Results

LADIES 1ST XI - 25/11/2017 VS DEREHAM 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 1st XI 
DATE: 25/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 1st XI VS 25/11/2017 
HEADLINE:  
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 1 NORTH 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 1-1 (D) 
 
REPORT: 
 
Norwich City Womens 1st XI welcomed Dereham womens 1st XI to their pitch at Taverham Recreational Facilities and despite the freezing conditions the pitch was playable. With most of the play stuck in the midfield, neither team were able to score in the first half, however there were a few opportunities at either end which saw both goal keepers see off the attempts made. The second half saw much of the same, but a scuffle in the Norwich’s defending D led to a short corner for Dereham. The first shot saved by Summer Haylock, fell to a Dereham player and a pass to their player on the post gave the opportunity to pop it into the goal. Although the goal came very late in the second half, Norwich knew that there was still time to get back into the game and pushed hard in the opposing half. Having beaten the defence Norwich City’s Micayla Toothill belted home an incredible shot from the top of the D to bring the score level just a few minutes before the end of the match. POTM went to Alice Gill for her effortless passing and great work rate. 

LADIES 5TH XI - 25/11/2017 VS DEREHAM 4 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 5th XI 
DATE: 25/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 5th XI VS 25/11/2017 
HEADLINE: Goal Bonanza !! 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 1 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Dereham Hockey Club 
RESULT: 11-0 win 
 
REPORT:It was freezing conditions when the womens 5s turned up to Dereham. Nevertheless we all warmed up, preparing both mentally and physically for what we believed to be a tough game ahead.  
 
City had first push back and within minutes, Molly Crabtree stylishly put away the first goal of the game. After this, City got into their stride. The passes were clean and fast which led to Molly putting away yet another goal from the penalty spot. Dereham stepped up their game and City gave away a short corner. The fearless defence; GK Anna Linsmith, Gillian Allen, Allison McLellan and Karen Hobden defended superbly and cleared the ball with poise. Molly was hungry for another goal and with great accuracy, put another away, completing her hatrick!  
 
Bev Cushion and Carolyn Lumley were a force to be reckoned with, always in a good position to receive and quickly release the ball to the attackers. Lucy McNarry took full advantage of this, making great runs down the right wing. She then put away a cracker of goal, lifting it over the goalies shoulder into the left corner. City made the most of the space in the attacking half, passing the ball to Carol McNarry who hit the ball from the top of the circle with power and precision into the left corner, scoring yet another goal. The half time whistle blew with City leading 5-0. 
 
City didn’t want to become complacent and entered the 2nd half with a 0-0 mind frame. Dereham has a some strong hitters but City were quick to intercept the longer passes. The second half saw Dereham sit more players in their defending half, giving city players less time on the ball. Molly Crabtree composed in the D passed to Charlotte Jeffers who put away City’s 6th goal. Lucy McNarry still wanting more put away two more! City weren’t tiring. Jane Loughridge and Maria Marsh worked well together to work the ball up the left hand side to Charlotte Jeffers who scored another pleasing goal, putting city up 9-0. Carol McNarry found herself in her perfect position at the top of the D and put away another cracker! 10-0 up, City were looking strong. Passing and communication was only getting better and better. Ellie Hobden had worked hard, making break after break up the right wing. Moving around the defenders, she found enough space to slap the ball into the left corner of the goal. The final whistle blew, City winning 11-0. 
 
An excellent performance by womens 5s. A well deserved player of the match went to Molly Crabtree!  
 
Match report kindly written by Charlotte Jeffers. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 25/11/2017 VS CITY OF PETERBOROUGH 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 25/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 25/11/2017 
HEADLINE: Norwich raise game after poor start 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Peterborough 
RESULT: 2-6 
 
REPORT: 
With the previous fixture delayed by 20 minutes and temperature sitting a few degrees above freezing, Norwich struggled to get started and a lapse in concentration allowed the home team a simple finish at the back post within a few minutes of play. Unfortunately, the home side seized another opportunity which was converted by the Peterborough forward. 
Finding themselves 2-0 down after 15 minutes, a rotation of the subs brought much needed energy into the Norwich side. Unfortunately it was here that Thomas Cooke had to retire with a hurty leg, but the defence regrouped accordingly. With gathering momentum, Norwich found the gaps in Peterborough’s midfield and by dominating possession in the Peterborough half, the chances to score soon arose. 
Cameron Cooke scored the first goal when Dave Skinner unselfishly passed with a two on one with the keeper having picked the pocket of the Peterborough centre back. Then the equaliser came shortly before half time when fast thinking from Rich Shapland distributed the ball from the end of the pitch to the midfield, where the ball was played up the line to Dave Skinner. A perfectly executed 1-2 between Skinner and Chris Wardale eliminated the few Peterborough defenders, allowing Skinner to finish the move with an excellent goal. 
With the scores level at half-time, a motivational pep talk by coach Phil Skinner ensued and the team were re-fired to come out at full pace after the interval. 
Cameron Cooke put Norwich ahead shortly after half time with a clinical reverse stick finish after the opposition keeper found himself out of position. The fourth goal came from a clever short corner taken from the opposite side of the goal – Dave Skinner dragflicked and the defender on the line could only deflect the ball onto the underside of the bar and in. With Norwich fully in control, the chances continued to show, with Skinner scoring a penalty stroke to complete his hat-trick having played some mind games with the keeper before taking it, saying to their goalkeeper “I hear you play for England” to which the reply was “yes” to which Dave followed up with “good luck”. Chris Waldale put the cheery on the cake with another slickly executed one-two with Luke Corden before finishing accurately from a tight angle with the keeper stranded on the floor. 
Final score, 2-6. Comeback of the season? 
MOM – Cameron Cooke 
 

MENS 4TH XI - 25/11/2017 VS IPSWICH 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 4th XI 
DATE: 25/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 4th XI VS 25/11/2017 
HEADLINE: Atale of two halves. 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: 2:4 
 
REPORT: Norwich City Men's 4s entertained a high flying Ipswich team in this early Division 3NE fixture at Taverham. The home side started well and pushed forwards with confidence and purpose in the opening 5 minutes. Unfortunately a lack of concentration and slack marking allowed Ipswich 2s to score twice in the next 5 minutes to knock the wind from the home side sails and take a commanding grip on the game. City briefly rallied and pushed forwards looking for their own goal and again were undone by a cross shot from the away side which was pushed over the line at the far post by the ghosting winger from Ipswich. City finally clicked into gear on 20 minutes and forced in a goal towards the end of the half through Armstrong to reduce the arrears. The second half was met with more direct play and desire from the home although they scored through Silvester midway through the second half, and had a shot cleared off the line, the away side increased their lead again late on to win by 2 clear goals. Norwich city MOM: Tim Armstrong 
 

MENS 7TH XI - 25/11/2017 VS NORWICH CITY 6 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 7th XI 
DATE: 25/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 7th XI VS 25/11/2017 
HEADLINE: Experience wins the day 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 6 NORTH EAST NORTH) 
VENUE: TAVERHAM RECREATION FACILITY 
RESULT: NORWICH CITY 6 2 NORWICH CITY 7 0 
 
REPORT: 
It was the elder players of the club that came out on top in the battle against the younger members of the club. The 7's with a full squad were missing some of their regular adults and also had an abundance of fowards so Lee Allsop and Nathan Dixon were pressed into service as half backs. This didn't disrupt the team and it was the 7's who played the better hockey in the first half moving the ball about well. The 7's soon lost full back Cameron Husband to a hand injury so Lee Allsop was moved even further back where he produced a man of the match performance. 
Despite their possession the 7's weren't able to capitalise and fell behind to a David White strike. 
After the break the 6's came more into the game adding the second from a powerful Simon Deakin strike. Whilst it was a win for the elders the youngsters received a lot of credit for their skill and style of play.  
 

MENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 25/11/2017 VS NORWICH DRAGONS A (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens Development XI 
DATE: 25/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens Development XI VS 25/11/2017 
HEADLINE: City slickers hit local rivals for six of the best 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: Norwich City Devs (boys) 6 - 0 Dragons A 
 
City sizzled the cold night air from start to finish in a delightful display of total hockey against the hitherto unbeaten league leaders. At times the City youngsters played with composure beyond their years mixing dazzling stick skills with forward and backward passing moves that occasionally had the visitors chasing shadows. 
 
From the off City dominated possession, passing and territorial stats and justly went ahead thanks to Jonty Black calmly slotting the rebound from Henry Baker's initial short corner strike. Pedro Salcines Rueda made it 2-0 when he finished off a fantastic passing move that sliced open the Dragons defence. Freddie Paterson made it 3-0 before half time thanks to a well worked corner routine (Jack Whitlam to Henry Baker to Jack to Freddie...simple). Whilst the half time score line reflected the home side's dominance it should be stressed that the defence (Archie Ward, Ethan Rushton and Krishna Patel all made telling tackles and more importantly maintained composure when they were challenged.) Will Morrissey made one excellent first half clearance plus a splendid stick save. 
 
The fantastic, if unexpected, half time score line enabled the manager to mix positions and regularly utilise the rolling subs. The third quarter a little less fluid than the first half but nevertheless saw Freddie Paterson extend the lead with a stunning reverse stick shot that hit the backboard, sideboard and rebound back out of the area such was the ferocity of the shot. 
 
With City pressing their advantage Sam Hyatt scored two excellent goals in the fourth quarter, his second rivalling Freddie's for hardest hit shot of the day. Final score 6-0. Freddie Paterson showed his versatility playing the last quarter as a cultured defender. 
 
Whilst the eye catching interplay between Jonty, Toby Pallister and Pedro was undoubtedly the height and a delight to behold, there was a huge amount of focused and often selfless running off the ball from all those that played on the forward line (Freddie, Jack, Oliver Moore and Harry Ford) and the outside halves (mostly Ethan Rushton, Oliver Moore and Henry Baker). One particular effort from Henry summed up the commitment and personal responsibility in the team......City were 5-0 up and Dragons had a break down their left flank, Henry chased back from the attacking 25 all the way back to our defensive D and then carried the ball back up to their 25 (only to get knocked over by a desperate Dragon's defender)....awesome. 
 
Pedro was named man of the match just beating Archie by one vote.