and some the game was underway. Below are the key points from the game.  
- Dave scored two drag flicks 
- Louis got off the mark for the season with a beautifully worked short corner, which was injected from the right hand side completely bamboozling the defence 
- Big Russ decided to gift them with a goal from a short corner, the ball was going so slowly it didn’t even reach the back board.  
- Rich Shapland lept on the reverse to try and take a cross in our D, however the ball went under his stick and somehow flew upwards and hit Cookie Snr’s head.  
- Jonesy recreated the fine dancing he saw on Strictly the night before, beating what seemed their entire team, before hitting the ball at the top of the backboard down middle. 
- Jonesy scored an own goal [NJ edit: initial shot was on target, so technically not true…]. 
- Sam Bloom did some worldy skill and destroyed a couple of their players, finishing with a reverse stick goal… what a signing.  
- A couple of boys got hurty legs.  
- We won 5-3 
 
A good result to progress to round 3 with good game management, half court pressing for long periods in order to manage tired legs and those carrying injuries from the previous days escapades. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 11/11/2017 VS WAPPING 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 11/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 11/11/2017 
HEADLINE: City blow first half lead at national stadium 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Lee Valley, Olympic Park 
RESULT: 4-3 
 
REPORT: 
Excited to play at the Olympic Park, Norwich City started the game well in an evenly matched encounter. The first goal came when Nick Jones took the ball past two or three defenders and struck the ball into the bottom corner only for the recovering defender to keep the ball out of the goal with a lunge with the back of his stick. Dave Skinner duly converted the resulting penalty stroke. Norwich went 2-0 up before the break when Cameron Cooke struck home with a blistering volley! (Ok, it was a bit of a mishit, but nonetheless on target, and the keeper couldn’t keep out the awkward bouncing ball.) 
Wapping came out for the second half pumped up and pushed hard, using a high intensity full court press to which Norwich City could unfortunately not hold off. Three goals quickly came after the break to put Wapping 3-2 ahead. The game became scrappy with a few cards handed out in the second half as Norwich fought hard to find a way back into the game. The scores were levelled again when Dave Skinner converted Norwich’s only short corner of the match with a drag flick. Unfortunately Norwich were not on terms for long as a ball was left to go off the back only for it to hit the post and the onrushing striker to play the ball into an open net. Despite this, and having fewer players for a lot of the second half, Norwich kept fighting to get back on terms, but could not unfortunately manage another goal. Final score was 4-3 to Wapping, a very disappointing result especially considering how well the team were playing in the first half. 
 

MENS 2ND XI - 11/11/2017 VS CAMBRIDGE UNI 3 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 2nd XI 
DATE: 11/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 2nd XI VS 11/11/2017 
HEADLINE: Another draw for City 2's 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 1-1 
 
POM: Alex Scott 
TFC: Footballer Stuart Wardle incl. a horse and cart 
 
The team came off the pitch on Saturday deflated after what has been a too regular occurrence this half of the season, drawing whilst being ahead in the game. The work rate, particularly from the two midfield dynamo's, Fretwell and Plumb, was exemplarily again it was just a shame that the umpire gave a soft short corner to the visitors for them to score their equaliser. 
 
The game started well with City passing the ball around well and pressing the energetic and youthful Uni team high up the pitch and managing to pinch the ball in their half and 25 on a number of instances but just not having the composure in the final third to finish them off. The big boot of Sam Bloom getting in the way did not help either. We should have been 4 up at half time according to a number of spectators. The defence under control with no dramas or chances against them. 0-0 at half time. 
 
Second half started well with Elliott converting bottom right from a short corner and the team starting to upgrade some of their earlier possession however still no end product. With 15 mins to go the Uni team won a soft short and scored with a drag flick. A couple of break always were stopped short due to some untimely foot intervention. The rest of the game was relatively even with few chances. 
 
These are the sort of games that we need to grind out wins from if we are to have ambition of getting promoted, however the effort and attitude and fight/commitment (particularly from Miles) cannot be faulted. 
 

MENS 3RD XI - 11/11/2017 VS BURY ST EDMUNDS 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 3rd XI 
DATE: 11/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 3rd XI VS 11/11/2017 
HEADLINE: 3s continue unbeaten season with hard fought away win to Bury 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Culford School (Not the nice pitch!) 
RESULT: 4-2 Win 
 
REPORT: 
City 3s took to the field once again this week with a different team with a few players returning, however despite the changes City had a great first half, moving the ball around well and having some good passing moves down both sides of the pitch. City were 2-0 up thanks to 2 well placed drag flicks from Rees Leonard who completed yet another hatrick with a tidy finish over the keeper following a mistake in the Bury back line. Bury however managed to pull a goal back following a missed tackle along the baseline which allowed a Bury forward to run along it and square it for an easy tap in. However George Brine, Mark Fletcher and Toby Leonard all need got on the score sheet to make it 4-1 before Jack Luther did just that following a good move which started at the back as Ling played it to George Brine who then drove to the Bury D before playing in Toby leonard who squared it to Jack who reversed it into an open goal.  
 
The 2nd half the 3s lost a little composure on the ball and lost shape, this led to many turnovers in the 2nd half which led to Bury creating a few chances. City however despite not playing their best hockey in the 2nd half still coped well enough to seal out the win. Ben Cushion and Rees Leonard both went wide when with the goal at their mercy meanwhile Lloyld Sayer had a good effort saved by the Bury keeper. Bury did manage to get one goal from a penalty corner, as Freddy Hooper was the unfortunate one to deflect a flick into the goal. All in all a hard fought game in what is a difficult place to go but another 3 points as next week sees the big encounter v top of league Dragons 2s.  
POTM: Chris Perry 

MENS 4TH XI - 11/11/2017 VS IES 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 4th XI 
DATE: 11/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 4th XI VS 11/11/2017 
HEADLINE: NoSouthern Comfort for City 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: 2:8 
 
REPORT: Norwich City 4s hosted an IES2s side high on confidence and talent and with barely 90 seconds on the clock found themselves a goal down to a crisp drag flicked shot from the visitor's first attack of the day. If that wasn't enough to stir the home side into action, the next 15 minutes finished them off as they found themselves 4 goals down to an electric Ipswich side. With the game gone already for City and playing for pride they tried to put together some sort of attacking move themselves, but were picked off 3 more times before the end of the half by a combination of speed from the young visitors and skill from the older and wiser heads. A few choice words at half time from the home side and a more positive direct approach seemed to make the difference to the shape and the scoreline with City scoring twice through Pallister and Patel but it wasn't enough to hide the void in confidence and teamwork between the 2 sides. Ipswich returned home to the South with all 3 points and a healthy goal difference to boot. City MOM: Paul Roy 
 

MENS 7TH XI - 11/11/2017 VS WATTON 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 7th XI 
DATE: 11/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 7th XI VS 11/11/2017 
HEADLINE: One to forget 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 6 NORTH EAST (NORTH) 
VENUE: WATTON SPORTS CENTRE 
RESULT: WATTON 2 0 NORWICH CITY 7 1 
 
REPORT: 
City struggled to find any rhythm in this visit to Watton. The sandy pitch seemed to disrupt the quick flowing hockey that City had been playing in recent matches. Though several short corners were won City weren’t able to capitalise on them. 
Despite a stern half time team talk the second half followed a similar patter to the first, with the exception that City managed, somewhat fortuitously, to convert a short corner, man of the match Lee Allsop applying the finishing touch. 
The City defence of James Dorling, Cam Husband, Reuben Cooke, Malachy McDonnel and Joby Castlo-Hall plus keeper Guy Thrower had plenty to do to ensure that City kept a clean sheet.  
 

MENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 11/11/2017 VS NORWICH DRAGONS B (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens Development XI 
DATE: 11/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens Development XI VS 11/11/2017 
HEADLINE: Youthful City dominate local rivala 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Dragons Den 
RESULT: Dragons B 1 - 7 Norwich City 
 
REPORT: 
A very youthful City side comprising no less than 5 U12 players played some delightful passing hockey to convincingly beat their local rivals. 
 
Such is the strength of City as a club that 4 debutants (Angus Irving, Lucas Hay, Sen Kimber and Mattie Roy) were able to look comfortable on the ball and make telling contributions to complement their more experienced team mates. (Note "more experienced" includes two U12 players who have represented the Devs all season, Krishna Patel and Harry Ford). Mattie opened the scoring in the first quarter that was notable for some excellent passing and movement on and off the ball. Whilst City continued to dominate it remained 1-0 at the first break. 
 
A delightful second quarter saw City score 4 more goals via Henry Baker (a delightfully composed 'slot' rather than smash into the far corner), Sam Hyatt, Harry Ford and Jack Whitlam that made it 5-0 at half time. Whilst the accolades will go to the scorers Joseph and Freddie Paterson were sublime in midfield as was the excellent interplay between Sam Hyatt, Henry Baker and Harry Ford. Seb Kimber made a couple of good saves to ensure City remained in the ascendancy. 
 
At half time, with the game already won City took the opportunity to swicth positions to ensure City's senior players (Joseph Roy, Freddie Paterson, Sam Hyatt, Jack Whitlam and Henry Baker) took slightly less dominant roles nevertheless City continued to play with fluency. Lucas Hay made some useful tackles and made some intelligent passes particularly when playing on the wing towards the end of he game. Further goals from Joseph Roy and Henry Baker made it 7-0 at the end of the third quarter. It was great to see the versatility of all the players on display with Krishna Patel "revelling" in a right half sortie! 
 
Further positional changes saw Joseph Roy moved to defence Jack Whitlam enjoyed the final quarter as an inside forward and revelled in his more central role. A delightful break inspired by George Bowman (one of Dragons' "adults") saw Dragons score a consolation goal. 
 
Final score 7-1 meaning City have scored 27 goals in their last three games. 
 
There were many candidates for man of the match with the award going to a Joseph Roy.