Results

MENS 1ST XI - 22/09/2024 VS REPTON 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 22/09/2024 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 22/09/2024 
HEADLINE: Intense End To End Battle Leads To a Well Fought Draw 
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: Repton School  
RESULT: 3-3 Draw 
 
REPORT: After 10 long weeks of preseason and 5 months since the last competitive fixture the squad were back in action. And, back on the road aswell with this side of Christmas having the joys of a collection of the longest away days to Repton, Barford, Nottingham & Banbury. First up were conference new boys Repton. Based at the school and with some former prem talent the team knew they'd be up for the fight and from the off that was confirmed. Repton dominated possession in the early stages and made it pay taking the lead after a scrappy bit of play at the top of the D fell to an unmarked forward who left Fraser Evans rushing out to cover a 1-on-1 and the Repton forward found the opposite bottom corner.  
After an unideal first quarter where the squad got a welcome back to competitive hockey they knuckled down and started to build some play. First a Max Wilson drive down the wing and entry to the D with a 1-on-1 with a defender, he managed to squeeze a shot away and it was well kept out. Then came a Max Wilson reverse that was also saved. Before new signing Tom Ridley won the ball just outside the Repton 23, he passed down the left wing to James Mackenzie making his national league debut and he found Ben Chapman at the back post for a deflection and equaliser. HT 1-1, a drastic improvement in play from Q1 to Q2 and the game was in the balance.  
Q3 was alive with action, both teams playing at a ferocious pace from D to D. Repton started the quarter with a flurry of Short Corners. Tom Harris equal to the first one, one wide and then a save from Fraser Evans for the 3rd. Louis Preston put Chris Wardale through 1v1 against the keeper but a chasing back defender was able to disrupt his shot and maintain parity. Repton played an aerial down the line and Norwich didn't shift across in time so the receiver found a player top D in space who reversed into the near bottom corner to take back the lead. Alex Scott played down the line to Cam Cooke who played in behind the defence to Max Wilson who had a shot saved. A few minutes later Max found himself in the D again this time 1v1 and the keeper saved again. Tom Ridley then stepped up with a reverse and once again it was well saved. Finally the attacking efforts paid off after Cam Cooke entered the D, moved the ball into his backspace away from the defender and rocketed one into the roof of the net. Q3 2-2.  
Q4 was much the same with more Penalty corners to Repton and more threatening breaks for Norwich. Thankfully Norwich scored early on in this quarter. Stu wardle in space down the left channel finding Tom Ridley inside who reversed across the face of goal, probably slightly higher than he'd like, as Chris Wardale had to get his stick on the end of a chest high ball but he gladly made sure it nestled into the goal for Norwichs first lead of the game. The Norwich goal threats continued as Ben Chapman broke away to result in a 1v1, debates of flick for a stick tackle from the keeper and at the very least should have been a short for the foot that was not given so Norwich battled on. Both sides pushing for a critical goal that would decide the game. Repton with 5 minutes to go won their 8th penalty corner of the game, and after the Norwich defensive unit had done so well to keep them out so far, a goal line clearance fell to a Repton player who managed to get it over the keeper and then the injector got to the ball before the postman could and it was volleyed in. 3-3 final score.  
A phenomenal battle to have witnessed. Both sides absolutely off their feet at the final whistle. Either side could have won it. Repton rueing missed penalty corners, Norwich rueing all of the attacks that the keeper was equal to. A welcome addition to the league, and we are all looking forward to the return fixture.