Results

LADIES 1ST XI - 30/09/2017 VS ST NEOTS 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 1st XI 
DATE: 30/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 1st XI VS 30/09/2017 
HEADLINE: Goals Goals Goals! 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 1 NORTH 
VENUE: St Neots 
RESULT: 6-1 
 
REPORT: 
The first away league match of the season saw NC Womens 1s take on newcomers to East 1N, St Neots Womens 1s. 
 
The game started evenly, with the defensive unit of Sally Rose, Pui Foung Chung, Harriet Johnson and Dani Sizer keep out the home side's forwards. City drove forward with the hardworking trio of Ellie Brine, Emily Francis and Olivia Williams, with Ellie Brine sweeping in for 1-0 lead.  
 
We held the game in midfield with Angela Hindle, Jocasta Staines and Emily Rash feeding the forwards or passing back for the defence to transfer across the pitch. However, the home side levelled after a few mistraps and slips in the defence, leaving a forward with time to finish past the outstretched kicker of goalkeeper Summer Haylock. Score line 1-1. 
 
This was a wake up call for City and we soon won our first short corner of the match, which was dispatched magnificently with an unstoppable deflection by the diving, "on your belly" Olivia Williams for a 2-1 lead. 
 
City increased the work rate and created havoc in the home side's D and like a ninja, Krystal Bishop scored with a trade mark acute angle finish to make the scoreline 3-1 leading into halftime. 
 
Coach Matthew Brine encouraged us to make more simple passes and to keep the transfers going to stretch out play, keep possession, play the percentages and pressurise the opposition when we don't have the ball.  
 
So not content with sitting back, City came out for the second half on a charge and a quick pass to Krystal on our 23m, saw her race to the opposite 23m, slip a textbook right hand pass to eliminate the defender to the supporting Olivia, although the shot was saved, Krystal was on hand to dispatch the rebound for a 4-1 lead. 
 
With momentum, City drove forward and with 3 consecutive stick tackles on the skilful Felicity Williams in the 23m saw a short corner awarded to City. Another slick routine, saw Micayla Tootill at full stretch to send another unstoppable deflection into the back of the net for a 5-1 score line. 
 
Late in the game, Abbie Ingham got amongst the goals with a deft deflection past the goalkeeper's outstretched kicker for a final score line of 6-1.  
 
It was another great team performance, with lots of well executed goals. POTM went to Pui Foung Chung for her interceptions and distribution around the back line. 

LADIES 2ND XI - 30/09/2017 VS YARMOUTH 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 2nd XI 
DATE: 30/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 2nd XI VS 30/09/2017 
HEADLINE: Norwich City maintain winning start to the season 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 2-1 Win 
 
REPORT: Norwich City continued their wining start to the season with a 2-1 win over Yarmouth in their first home game of the season. After a slightly shaky start, for the second week in row, city soon found their feet on a familiar pitch and began putting the visiting side under pressure. City were perhaps fortunate not to concede the first goal after a long ball into the circle took a deflection and found the corner of the goal, but the umpire adjudged the touch was not off an attackers stick. This was one of the few chances that city gave their opposition and the majority of the game was played with city on the front foot. The home side created a number of chances of their own, and had it not been for the Yarmouth keeper they could have quite easily found themselves 2 goals up by half time. 
 
Half time came and city were reassured that the goals they deserved would come if they continued to keep up their good work of the first half and improve a couple of areas in the second half. They did not have to wait long for their opening goal, as shortly after the break Hannah Jarvis converted the first short corner of the half, her strike from the right hand side of the circle was too much for the keeper to handle and the ball was fired through her legs. Determined to push on and add to their lead city continued to push hard and spent most of the next 15 minutes camped in the Yarmouth half. The second goal of the day came from a Milly Brown deflection, after leading her marker to the edge of the circle she lead back towards the goal and connected with a direct ball from Danni Garwood, and although a visiting defender got a touch it was not enough to keep it out, with Rosie Humphrey guarding the ball from any incoming defenders. Yarmouth however were not down and out, and hit back with a goal of their own only minutes later. After winning the ball on the city 25m, Yarmouth took the ball into the circle and whilst leading across goal the attacker was felled by a city defender - short corner Yarmouth. They converted the short corner with a strike from the edge of the circle into the bottom left of the goal giving city keeper Serena Scott little chance. The remaining 15 minutes were dominated by city creating a number of good chances, however the city attackers were unable to beat the Yarmouth keeper a third time. Yarmouth did manage to have one last counter attack and Serena Scott was called into action once more but was alert to the dangerous and smothered the Yarmouth attacker before she knew what had happened. 
 
Another win and another good performance for the newly promoted city, they will be happy with their points tally so far but know that they still have room for improvement as they look to continue their winning run through October. 
 

LADIES 3RD XI - 30/09/2017 VS NORWICH DRAGONS 3 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 3rd XI 
DATE: 30/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 3rd XI VS 30/09/2017 
HEADLINE:  
LEAGUE: NORFOLK PREMIER DIVISION 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham Recreation Facility 
RESULT: Lost 0-1 
 
REPORT: 
City Womens 3rds will be disappointed not to have come away with a point from their match against a strong Norwich Dragons 3rds. With Norwich City missing a few key players they did well at holding Dragons to 0-0 for the majority of the game. Norwich City's attacking unit really tested the Dragons defence. Sophia Bassett, Rachael Phillips and Emily Greenway denied converting goals by the Dragons GK or shots just just wide of the post. The match was pacey and end to end, with Dragons also having their chances and giving the City defence much work to do. Norwich City's GK Emily Waldron (player of the match) orchestrated the defensive unit and made some great saves - a scuffle in the D brought Emily Waldron City's GK out of the goal and Dragon's Ali Windsor-Waite waiting took an opportunity to lift the ball towards goal, the City defence held their breath as Jenni Stanghan standing on the goal line cleared the lifted ball which gained the admiration of the spectators.  
 
City picked up the pace further in the second half - however it was Dragons who capitalised after a break left City overloaded and with the ball pinging around the D it somehow finally petered over the goal line in the last few moments of the game. 

LADIES 4TH XI - 30/09/2017 VS LOWESTOFT RAILWAY 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 4th XI 
DATE: 30/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 4th XI VS 30/09/2017 
HEADLINE: Hannah our Heroine saves the day 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK PREMIER DIVISION 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE:East Point Academy, Lowestoft 
RESULT:2-2 
 
REPORT: 
Lowestoft Railway 1's looked in a strong position coming into this game with two wins behind them. City only fielded 11 players and some of us were playing in new positions. We knew that this was going to be a tough match. We had a positive team talk and spirits were high at the beginning of the game however it unfortunately took us a while to settle and Lowestoft Railway took advantage of this by gaining an early lead. City then began working well as a unit and we were awarded our first short corner which Fiona Spencer converted from the top of the D.  
 
The second half started in a similar way with Lowestoft again scoring early on. We didn’t let this get to us and we stuck to our game plan. It looked as though we were quickly going to be back on level terms when Fiona had another shot from a short corner which was put into the back of the net helped by a deflection from a defender but unfortunately the initial shot was deemed too high and the goal was disallowed. City kept up the pressure and worked well as a unit, we knew that we wanted to come away from this match with something to show. After another one of our attacking short corners was blocked, Fiona managed to regained control of the ball and powered it past the keeper into the goal to bring the score to 2-2. We all worked so hard for the last 10 minutes – marking players, defending short corners and keeping our cool. City were pleased to come away from this game with a well-deserved point, a great effort from the whole team!  
 
Match Report kindly provided by POTM Hannah Sangar, who as an outfield player was prepared to play in goal for us this week and was simply outstanding - thank you so much Hannah.  
 
 

LADIES DEVELOPMENT XI B - 30/09/2017 VS HARLESTON MAGPIES (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI B 
DATE: 30/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI B VS 30/09/2017 
HEADLINE: One for sorrow, Four for joy! 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: Norwich City 4-1 Harleston Magpies 
 
REPORT: 
 
Norwich City ground out a hard fought but nonetheless impressive victory in this match against a technically gifted and well coached Harleston Magpies squad. The almost capacity crowd at the Taverham Recreational Facility were treated to some scintillating hockey from both teams in this end to end encounter. Goals from Effie Bowley (2) and Matilda Butterworth (2) along with last ditch goal-saving defensive challenges by Mia Edmond and Tabitha Witte were enough to secure the three points for Norwich, and leave them perched at the top of the league table for another week. 
 
Magpies were on the front foot from the beginning, forcing an early short corner which was admirably blocked by Tilly Butterworth. City responded with some slick interplay down the right between Niamh Campbell, Effie Bowley and Tilly, followed by two brilliant runs and crosses by Niamh which were somehow cleared from a congested Magpies D. Norwich continued to press, and an excellent through ball from coaches’ player of the match Millie Hay allowed Lucy Hutchinson to win a short corner. Sabina Baker fed the ball to Niamh, who pushed the ball right to Effie Bowley. Effie slotted a delightful ball through to Lucy H who was unfortunate to have her first time shot cannon back off the post with a loud clang! Shortly afterwards, an almost carbon copy short corner was nudged from Niamh to Effie, who this time struck a beautifully placed shot beyond the Harleston keeper and into the left corner of the goal. Magpies almost stuck back immediately with a long ball from their veteran defender slicing through the middle of the pitch to their left forward, whose shot was comfortably saved by Imogen Basset in the City goal. City, however continued to cause problems for Magpies down both flanks, this time with Emily Leeming asking questions of the defenders down the right and Saskia Williams causing them problems down the left. 
End of first quarter City 1-0 Magpies 
 
The second quarter began with Effie once again testing the Magpies goalkeeper after an exchange of passes with Lucy H, followed by Niamh holding off defenders whilst making two strong runs down the right flank. A tactical re-organisation following City substitutions appeared to cause a temporary befuddlement in the Norwich ranks, and Harleston used the opportunity to take the initiative, with their centre forward shooting just wide after picking up a long pass from midfield. Another long pass through was missed by millimetres by the Harleston forward, whose subsequent chase for the ball was curtailed by Imogen who craftily let the ball run harmlessly into the goal. With the long ball working well for Magpies, Mia Edmond showed exceptional vision to cut out a pass with two Harleston players charging forward ready to pounce. The travelling Harleston supporters sensed that a goal was coming, and were abuzz with anticipation. They didn’t have to wait long, as some lovely quick passing down the right ended with the centre forward coolly knocking the ball just inside the far post for the equaliser. 
Half Time City 1-1 Magpies 
 
Evie Thorpe chased down the Magpies push-back like a terrier to reclaim the ball for City, and set the tone for a dominant third quarter performance by the Norwich girls. Millie and Lucy Ingram combined well down the right before Lucy I won the ball on the edge of the Magpies D, and pitched a lovely pass inside to Effie who let the ball run across her body before firing a sublime reverse stick drive in to the right of the Harleston goal. After the re-start, Effie ghosted past three players on the right and crossed to Evie, whose shot was superbly pushed wide by a defender. Lucy H continued to cause havoc down the left flank, and with Magpies stretched, it wasn’t long before City scored their third. Effie burst through the midfield and passed to an unmarked Evie, who pushed the ball into the path of the onrushing Tilly to hit a first-time reverse stick shot past the flailing keeper. Harleston began to make a little more headway towards the end of the quarter, but Sabina, Mia, and Tabby were a forcefield around the City D, which the Magpies forwards were unable to infiltrate. 
End of third quarter City 3-1 Magpies 
 
Both teams knew that the next goal would be vital in deciding the match, and Magpies were first out onto the pitch, determined to pull one back early. It was City, however through the tenacious Lucy H winning tackles on the left who took the early initiative. Magpies inevitably hit back and three successive forays down the right were thwarted only by the authoritative tackling of Tabby. Niamh summed up the attitude of this City team by chasing down a loose ball which was destined to be a Magpies sideline until she improbably kept it in play and made a great run into the D. A counter-attack by Magpies was stopped by Lucy H, who began a fabulous display of recycling the ball with Tabby, Mia and Sabina combining to quickly move the ball from left to right where Tilly played the ball forward to Niamh to win the short corner. It was from another short corner minutes later that Niamh passed right to Tilly, whose shot hit the Magpies back board with such a thud that it was reportedly heard in Drayton. With the score at 4-1, and the seconds ticking down, Magpies had to throw caution to the wind and piled forward. A super move down the left was ended as Mia managed to get stick to ball just as the centre forward was preparing to shoot from four yards out. Another long ball down the middle was deftly taken off the attacker’s stick by Tabby just as she looked certain to score, and seconds later a three on three situation broke down with an over hit pass from the Harleston left forward, which was allowed to roll into the net by Imogen. It was City however who ended the game on the attack with Lucy H winning the ball in her own half, and running almost the length of the pitch to cross for Effie, who was denied a hat-trick by the Harleston goalkeeper. 
Full Time City 4-1 Magpies 
 
Player’s player of the match: Tilly Butterworth and Effie Bowley 
Coach’s player of the match: Millie Hay 
 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 30/09/2017 VS BOURNE DEEPING (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 30/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 30/09/2017 
HEADLINE: Raunaq Rai steals the show on home debut 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 4-2 
 
REPORT: 
The men’s 1st team had a great start to their first home game with Raunaq Rai scoring an excellent goal hitting the inside of the post and going into the side of the net on the opposite side of the goal. The opposition responded with a goal - a quick counter attack and deflection past our keeper. The next goal came from Cameron Cooke as he slotted the ball past their keeper with a very similar finish to those being practiced at training; very satisfying for coach, Phil Skinner, to see I'm sure. Further goals were added by Josh Bailey, who scored from a rebound off the keeper, and then by Raunaq Rai again scoring an excellent goal, smashing it into the top left corner of the net (instead of top right as before). Half time came and the score was 4-1. The second half was a more stretched and unstructured affair with both teams starting to tire as the half progressed. The teams tiredness started to show, and a short corner was given away, where Bourne Deeping slotted a well executed routine past our keeper. The game finished with a good result of a 4-2 win to Norwich City. 

MENS 2ND XI - 30/09/2017 VS ST IVES (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 2nd XI 
DATE: 30/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 2nd XI VS 30/09/2017 
HEADLINE: A mixed performance gets City 2's a point 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH 
VENUE: One leisure, St. Ives 
RESULT: 1-1 
 
REPORT: 
A game of two halves.  
 
A poor start, mainly due to ambitious passes in our own D and strong opposition led to St. Ives being camped in our half for most of the 1st period. Their goal came from a lapse in concentration off a free hit; giving them an easy tap after Ben came off is line to close down the angle. This led to much shouting from Hindle. After this, St. Ives had a few chances, but City stayed firm. A goal line clearance from Clive the main piece of goal line action in the remainder of the half; although Duffy took an unexpected 2 minute break towards the end of the half due to not backing off.  
Half time came and with it came a wake up call from Hindle, telling us that we weren't playing 100% and we needed to step up our game.  
This sparked a change in the second half, as it was City that were camped in St. Ives half for a large amount of the half. City created many chances, including Hindle forcing a save from the keeper and Jez firing over (twice) from a tight angle; any chances that St. Ives created were dealt with by Millett and his defence. City pushed hard for an equaliser in the dying minutes and they were rewarded as Jez fired in a PC with a minute left on the clock.  
A mixed performance; should have been more than 1-0 down by half time, but could have had more than 1 up in the second half. 
MOTM: Ben Millett  
TYFC: Jeremy Elliott (Jez) 
 
 

MENS 3RD XI - 30/09/2017 VS IES 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 3rd XI 
DATE: 30/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 3rd XI VS 30/09/2017 
HEADLINE: On form Leonard rescues City 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Taverham - H20 
RESULT: 2-2 Draw 
 
REPORT: 
City Mens 3rd XI took on IES 2s in their first league home game of the season, knowing it would be a tough game facing a team who battled it out with them in Division 2N last year. City started well and moved the ball round well, both Toby Leonard and Rees Leonard forced the keeper into saves with the latter also having a shot narrowly wide. A great aerial from Harry Gill put Ali Shearer in and he was also unlucky to see his shot just fall the wrong side of the post. It was a shock when a debateable short corner against City that IES took the lead, but with City continuing to have all the play it was a long ball from Sam Clabon which let in Sam Bloom whose shot was saved before Rees Leonard was their to tap home, 1-1.  
 
After the break City continued to press home but a resurgent IES pressed City much higher, which made City struggle to cling together any passes and struggle to get the ball to IES's 23. City however seemed fairly solid at the back with only City mistakes letting IES in, Adam Sayer performing very well. IES did however get a bit of good fortune with a scrappy goal following a long ball hit into the B which rebounded to their forward who tapped home. With only 5 minutes left City began to press IES and finally won a short corner, step up Rees Leonard who flicked high into the top right hand corner, City thought they had a chance to win it but it wasn't to be, not our best performance but a point gained! 

MENS 4TH XI - 30/09/2017 VS IES 3 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 4th XI 
DATE: 30/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 4th XI VS 30/09/2017 
HEADLINE: A point to prove 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Ipswich  
RESULT: 3:3 
 
REPORT: City travelled to Ipswich hoping to prove a point having lost their opening fixture last week to UEA 2s. Things didn't go their way in the first half as the team were a little disjointed, allowing IES to attack with great effect on numerous occasions, breaking the lines and causing the City defense problems. after considerable pressure, City went into the break 3:0 down having gifted 2 of the goals from indecisions and a failure to clear the lines. More was needed from City in the second half and after a bright start to the half, Ferris reduced the arrears, latching onto a squared cross from the ever eager Chapman, having travelled more than half of the pitch to pull his cross back. Many more attacks followed from then and a penalty corner saw Higginbotham smuggle the ball home after a messy goalmouth scramble. It seemed inevitable that City would have at least one more good chance towards the end of the match, and this duly arrived when Pyatt's decisive run and jabs through the heart of the Ipswich half resulted in Fletcher getting the all important touch past the onrushing keeper and into the unguarded net. The match finished all square and was richly deserved after a shaky start. MOM Shaun Ferris  
 

MENS 7TH XI - 30/09/2017 VS NORTH NORFOLK 3 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 7th XI 
DATE: 30/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 7th XI VS 30/09/2017 
HEADLINE: Slick first half leads to comfortable win 
VENUE: CROMER HIGH SCHOOL 
RESULT: NORTH NORFOLK 3 1 NORWICH CITY 7 6 
 
REPORT: 
City produced their best half of hockey this season as they moved the ball about slickly in the first half, working hard to get into space and to challenge North Norfolk when they had the ball. The result was some excellent attacking moves and some well worked goals, Joe Holden (2), Ed Taylor (2), Keinan Barber and Rob MaCall were the scorers to give City a 6-0 lead at the break. 
After the break North Norfolk re-organised and City lost some of their fluidity. Though City still created chances they weren't quite so clear cut, whilst North Norfolk were mounting more attacks and putting the City back line under pressure eventually pulling one back. Man of the match Cameron Husband was responsible for thwarting many North Norfolk attacks, whilst Ed Taylor just missed out on man of the match for his work in midfield and 2 goals