Results

WOMENS 1ST XI - 24/04/2021 VS UEA 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 1st XI 
DATE: 24/04/2021 
FIXTURE: Womens 1st XI VS 24/04/2021 
HEADLINE: 1st XI V UEA 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 1 NORTH 
VENUE: UEA 
RESULT: 7-0 
 
REPORT: 
City travelled to the UEA for their annual fixture against the students in warm and sunny conditions. 
 
The away team started the brighter and maintained the lion share of possession, however, UEA were able to break down play and prevent City from fully clicking in the first quarter. UEA threatened with the occasional counter attacked but City made their possession count when a through hall from Jo Staines found Stacey Lee who drove into the circle beating a defender and then the on rushing goal keeper to make the score 1-0.  
 
The 2nd quarter followed much the same pattern as the first with the away side trying to get to grips with the sticky pitch and trying to keep the ball moving. This came to fruition in the final minutes of the quarter when a free flowing build up down the right hand side eventually found Rosie Ringer who’s shot hit the post. Stacey Lee was following up and took the rebound on a first time reserve stick effort to double the score going into half time. 
 
City really found their stride in the third quarter which resulted in a goal rush, 5 more in the quarter to be precise. Stacey Lee got her hatrick early in the quarter. Emily Francis injected a penalty corner and followed up well to convert from the near post. Captain Ellie Brine got involved with a well timed finished too. Two more goals where added by Stacey Lee thanks to assists from Olivia Williams and Emily Francis.  
 
UEA kept battling and struck the odd counter attack in the fourth quarter to keep goal keeper Summer Haylock on her toes. The final score was 7-0 to NCHC. Player of the match Stacey Lee. 

MENS 3RD XI - 24/04/2021 VS UEA 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 3rd XI 
DATE: 24/04/2021 
FIXTURE: Mens 3rd XI VS 24/04/2021 
HEADLINE: UEA edge ‘battle of youth’ 
Friendly 
Venue:UEA 
Result: City 3s 1 - 2 UEA 2s 
 
Report 
 
This late afternoon fixture in the glorious sunshine was always going to be a tough challenge for a City side that boasted 11 players who were 18 or under against a team that prior to lockdown had won 4 of their 5 league games in the league above City.  
 
UEA started very well and dominated all areas of the pitch in the first 15 minutes with City indebted to Simon Black and Will Riddleston in defence and Bobby Rash in goal combining on multiple occasions to somehow keep the scores level. Somewhat against the run of play a fine City break down the right involving Henry Baker, Max McEwan and Max Wilson (all 15 years old) forced a penalty corner which was expertly converted by the rising talent Krishna Patel (another 15 year old). Not surprisingly, the goal seemed to galvanise City into playing some much better hockey with Monty Platt and Rio Iaccarino providing a competitive edge to midfield. Unfortunately Rio took a nasty knock with 15 minutes left in the half and was unable to return or influence the game thereafter. 
 
City continued to compete well in the second half but were soon forced into defensive heroics from the back three and Henry, Krishna and Paul Roy. Sadly, the after effects of his first COVID jab meant Paul, one of the 3s talisman of the season, ran out of energy midway through the half further reducing our squad to 12 from the original 14. Deservedly UEA scored following a second phase move from a penalty corner. 
 
City did create a number of chances and had a number of penalty corners in the second half but none really threatened to add to their scoreline. Sadly, in a season that has seen so many highlights with players working on and off the ball for each other and seen some excellent decision making, today we struggled to maintain intensity and consistency with our decision making - often resorting to dribbling when ball retention was the better option. To put a minor cloud on what has been a very good season for himself and the team, captain Simin Black needlessly picked up a green card following the award of a UEA penalty corner which was then converted by UEA as he watched shamefaced and helplessly from the sideline - message to self ‘not everyone has the same sense of humour as me!’. In the final 15 minutes the game ebbed and flowed with Rob McCall, Freddie Paterson,Edward Taylor and Ethan Rushton all halving half chances. 
 
Yes we had a few ‘quiet’ performances from players that have had very good seasons but several players were contenders for man of the match: 
 
Monty Platt for galvanising the midfield, keeping his head and steadfastly concentrating on consistently making the right decisions. 
 
Krishna Patel for working tirelessly and taking ownership of the game no matter his position and in particular for his communication with his team mates. 
 
Henry Baker for consistently and tirelessly covering in defence and supporting attacks and mature decision making. 
 
Will Riddleston for an excellent defensive display coupled with a few ‘dynamic sorties’ into the opposition half. 
 
Simon Black for leading from the back and belying his advanced years. 
 
Bobby Rash for his calmness under pressure, for making countless fine saves and maintaining focus and intensity to the end. 
 
In the end it was a toss up between Monty for showing the virtues of making the right decisions and Bobby without whom the scoreline would have been less flattering. 
 
Man of the match was therefore, Bobby Rash.