Results

WOMENS 1ST XI - 29/10/2022 VS ST ALBANS 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 1st XI 
DATE: 29/10/2022 
FIXTURE: Womens 1st XI VS 29/10/2022 
HEADLINE: Sunny St Albans 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION 
VENUE:St Albans 
RESULT:5-2 
 
REPORT: 
After a long journey to St Albans and a positive week of training we were ready to play the brand of hockey we wanted to play. St Albans were quick from the start and we were slowly getting into our stride. They had a couple of attacks that were swiftly met by Nunn, Preston and Fongy. After some end to end stuff Flic slid a beautiful ball to Oli to make it 1-0. A quick play from St Albans saw them break our defence giving Georgina a 2 on 1 which resulted in a goal. 1-1. Final play of the first half ended in a short corner where another slider from Flic found Alice who came in like a steam train sliding on her knees, 2-1.  
Second half we were playing some brilliant hockey, from a long corner Ella drove it in and got shot on target, 3-1. Continuing with the goal scoring quickly came another with Harriet giving a super ball down the line which found Krystal who smashed the ball from the top of the D to make it 4-1. One of the highlights was Fongy who skilled about 4 players and got herself into a goal scoring opportunity but as she went to hit the hall took a tumble. From a short corner St Albans slipped the ball right and found the middle of Georgina’s legs to make it 4-2. A ball from debuted Nicki found Ellie who selflessly passed to Krystal to get the final goal of the game. #smileandwave 
 

WOMENS 2ND XI - 29/10/2022 VS ST NEOTS 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 2nd XI 
DATE: 29/10/2022 
FIXTURE: Womens 2nd XI VS 29/10/2022 
HEADLINE: Another 3 points! 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 1 NORTH 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT:4-1 win 
 
REPORT: 
City were raring to go on a warm Saturday in October. Starting with attacking flair and great composure there were many chances that skimmed just wide or were thwarted by the brilliant St Neots keeper. It was about 20 minutes until the deadlock was broken with the first goal knocked home by Rosie Ringer after a super speed drive. 1-0 to the hosts at half time, the team talk by coach Chris was more of the same, with maintance of possession and a clinical finish. It wasn’t city who found the net next though, with St Neots who had been kept at bay by a solid defensive line sneaking a goal in. This buoyed the home team who made it 2-1 shortly after with a wonderful Sophie Bendon strike. The play then remained firmly in the St Neots defensive half with City calmly passing the ball and creating many opportunities, a short corner followed and Emily Francis rattled it home to make it 3-1. With the final minutes of the game upon City, a short corner was given and the whistle went, everyone piled forward to partake and Lauren Lawrie pounced on the rebound of Sophie Bendon’s effort and gave 300% to ensure that ball went through the keepers pads into the goal! 
 
 
 
A great 4-1 win over a good St Neots side for City womens 2s. 
 

WOMENS 3RD XI - 29/10/2022 VS BURY ST EDMUNDS 3 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 3rd XI 
DATE: 29/10/2022 
FIXTURE: Womens 3rd XI VS 29/10/2022 
HEADLINE: Possession and positives  
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Bury 
RESULT: 3-4 
 
REPORT: 
Norwich city started with lots of even play and had most of the possession, however, with the only few chances Bury did have, they scored 2 goals close together in the first 20 minutes. Norwich City defence worked hard with some great saves from Goalkeeper Jo. This didn’t stop Norwich city with lots of great play from Inners Hollie B, Evie B and Jen C.  
City’s first goal was scored from a pass across the goal by Lucy M to Helen B which she hit into the bottom right corner.  
 
2-1 to Bury at Half time and after a motivating talk from Ali, Nathan and Gemma, we came out stronger in the 2nd half.  
 
City 3s had most of the possession in the 2nd half. A pass from Hollie B to Claire S, which was then passed in front of Lucy M who launched it into the top left corner of the goal, led to another goal for city! 
 
Only 5 minutes left and the score was 4-2 to Bury. City 3s still had lots of opportunities from plenty of short corners and on the final whistle Helen B scored her 2nd goal from a short corner straight strike! Full time score 4-3 to Bury. 
 
A great team performance and a high work rate from everyone with lots of positives to take from today.  
-POTM Lucy McNarry 

WOMENS 5TH XI - 29/10/2022 VS YARMOUTH 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 5th XI 
DATE: 29/10/2022 
FIXTURE: Womens 5th XI VS 29/10/2022 
HEADLINE: Tough game ! 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST (NORTH) 
VENUE: cliff park academy  
RESULT:0-11 
 
REPORT: Norwich City 5’s vs Yarmouth 1’s 
 
In a match city will be keen to forget, we were outplayed by a strong and organised Yarmouth team. Without our regular team, City made a slow start, giving the opposition too much time on the ball and they dominated possession and took their many chances. 
With nothing to lose, City started the second half brighter, Chloe linking up well with Sophia and Rose on the right, but we were unable to advance into the attacking D. Our defensive line worked tirelessly but were constantly under pressure. It was a test of character that the team dug deep and limited Yarmouths chances, even creating a couple of chances in front of goal in the latter minutes of the game. A tough game… Onwards and upwards next week!  
Player of match Marie Hood  
 

MENS 1ST XI - 30/10/2022 VS CITY OF PETERBOROUGH 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 30/10/2022 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 30/10/2022 
HEADLINE: Norwich City End Peterboroughs 100% Run! 
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: City Of Peterborough Hockey Club 
RESULT: 1-1  
 
REPORT: 
After a successful start to life in national league the team faced their toughest test so far with a trip away to face former division 1 opponents Peterborough who had started with 4 wins from 4. Although a recent 1 goal win over local rivals Magpies and the game being after a slip week meant we had all the faith we could catch our opponents off guard and take all 3 points back to Norwich. This was helped further with the unknown wildcard addition of Elliot Hibell looking to bring back his form of his last competitive game 4 years ago on debut for Norwich City. 
 
This aim started well with both sides having phases of stringing passes together and looking dangerous in and around the offensive D. Both sides were relieving pressure on the defense with aerials but this meant neither side held onto the ball for particularly long periods and could get on top. After a few threats Norwich won the first short corner of the game and made it pay with Thomas Cooke taking sole possession of the top scorer standings with his 5th goal of the season. Peterborough threatened a few more times down their left hand side but provided no change to the scoreline. Q1: 1-0. 
 
Immediately as the 2nd Quarter begun Chris Wardale found himself unmarked at the top of the D and rocketed a hit just past the left post. Similar to quarter 1 both sides continued to threaten but neither could find the target or win any short corners. A great end to end affair for the Norwich faithful that had made the journey aswell as the Long Sutton fan club that had come to watch former player Josh Baker. Lots of scrappy action in either D saw Peterbrough get frustrated for not winning short corners and Norwich have 2 goals chalked off for back sticks and feet in the lead up. This continued all quarter and kept our lead at 1 goal at halftime. 
 
3rd quarter saw continued effort from the forwards to pressure their defenders into mistakes and resort to aerials and long balls. Anything that did get into our half was quickly snuffed out by Harry Brown, Alex Scott, Krishna Patel & Tom Harris and Elliot Hibell, Sam Hyatt & Jonty Black did superbly well to remove the immediate pressure on turnover by winning fouls through quick stickskills and smart carries into space. Peterbrough got increasingly frustrated by the lack of outcomes they were getting and took it out on the umpires which resulted in a green card for one of their players. This meant we could see out the 3rd quarter with the extra man and it remained 1-0 to City. 
 
The 4th quarter was a very different story, Peterbrough came out hard and showed they were unbeaten for a reason. They kept their passing short and dominated possession and territory. But our defence remained strong. Our defenders did well to pick balls in and anything that got through was saved by Alastair Cooke in goal. Peterborough eventually found luck with some skillful D entries and Short corner wins, although Harry Gill running out and Alastair Cooke in goal were able to stop their first 3 corners. Unfortunately their 4th corner with 4 minutes to go was bundled in at the 3rd time of asking after a save and goal line clearance. This fired Norwich up and we had a couple attacks to take the lead back including a lovely deflection from Pete Morgan after Tom Cooke found him with an excellent ball from halfway, but couldn't make them pay. And in the dying seconds Peterborough won their 5th short corner of the game and much like their previous outing vs Harleston Magpies had a chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with the last play of the game. But Alastair Cooke was equal to it and parried it back into the D and in the scramble that ensued it hit a Peterborough foot and that was the game.  
 
1-1. Very fair result with both teams having phases of domination and an extremely good showing from a newly promoted side to take points off a newly relegated side and show we more than belong in National League. 
 
Bring on only our 2nd home game but 6th game of the season next as we welcome Lichfield to Taverham. With only 2 points separating the 2 sides.  

MENS 3RD XI - 29/10/2022 VS IPSWICH 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 3rd XI 
DATE: 29/10/2022 
FIXTURE: Mens 3rd XI VS 29/10/2022 
HEADLINE: Table toppers thwarted 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: City 1-0 Ipswich 
 
REPORT: 
In a classic top (Ipswich) versus bottom (City) clash this game proved that nothing can ever be taken for granted where sport is concerned. City having narrowly lost their first four league games whilst their visitors arrived with a 100% winning record and an average goal per game surplus of 6. 
City started strongly with the midfield combination of Jim Pallister, Max McEwan, and Oli Millett linking well with the ever-young Richard Silvester leading the forward line. Whilst City by no means had it all their own way in the opening exchanges, they certainly defied the pre match league table positions. Having failed to convert a couple of penalty corner opportunities City were then thankful for the truly mercurial, nay, majestic keeping of Tom Franks, resplendent in ‘Dutch’ orange for the day. An uncharacteristically errant pass from Simon Black at the back created a perfect two on one (Franks) opportunity. Ipswich took advantage to unleash a thunderbolt headed for the top right corner only for that man Franks to nonchalantly pat the ball away without a care in the world. 
City, through Harry Ingham (if only he was available every week), Archie Ward (ditto) and Sam Hancock clinically transferred the ball from one flank to the other to provide telling through balls for the intelligent leads of the front line, Silvester, Mark Fletcher and Dan Jeffers. Throughout the half Silvester and towards the end, George Brine proved to be the scourge of Ipswich’s defense. 
With City defending intelligently and with total accountability from the front to the back, they were able to limit Ipswich to just a handful of chances, all of which were blocked or brilliantly saved by the irrepressible Franks. 
Half time: 0-0. 
Given the quality all over the pitch in the first half it was obvious that this game would be settled by the narrowest of margins. City, again started well with Archie Ward, Sam Hancock, Kieran Shapcott and George Brine really coming to the fore. Midway through the half Ipswich thought they we going to take the lead when a crisp shot looked destined for the far corner, but you’ve guessed it, that man Franks held firm and simply parried away the danger. Ipswich must have felt it was just going to be one of those days when one of their attackers said ‘your keeper’s having a blinder’ (or words to that effect). 
With most of the play being focused between the 23m lines the tenacity and hard graft of City’s midfield (Millett, McEwan, Pallister, Brine, Shapcott, Hancock and Ward) supported by the tireless running of Jeffers and Fletcher meant Ipswich were limited to a handful of meaningful attacks. 
With just four minutes to go a fine interception on City’s left was swiftly turned into attack with a delightful through ball to Silvester in the inside left channel. He jinked, he drove, he entered the D, and unleashed a fine low shot to break the deadlock – the players, the crowd (yes, we even had one of those!!) were elated. 
Of course, four minutes can seem a very long time and allowed Ipswich one final attack, only for that man Franks to tip a low shot onto his post and away to safety. 
To a player, City never stopped battling and whilst Ipswich might feel a draw was the very least they deserved, we had Silvester’s composure and accuracy in front of goal and the unbreakable orange force field known as Tom Franks in our goal. 
 

MENS MASTERS XI - 30/10/2022 VS O50S VS CITY OF PETERBOROUGH (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens Masters XI 
DATE: 30/10/2022 
FIXTURE: Mens Masters XI VS 30/10/2022 
HEADLINE: Penalty pain powers Peterborough progress 
EHA O50 Cup 
VENUE: Peterborough 
RESULT: City 2-2 Peterborough (Peterborough win 6-5 on penalties) 
 
REPORT: 
Dynamism, pace, skill and thrills were aplenty in a tumultuous double header between Peterborough and City. First, the warm up act – a tense fast paced encounter between top of the table Peterborough and third placed City in the National League encounter that ended 1-1 thanks to a very late equalizer for the home side that thwarted a brilliant City performance. 
The crowd, having been duly warmed up, were then treated to a sublime main course, the EHA O50 cup. In the warm up act there had been greyhounds and leads into space, in the main event there were grey hairs (aplenty) and ‘there’s no way I’m catching that’ if the ball isn’t played to my stick! 
Having set the scene, the cup encounter was every bit as entertaining as the National League encounter (in slo mo). In these cup games City’s creativity largely comes from Captain Pies’ imaginative and thoughtful positioning of players (who knew Mark Bailey, Pies and Simon Black were a midfield combination?) Anyway, the game really did start and maintained a very fast pace with both keepers pressed into action very early on. Bov, for City, making a couple of excellent saves and top of the D clearances before Peterborough broke the deadlock with a clinical shot into the roof of the net. 
City continued to play the ball intelligently round the back (Frosty, Geoff, Phil Nunn and the swash buckling Ali Cargill) and through midfield for the intelligent and dynamic runs of Charlie (I’ve never played a home game) Lankfer and David Broadway up front and were unfortunate not to level the scores when Lankfer, Black and ‘postman’ Mark Bailey narrowly missed opportunities. Peterborough then broke to make it 2-0 before Bailey, showing footwork good enough to grace the ‘Strictly come dancing stage’, forced the ball in from 3 inches to make it 2-1 at half time. 
Somehow City upped their already herculean efforts in the second half and largely nullified Peterborough’s attacks via a combination of guile, grit, and sliding tackles (Cargill). Pies then levelled the scores with an individual moment of magic. 
The remainder of the half ebbed and flowed with half-chances at both ends, coupled with determined defending and hard graft in midfield. Lankfer was unfortunate to be given a green card towards the end when his was the last of a series of ‘little’ fouls on Peterborough’s play maker, Drake. Cargill on the other hand, and much to the amusement of all the other players, somehow avoided a card in the dying seconds – must be that irrepressible smile of his!! 
Full time 2-2. So on to penalties. 4-4 after the first 5 penalties (top flicks by Pies, Lankfer, Pallister and Spencer) so on to sudden death. Pies clinically scored to make it 5-5. Drake then made it 6-5 for the home side before Black’s pinpoint effort was saved and destined City to the plate competition. 
A great game played in an excellent spirit with enough moments of true quality to show how great those on show might have been in their younger years. 
Massive thanks to the crowd for cheering to the end – it made a huge difference to all of those on the pitch.