Results

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LADIES 1ST XI - 23/09/2017 VS BEDFORD 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 1st XI 
DATE: 23/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 1st XI VS 23/09/2017 
HEADLINE: Big start to a big season. 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 1 NORTH 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 4-0 
 
REPORT: 
The Womens 1st team took on Bedford 2’s in the first league game of the season, on home soil at TRF. With strict instructions from a slightly grumpy coach (men hey!) – the team were taking the game to Bedford and were stopping at nothing to start the year as they mean to go on. 
 
 
During the pre-match warm up, we exploited many of the team’s expertise – with a Yoga masterclass from Harriet Johnson, followed by an old-school game of stuck in the mud from Olivia Williams. We stepped on the pitch ready and raring to go. From the first whistle, we pressured Bedford into their own half, great build up play from Jo Staines, Micayla Tootil and Rachel Mayne resulted in chances for the forwards. One of which a great 1 on 1 with the keeper for Krystal, albeit kept out by a great diving save. 
 
 
Bedford made a few forays into the city half and were ably kept at bay with some crucially timed tackles from Harriet Johnson and Fong Chung. It was one of these great defensive moves that resulted in the first goal as quick movement of the ball meant Emily Francis could dink the ball past the last defender, into the D and smash it into the goal 1-0. 
 
 
The first half created a few more chances with short corners proving threatening but unfruitful. We moved into the second half and Bedford stepped up their game, defensively we remained strong with Danni Sizer, Suzie Mitchell and Felicity Williams switching the ball around the pitch with ease. 
 
 
Our second goal game following a counter attack, and Krystal Bishop found herself at a narrow angle, with a forceful ball towards the goal, a deflection meant we were 2-0 up. The third shortly followed as Angela Hindle, Felicity Williams and Ellie Brine linked up effortlessly down the left channel. A through ball found Krystal who rounded the keeper and swept home a quick ball past the onrushing defence 3-0. 
 
 
Bedford didn’t let this take the wind from their sails and with Sally Rose holding strong at the back, there was little options for Bedford. Summer Haylock was called upon a handful of times and clearly the ball with purpose to the midfield who were always ready to attack. Micayla Tootil linked up with Abbie Ingham through the right channel with Abbie outwitting the defence and the pace and drive from them created opportunities for Ellie Brine and Olivia Williams who continued to run tirelessly onto the posts. 
 
 
Felicity Williams, Ellie Brine and Emily Francis who had linked up well in the final 23 produced the final goal when Felicity Williams drove the D with intent, before firing an excellent reverse ball across the D for Ellie Brine to slap home 4-0. 
 
 
A fantastic and passionate start to the season, starting as we mean to go on. 
 

LADIES 2ND XI - 23/09/2017 VS CHRISTCHURCH 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 2nd XI 
DATE: 23/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 2nd XI VS 23/09/2017 
HEADLINE: City Secure a Win! 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: St Joseph's College 
RESULT: W 0-1 
 
REPORT: 
 
Brand new league, brand new season, brand new team and a brand new captain. City had an early start to head down to Ipswich for their opening game of the season against Christchurch 1.  
 
After an 'inspiring' team talk from the new captain Danni Garwood in the changing rooms, the womens headed out for a warm up on the Olympic-style pitch.  
 
The start of the game saw some shoddy passing, some slobby tackling and some 'first game of the season' hockey, city were slow to react and spent the first five minutes basically making sure they didn't concede a goal as opposed to playing proper hockey, which, to be fair, was sort of to be expected with a whole new team and set up! 
 
City then really started to get into the game, with Milly, Leigh-Ann and Matilda working tirelessly upfront with balls in from Rosie and Hannah, but unfortunately, despite multiple penalty corners and many decent chances, city could not score (credit to the Christchurch keeper - she was awesome).  
 
At the other end of the pitch, POTM Megan Conway and half-back Becky were busy too, making some essential tackles and some very decent passes up the line to the forwards.  
 
Serena and Longy were too working hard, with Serena frustrating the opponents by making some lovely, textbook saves, and Longy really slowing Christchurch down by making some solid tackles. The city defence also did some lovely transfers of the ball across the back line, which was brilliant to see.  
 
After a talk at half-time, city knew they had to start the second half with some serious fire in their bellies, and they did! Each and every yellow shirt on the pitch was working together to get the ball up the pitch and put serious pressure on the opposition.  
 
The goal came when Megan made a lovely ball up the pitch to Milly, Milly then passed the ball into the 'D' to Rosie, Rosie then passed to Matilda, and Matilda finished the goal. A true team effort and testament to what can be achieved when we all work as a unit (which we are already very good at!). 
 
The rest of the game was dominated by city, with very few Christchurch chances swiftly cleared away, with Georgia making some fantastic tackles, and Evie, Ellie and the inners making some brilliant runs/passes/chances - none successful, but a very good start to the season.  
 
Many things to work on as a new team, but also, nothing can be taken away from the fact that we won the game as a newly-promoted team, secured the three points and worked very hard with the step up. 
 
Onwards and upwards to Yarmouth next weekend. 
 

LADIES 3RD XI - 23/09/2017 VS LOWESTOFT RAILWAY 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 3rd XI 
DATE: 23/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 3rd XI VS 23/09/2017 
HEADLINE:  
LEAGUE: NORFOLK PREMIER DIVISION 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Kirkley High 
RESULT: 1-2 L 
 
REPORT: 
Availability issues and an early start away scuppered the Norwich City Womens 3rds odds on another win this week.  Travelling to Lowestoft with the bare 11 proved a tall ask.  The Norwich City goal keeper Emily Waldron was kept busy in the first half as the Norwich City team took some time adapting to the playing surface, and with Lowestoft having the home advantage they defended well.   
 
Lowestoft Railway were the first to open the scoring with a reverse strike at the top of the D which saw an unstoppable shot hit the back of the net.  Norwich City then fought back, with a glancing touch on the post from Olivia Greenway to level the score line.  However, just before the half time whistle, Lowestoft Railway found a gap in the Norwich City defence to score the winning goal of the match.   
 
Norwich City, without substitutes, began to feel the pain in the second half, but battled on with Zoe Smith (player of the match) working relentlessly, and with some amazing saves from Norwich City’s goal keeper Emily Waldron, the City side were able to keep the goals conceded to a minimum and were unfortunate not to get at least a draw from the game.  

LADIES DEVELOPMENT XI B - 23/09/2017 VS DEREHAM (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI B 
DATE: 23/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI B VS 23/09/2017 
HEADLINE: Dereham defeated by creative City U13's 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Dereham HC 
RESULT: Dereham 0-6 Norwich City U13 
 
REPORT:  
 
City came away from Dereham with a well deserved 6-0 victory in their first away game of the season. A second consecutive hat-trick for City captain Effie Bowley, along with a Niamh Campbell brace and a debut goal for Lily Macdonald wrapped up the three points for City, and continued their super start to the new campaign. 
 
City came out of the blocks quickly as the first half got underway, putting a well organised Dereham defence under pressure from the very beginning. Dereham played an adult in central defensive role and her experience told as she cut out many of City's early forays in to the Dereham D, but the excellent attacking interplay between Emily Leeming and Effie Bowley eventually led to a well taken first goal of the season for Niamh Campbell who slotted the ball home beautifully. Soon afterwards, the terrier-like Evie Thorpe nicked a deflected Effie Bowley shot from the Dereham keepers' toe and passed back to Effie who knocked in City's second. As the half progressed, the City midfield dominated possession and bamboozled thier opponents with Saskia Williams and player of the match Lucy Hutchinson combining superbly down the left flank, Effie Bowley and Freya Myhill controlling possession in the middle, whilst Emily Leeming and Niamh Campbell marauded down the right side. With the half drawing to a close, the Dereham defenders reverted to playing long balls downfield for their attackers to chase. An imperious City defence comprising of the always composed Sabina Baker and the impeccably positioned Sofia Kazimierczak combined with the outstanding duo of Mia Edmond and Kate Ellis to make interceptions, win tackles, and play their way back in to the opponents half with some lovely passing, but most impressively ensured that the half finished without a shot on the City goal. 
 
As the second half commenced, the City girls began to play around Dereham's adult defender, and cut her out of the game with some fabulous passing and movement. City were dominant and forced numerous short corners before Effie Bowley masterfully rounded two Dereham defenders before stroking in her second and City's third. Soon afterwards another Evie Thorpe cut-back was put past the keeper by Effie, who will be going into next week's clash with Magpies looking to complete a hat-trick of hat-tricks. City kept up the pressure for the duration of the second half, with Lucy Hutchinson a constant threat and unlucky not to score after forcing two incredible saves from the Dereham goalkeeper. City didn't have to wait long for their fifth, as debutant Lily Macdonald cut in from the right and thumped in a brilliant solo goal from just inside the D. As the half drew to an end, a long ball from the Dereham defence squeezed through to their centre forward who provided a delighted Imogen Basset with her first serious action of the season as she made an initial save from close range before knocking away the rebound and averting the danger to the City goal. After another City short corner the ball dropped to Niamh Campbell who hammered home the sixth goal from just inside the D. The satisfying thud of the ball hitting the Dereham backboard was the last action of the match, and set up an early season top of the table clash with Magpies next week. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 23/09/2017 VS CAMBRIDGE CITY 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 23/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 23/09/2017 
HEADLINE:  
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Cambridge 
RESULT: 5-1 
 
REPORT: 
After a successful preseason campaign with new coach Phil Skinner at the helm, Norwich City's Men's 1st Team started the league with a tough away game to newly relegated Cambridge City 2's. City welcomed the latest of the Ingham clan to play for the first team with Harry following in his father and older brother footsteps. 
 
They found themselves 1-0 down inside the first few minutes with a deflected ball from a City stick over the kicker of Alastair Cooke in goal and an easy prod home by the unmarked player on the back post - hopefully a wake up call for Norwich who had shown no signs of this in preseason. 
 
City almost responded midway through the first half with a counter attack from a defending short corner which resulted in a melee on the Cambridge goal line leading to a short corner, however City could not convert.  
 
City remained under pressure throughout the first half with sloppy possession and the numerous short corners given away. However City had some half chances with Raunaq shooting just wide on his reverse following a good counter attack. However the pressure from Cambridge was going to tell at some stage and it did with Cambridge racking up two short corner goals before the end of the first half leaving the score line 3-0 to the home side. 
 
City knew they had to score first in the second half to mount any comeback. 
 
Norwich started the second half and again where falling into same habits as the first with Cambridge always seeming to have a free extra man. The game was becoming more and more stretched with lots of end to end hockey - good for the neutral spectator! 
 
City conceded two more times to make it 5-0, but despite this, City continued to fight and eventually managed to salvage a goal through the Thomas Cooke who wandered up the field which led to him putting the ball past the keeper at the second attempt, becoming City's leading goal scorer for the season! 
 
A disappointing 5-1 loss on the opening day, however City need to learn their lessons and bounce back with a home game against newly promoted Bourne Deeping next Saturday at 13.00. 

MENS 2ND XI - 23/09/2017 VS PELICANS 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 2nd XI 
DATE: 23/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 2nd XI VS 23/09/2017 
HEADLINE: City 2's enjoy another goal fest 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH 
VENUE: TRF - sand 
RESULT: 9-2  
 
REPORT: The men's 2's came into the weekend brimming with confidence from their demolition of the UEA 1st team who coincidentally will face the 2's later in the season.  
 
City started solidly, passing the ball effortlessly and sweeping the pelicans midfield and defence aside and were rewarded with the first of many goals within 10 mins of play with Miles Doncaster finishing well. Josh Bailey soon followed up the scoring with an effort of his own. Goals came thick and fast with Jeremy Elliott, making his 2nd team debut, finishing from a set piece.  
 
More goals followed with another well worked short corner and Elliott finishing again. The half finished not as the team would have wanted with the pelicans finishing what was probably their first attack of the half and their forward finishing a sweeping move from deep.  
 
The second half started much the same as the first with city trying to assert a stronghold on the game and extend their league further. It took the 2's a little longer than hoped to open the second half scoring but eventually managed to convert a short corner moving the ball back to Pete Morgan and finishing well under the keeper.  
 
Josh Bailey added a second effort of the game and Richard Silvester finishing superbly after a brilliant solo effort found him on the byline and he slotted home. Elliott completed his hat trick with a penalty flick and followed up with a fourth from left slip on another penalty corner, making it his 10th goal in two games for the 2's, and finished the scoring for game. The game petered out with the aging pelicans side dropping like flies and suffering injuries galore.  
 
They will be looking forward to going into their game next week looking for a second win against St Ives and if their performance on Saturday was anything to go by they should stand in good stead.  
 

MENS 3RD XI - 23/09/2017 VS PELICANS 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 3rd XI 
DATE: 23/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 3rd XI VS 23/09/2017 
HEADLINE: City take pre-season into league season and start the campaign with a win! 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: LynnSport 
RESULT: 3-2 Win 
 
REPORT: 
Norwich City Mens 3rd XI started their season with a 3-2 win over Pelicans 2nd XI. City started off slowly and were sloppy in the opening exchanges, slack marking and poor passing nearly let Pelicans in a couple of times before they made the break through with a PC goal. City fought back though and worked hard on the counter attack following a high press from Pelicans. Rees Leonard brought the scores level following a PC, before giving City a 2 goal cushion to take the lead with another PC and a well worked counter attacking move, with Rees finished well for his hatrick.  
 
After the break City created more chances and if it hadn't of been for the Pelis keeper City could of made the game safe but with 10 minutes to Pelis scrambled home a 2nd goal despite it coming off a City stick, city had to move on from the poor decision and keep fighting to the end. City held on for a valiant but hard worked 3 points. Next week another tough game v IES 2s at home. 

MENS 4TH XI - 23/09/2017 VS UEA 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 4th XI 
DATE: 23/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 4th XI VS 23/09/2017 
HEADLINE: Back to the league with a bump 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: 1:5 
 
REPORT: Saturday's Division 3 NE opening fixture saw Norwich City 4s host a UEA team short on personnel but not on confidence. The opening 10 minutes saw both teams make inroads in the oppositions half but a distinct lack of composure resulted in neither side working the keepers. This unfortunately changed during the next 15 minutes when the slick passing of UEA proved too much for City and goals were inevitable, 3 very simple efforts with the same outcome. Driving from deep and using their wingers to good effect, too many times the City back line were over run with willing attackers from the visitors. The half time score of 3:0 was richly deserved and left City with a mountain to climb in the second half. Changes were made to the line up and this made a marked difference to the dynamics of the team, but although more inroads were made in the oppositions half, a shortage of opportunities to score was evident. The visitors scored twice more in the second half, punishing gaps left in midfield while using the pace of the wings and although a decent passing move for City down the left side allowed a goal to be pulled back by Simon Dale, the damage had been done and the game finished 1:5 to the visiting University side. City MOM was the very industrious Adam Richardson.  
 

MENS 7TH XI - 23/09/2017 VS NORFOLK NOMADS 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 7th XI 
DATE: 23/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 7th XI VS 23/09/2017 
HEADLINE: All square at the Sportspark 
VENUE: UEA SPORTSPARK 
RESULT: NORFOLK NOMADS 2 1 NORWICHC CITY 7 1 
 
REPORT: 
City welcomed back James Dorling from injury along with youngsters Alex Tomkinson and Toby Pallister for their adult debuts. 
This was an even affair with both teams creating chances through the match. Nomads took the lead midway through the first half when the Nomads forwards outpaced the City defence and slipped the ball under keeper Dave King.  
City continued to play some neat passing hockey with Alex Tomkinson showing some nice touches down the right flank, whilst in defence man of the match Malachy McDonnell put in a good shift providing lots of cover. 
City equalised during the second half with a move down the left that led to the ball being played across to the top of the circle where skipper Ali Wardales miss hit shot was only partially parried by the diving keeper and Alex Tomkinson pounced to lift the ball over the stranded keeper. 
The result continues City's unbeaten start to the season.