Results

WOMENS 2ND XI - 14/03/2020 VS UEA 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 2nd XI 
DATE: 14/03/2020 
FIXTURE: Womens 2nd XI VS 14/03/2020 
HEADLINE: Fast and Furious 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: TRF  
RESULT: 1-3 Loss 
 
REPORT: 
With Georgia Cleveland back from skiing, Rosie Humphrey back from illness and Rosie Ringer back from international horsing around duty we had a fantastic squad to take on the students. The game started fast and within the first few minutes Emily Francis unfortunately took a direct hit to the shin from a very hard hit close range, so we lost her for a little bit. Luckily she’s as hard as nails and came back on after a while! We figured that as students they would be quick and fit and they definitely were.  
 
Across the back, Leigh-Ann Worrall and Hannah Nunn were putting in some fantastic tackles against some very skilful UEA forwards. Their distribution (especially hits) was brilliant and with Ellyn Roberts running up and down the left and Kate Houldey up and down the right, we had many great counter attacks. Ellyn had a very speedy player to mark but luckily her long legs allowed her to keep up with her! Niamh Campbell was running rings round players through the middle of the pitch with her silky skills performed at speed! She took on player after player and put some brilliant balls through to the forwards.  
 
As usual Helen Busfield and Georgia held the middle strong, with fantastic ball retention from Georgia and great distribution and pace of passes from Helen. We won many penalty corners and finally scored from one with a straight strike from Emma Hewitt which resounded off the backboard Leigh-Ann stylee! UEA scored 2 goals in the first half to bring the score at halftime to 2-1. 
 
After the break, both teams came out hard, but for a lot of the first and second half City played the better hockey, but UEA’s goalie kept stopping everything we fired at her! Kate sustained an injury to her hand in the second half which meant we lost her temporarily, but a quick re-shuffle and all was OK. After a goalmouth scramble, Hannah stopped the ball from going in with every part of her body and UEA were awarded a penalty stroke. Sophie Turner confidently stepped up and saved it with ease!  
 
With Rosie H having a few spells up front, it was great having her tenacious and tireless work-rate, hassling the UEA defence and making some great leading runs. Rosie R was constantly cruising down the wings outrunning the UEA girls (and making us work hard to keep up with her!) and threading balls through into the circle. Emily was constantly running down the barrel of the gun and making some brave and impressive interceptions, turning defence into attack. Lizzie Cheesman beat players through the middle of the pitch and fed the ball into the forwards to get shots away. With Milly Brown driving down the right wing defenders and slotting the ball through, we had lots of chances to shoot, but the goalie kept getting in the way! 
 
It was a fantastic team effort throughout the game and City played some brilliant hockey. But alas, it ended 3-1 and City will now finish at least 6th in the table, with one game left away at Ipswich next week. 
 
POTM: Emma Hewitt 
 

WOMENS 3RD XI - 14/03/2020 VS PELICANS 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 3rd XI 
DATE: 14/03/2020 
FIXTURE: Womens 3rd XI VS 14/03/2020 
HEADLINE: A win for baby carrots  
LEAGUE: NORFOLK PREMIER DIVISION 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham (home) 
RESULT: 5-1 (win) 
 
REPORT: 
In the first touch of the game, with one powerful swoosh to the left, the ball was smacked off the pitch by Kim Cleave but fortunately it got better! As the first half progressed, City found their feet and played some lovely long balls through to the forwards, who came close on many occasions but just could not make that back board rattle. City continued to push high and their confidence grew with each hit. City’s Emily Greenway then opened the scoring with not one but two great goals!  
 
The second half started with a much more settled City squad, who looked like they wanted the game, including some great distribution from Sally Richards and Karren Dagless, through to player of the match Emma Richardson, who commanded with lovely feeder balls for the forwards to run onto. Both Mia Edmond and Mia Moore had solid games, picking up balls and running into spaces. Marie Hood put in a great work rate too.  
 
As the second half continued, visitors Pelicans 2s had one key player up front who was yearning for the ball but it wasn’t her day. When City gave a short corner away, however, they were punished with a straight strike on target.  
City battled on and secured the win in style, smashing home a string of goals from deflections, taps and straight strikes. The scorers were Gabby Sharp, Olivia Greenway and Marie Hood. A great result for a lovely bunch of baby carrots!   

WOMENS 6TH XI - 14/03/2020 VS THETFORD TOWN 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 14/03/2020 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 14/03/2020 
HEADLINE: NO REPORT 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 2 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: 
RESULT: 
 
REPORT: NO REPORT 
 

MENS 2ND XI - 14/03/2020 VS DEREHAM 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 2nd XI 
DATE: 14/03/2020 
FIXTURE: Mens 2nd XI VS 14/03/2020 
HEADLINE: Win against local rivals! 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH 
VENUE: Dereham HC  
RESULT: 4-2 Win 
 
REPORT: 
Travelling to an already relegated Dereham with a 15 man squad, City were confident that they could get another 3 points to consolidate their mid-table position. City started well and scored from an excellent George Bowman near post deflection, Bowman then turned provider as his squared ball fell to Matthew Brine who found the back of the net with ease. 2-0 HT 
 
After the break City lacked discipline in the centre of midfield and Dereham pegged back a goal before goals from Harry Gill and a second from George B meant that City had a commanding 4-1 lead, a late Dereham consolation goal wasn't enough to overturn a comfortable 4-2 away win.  

MENS 3RD XI - 14/03/2020 VS BURY ST EDMUNDS 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 3rd XI 
DATE: 14/03/2020 
FIXTURE: Mens 3rd XI VS 14/03/2020 
HEADLINE: So near yet so far 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: 1-1 
 
REPORT: 
In a game that was to prove the last of the season this was a case not quite of winner takes all but of winner stays up. Sadly we needed to win, Bury needed a win or a draw. 
 
The game as you'd expect was a tight battle with brothers Bailey combining for a cameo that could and should have delivered a victory. As ever, Adie Land provided City's goal (if only we'd been able to call on his goal scoring ability all season) and was appropriately rewarded with being voted man of the match. 
 
Could the result have been different? Of course it could - there were great performances all over the pitch but lady luck as has been her wont all year simply ignored our needs, most cruelly when Rees Leonard's shot having beaten the keeper fell agonisingly wide. 
 
Massive thanks to the 57 players that have represented NCHC 3s this year. 
 
May we hope to celebrate each other's company on and off the pitch in the not too distant future. 

MENS 4TH XI - 14/03/2020 VS NORTH NORFOLK 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 4th XI 
DATE: 14/03/2020 
FIXTURE: Mens 4th XI VS 14/03/2020 
HEADLINE: A Day Out to Cromer 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Cromer High School 
RESULT: 
NCHC 4's 1 - 7 North Norfolk 1's 
REPORT: 
City arrived expecting a tough game against top of the league North Norfolk 1’s, yet helped by an inspirational team talk about damage limitation before the game, they held their own and went in at halftime 2-0 down. Two relatively early goals in the second half put our opponents 4-0 up before City hit back with a delightful p-flick from Jags. We were stretched for the remainder of the game and apart from a few chances in the second half, ended up conceding a further 3 goals resulting in a scoreline that maybe flattered the home side. A valiant effort but city lose 7-1.  

MENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 14/03/2020 VS DEREHAM (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens Development XI 
DATE: 14/03/2020 
FIXTURE: Mens Development XI VS 14/03/2020 
HEADLINE: City fightback not quite enough! 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Dereham 
RESULT: Dereham 5 - NCHC 4  
 
Scorers: Kit P 1 Kieran S 2 Harry M 1 
 
Man of Match: Ben Hawes  
 
REPORT: 
 
Norwich started slowly trying to force their way through the centre of an elder and more physically strong Dereham side. City payed the price conceding 5 first half goals. The only ray of light a Kit P break down the right leading to what looked like a consolation goal. The goal proved a good lesson and the boys worked out that by moving the ball quickly they could pick apart the Dereham side. 
 
The second half started better. The quick passing put Austin through on the break who eliminated to last defender and keeper with a lovely square ball to Kieran who popped it into the goal. The next city goal; a solo effort from Kieran; he received the ball in a crowded area; spun with the ball stuck to the end of his stick taking out 3 defenders before slotting it past the keeper – champagne moment! Norwich were now dominating the game and short corners came. Harry finished one of them brilliantly. Another goal would have come and could have come if the Dereham keeper had not pulled off a brilliant one on one save with Austin. 
 
My reflections – “I never lost a game just ran out of time” Michael Jordan. Very true for this game and great that they did not give up! 
 
Jim