Results

WOMENS 6TH XI - 14/04/2018 VS BRECKLAND 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 14/04/2018 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 14/04/2018 
HEADLINE: City improve in second half but too late to find a win 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 2 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Thetford 
RESULT: Breckland 2 - City 1 
 
REPORT:A sudden venue change at 8am on the morning of the match, saw the 6s relocating last minute from Watton to Thetford for an 11.30am pushback. Add to this two cars with punctures and seven of the team delayed arriving as a result, and the team struggled to stay composed for the start of this penultimate match of the season. 
Breckland played a long ball, powerful hitting-style game and Norwich had their work cut out to maintain a press and keep Breckland out of the defensive D.  
Despite the pressure, Norwich managed to make several attacks but found it hard to break through and find the net. The going was tough and despite their determination and work rate City’s defensive unit also found the onslaught too much and two goals went in during the first half.  
Half-time score 2-0 to Breckland. 
City played better hockey in the second half, determined to opt for a short-passing game with frequent switches rather than to try and attempt to match Breckland at their hard-hit-style game.  
This half saw more short corners and attacking play from Norwich, with an excellent drag flick penalty corner shot from Josine van den Berg unfortunately saved by Breckland’s keeper.  
As the clock ticked, City began to learn to play better on the slower sand pitch and begin to pass the ball better. No further goals went as City upped their game by the minute, but they couldn’t quite convert and find their way back into the game. Meanwhile, Breckland stayed strong on the ball intercepting even the slightest misplaced ball by City.  
In the last few seconds of the game City won a penalty corner. Too late to win the match, City were still determined to get on the score sheet. A lovely pass from Josine van den Berg was positioned just right for Liz Hollis to slip past the keeper making the final score Breckland 2 – Norwich 1.  
 
 
 

LADIES 6TH XI - 10/03/2018 VS HARLESTON MAGPIES 6 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 10/03/2018 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 10/03/2018 
HEADLINE: Tough battle for City 6s 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 2 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE:Taverham 
RESULT: City 2 - Magpies 3 
 
REPORT: 
The Harleston visitors opened on full throttle punishing City 6s with two quick-fire goals in the opening few minutes.  
City, short of their customary centre midfielders and trialling a new more attacking formation that perhaps needs a little more drilling, were caught out by the unexpected strength of the opposition.  
 
A repeated overload in the home 25, with wave after wave of circle penetrations and powerful balls through, proved an impossible task for the City D-unit.  
 
However, City steadied themselves and gradually began to find their feet with some more attacking play. The home team then pulled back a goal when a great cross into the D from Frances Byrne on the right was netted into the left corner by Liz Hollis.  
 
Half time score City 1 – Mapgpies 2 
 
After the break, City reverted to their more familiar formation and managed to stave off several dangerous attacks. Yet still the home team struggled to find the attacking and passing momentum they have been used to playing in the last few weeks.  
 
Hard-working defenders Vicky Myhill, Emma Guyton, Karen Paterson and Rose Byrne were constantly called into action and had to give it their impressive all to keep Magpies away from the home goal. To their credit, despite some skilled attacking, Magpies only netted one more goal in the second half. 
 
City managed to up their game a bit after the break and have a lot more of the play as a result. Indeed, the second half was far better for City and the home teams’ more attacking game saw Frances Byrne net a powerful goal from a short corner. 
 
The game was beginning to turn in City’s favour as they found their feet but unfortunately it was too late for a win or even a draw.  
 
A tough game but City held on and had enough of the play to ensure it was a respectable finishing score.  
 
Player of the match Maddie Smith, midfield.  
Full time City 2 – Magpies 3.  
 
 

LADIES 6TH XI - 24/02/2018 VS HORNETS 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 24/02/2018 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 24/02/2018 
HEADLINE: Decisive City win moves 6s out of relegation zone 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 2 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham  
RESULT: 7-1 
This was a game that City 6s needed to win to stay out of the relegation zone. Hornets were promoted this season and are struggling to stay in div two, so there would be no excuses for conceding points to them.  
City came out fighting, keeping the ball in their attacking 25 for most of the match and taking most of the possession. From the start, City repeatedly attacked Hornet’s goal and it looked more a matter of when they would score rather than whether they would.  
The first goal soon came when centre forward Jess Ball netted a reverse hit. More City goals followed and by half time the score was 3:1 to Norwich with Hornets unfortunately getting the ball in behind the City defense to a high forward after a powerful 16.  
 
The second half saw four more city goals with Fran Underhill, Maddy Smith and Liz Hollis all on the score sheet by the final whistle. 
 
Hornets battled hard and were impressively agreeable and positive as a team despite being under siege from City 6s. Hornets moved most of their players into the defensive D to protect their goal leaving no players in midfield and just two players high.  
 
However, with powerful 16s and a skilled high forward, they didn't make it easy for City. Playing a long ball game they sent repeated hard hits to a high attacker but most of these were mopped up by a high City press apart from one which had found the net in the first half.  
 
A much- needed win that should see City staying out of relegation position with just a few games left until the end of the season.  
 
The final score was 7-1 to City.  
 
 

LADIES 6TH XI - 03/02/2018 VS BROADLAND 3 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 03/02/2018 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 03/02/2018 
HEADLINE: Three goals, three much-need points 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 2 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: 3-2 
 
REPORT: Norwich City had the best of the play for the opening stages of the game, pushing high and making repeated circle penetrations. However, in their eagerness to attack, City left space for an against-the-run-of-play break from Broadland 3s which found the back of the net - leaving the home side one-nil down.  
City continued to dominate the play and were eventually rewarded when a powerful lifted cross, sent in from the left by Frances Byrne, was deflected into the top left corner of the net by Liz Hollis to make it 1 - 1.  
Jess Ball scored another City goal – netting a pass from centre midfielder Kate Houldey with an impressive signature-style reverse stick shot. However, yet another goal from Broadland on the break, saw the teams even again at 2 -2. 
Desperate for three points City pushed hard, with player of the match Rose Byrne working all out to send the ball through from midfield.  
Most of Broadland’s 16s were stopped dead by City high up the pitch and sent back again as Norwich made full use of the high press system they had been swotting up on at a white board theory session with coach Dave Skinner earlier in the week. This week defensive play started higher up the pitch, with the whole team blocking passes and marking meaning that City’s pressing and outletting were vastly improved.  
However, it looked as if City would have to make do with a draw until Kate Houldey scored with a top-of-the-D shot which thankfully found the net and gave the home team a much-needed 3.2 victory after a great battle.  
 
 

LADIES 6TH XI - 27/01/2018 VS THETFORD TOWN 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 27/01/2018 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 27/01/2018 
HEADLINE: Two reverse-stick goals and three much-needed points 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 2 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: 2-0 
 
REPORT:City were on a mission to win three points and dominated from push-back. The home team had the best of the attacking play, but Thetford weren’t going to surrender easily and forced City to fight hard and physically for every pass. This left the play scrappy at times and perhaps not City’s slickest game. However, City's determination meant they won back most ball interceptions and kept the game in their attacking half - repeatedly threatening Theford's goal with wave after wave of attack. Finally, after several attempts on goal, a lovely cross in by Josine van den Berg from the right was netted with an impressive back-stick shot by Frances Underhill. Before half time, another lovely pass from Maddie Smith was again netted with some skilful reverse stick play by Jess Ball. After, the break the play continued in the same vein, with player of the match Kate Houldey cutting out attacks and sending balls through to City from centre midfield. City’s defensive unit intercepted any dangerous breaks from Thetford, with Vicky Myhill skillfully controlling the area in front of the keeper and scooping up any stray attacks - sending the ball straight back into City’s attacking half. There was a sense of relief when the final whistle arrived and City had won a much-needed three points.  
 

LADIES 6TH XI - 13/01/2018 VS NORWICH DRAGONS 6 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 13/01/2018 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 13/01/2018 
HEADLINE: Tough battle in local Derby 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 2 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham 
City 0 - Dragons 2 
REPORT:City 6s met their counterparts from Dragons for an early morning fixture at Taverham. The first half saw an end-to-end battle with each team frequently penetrating the opposition D and making dangerous attacks. However, a hungry-for-promotion Dragons found the net 20 minutes into the game and City went into the break one-nil down despite having plenty of the play. 
City came back out fighting hard and began by pushing the game into the Dragons 25 for the first few minutes. However, City lost momentum as a determined Dragons pushed hard again and exerted a high press that City found it hard to eliminate. Dragons eventually won a series of short-corners, one of which eventually found the net.  
 
 

LADIES 6TH XI - 06/01/2018 VS LOWESTOFT RAILWAY 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 06/01/2018 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 06/01/2018 
HEADLINE: City 6s draw against top table Lowestoft Railway 2s 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 2 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Lowestoft 
RESULT: 2-2 
 
REPORT:A skilled and youthful top-table Lowestoft Railway dominated the early stages of the game from push back – pressing high and keeping the ball in City’s defensive D. An embattled City found themselves frequently cornered in their D with their hard-working defensive unit keeping the ball out of the net. Eventually, the pressure proved too much and Lowestoft scored about 20 minutes into the game.  
The goal jolted the freezing City team battling against the icy rain into action. Despite the goal, they dug deep and soon realised that while Lowestoft were playing well, they were still beatable by working as a team. Heads went up and City found their confidence and skills and began to move the ball up the pitch more.  
City won a couple of short corners and one was converted skilfully with a slip by Jess Ball to Abigail Flatt was crossed to Julia Marchant who netted it. One all and the large City squad had found their best game. 
With equal possession by both teams, Lowestoft unfortunately converted another goal just before half time and the game went into the break with the home team leading 2-1. 
With the rain beating hard City were determined not to let any more goals in and their defence team worked hard as a unit. Player of the match Sophie Briggs made some fantastic tackles and outletted the ball neatly – despite having sustained a dreadful hand injury in the home leg match against Lowestoft before Christmas.  
City upped their game yet further defending and attacking well. The ball moved end to end then with just a couple of minutes of play left City won a short corner which was powered in brilliantly by Josine van den Berg who found the right-hand corner of the net. Josine’s excellent goal saved the day and won City a point against the top table team. Player of the match votes were scattered across the squad showing what a great team effort it had been with Sophie topping the list with her impressive performance. Final result 2.2 
 
 

LADIES 6TH XI - 18/11/2017 VS HARLESTON MAGPIES 6 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 18/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 18/11/2017 
HEADLINE: A tough match 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 2 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Magpies, Harleston 
RESULT: 3-1 
 
REPORT: 
Harleston 6s came out strong in what proved to be a challenging match for City 6s. The City team’s defence battled hard to keep the score down, helped by some amazing saves by POTM keeper Claire Richardson. However, eventually two of the opposition’s strikes found the net and the game went into half-time with City two nil down. 
After the break, City regrouped and upped their game, making more attacks and providing more outlets for the defence. A timely pass from Katy Walker found Josine Van Den Berg who sent it into the net – timing it with precision to lift over the advancing keeper. 
Unfortunately, despite battling hard City conceded another goal towards the final stage of the match, leaving the final score 3-1 to Magpies.  
 

LADIES 6TH XI - 04/11/2017 VS HORNETS 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 04/11/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 04/11/2017 
HEADLINE: City 6s out to sting the opposition 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 2 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Loddon 
RESULT: 0 -2  
 
REPORT: 
City 6s met Hornets for an early away match in Loddon. City dominated from the start pushing with wave after wave of attacks eventually scoring when a strong ball from Josine van den Berg, was touched in by Julia Marchant.  
The pressure continued from City and any attempts into the D by Hornets were intercepted by player of the match Carey Briggs. The City defensive unit of Karen Paterson, Anna Linsmith Rose Byrne and Kate Houldey mopped up any dangerous attacks with 16s were cleared safely and impressively by centre back Kate.  
City scored again in the first half when Josine van den Berg slapped a powerful ball into the net. 
Half time 0 -2 to City. 
City lost their momentum a little with the opening of the second half and Hornets came close to scoring. City had a lucky escape thanks to some good goalkeeping from Clair Richardson and Hornets not quite getting on the end of a cross into City’s D. 
After this wake-up call, City found their concentration again and continued to dominated the match. City operated a strong press leaving Hornets no options on free hits. Meanwhile, City continued to attack but struggled to convert anything despite keeping the ball in Hornet’s defensive half for most of the rest of the game.  
But, a decisive win and three important points.  
 

LADIES 6TH XI - 21/10/2017 VS BROADLAND 3 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 21/10/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 21/10/2017 
HEADLINE: City equalise in last few seconds of match 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 2 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: 4-4 
City 6s faced a confident and newly-promoted Broadland, flying high in the league after a recent run of good form, for a windy end-of-the-day clash at Taverham. 
 
After a strong start by City, the team’s first goal was scored 20 minutes into the first half when Abigail Flatt converted a pass into the D.  
 
A second City goal came after some determined work by attacker Katy Walker in the D and a scuffle around the goalmouth. Finally, a clear-headed Frances Underhill skillfully lifted a rebound ball over the keeper's feet.  
 
But, the game was far from over. Pressing hard, Broadland pulled back a goal before the whistle and the game went into the half-time break with City leading 2-1. 
 
The City team dug deep after the break and a baseline run by Kate Houldey was passed into the D for Julia Marchant to convert into City’s third goal. However, a determined Broadland upped their game, refusing to give in.  
 
Despite, some fantastic saves by player of the match City goalie Clair Richardson, and some impressive tackles from defender Vicki Myhill who repeatedly stopped the opposition in their tracks and sent the ball back to City's attackers, the Broadland attack proved too challenging. Within a short space of time City had lost their lead after a spate of short-corner and top of the D goals by Broadland.  
 
With the game almost over and facing a 4-3 defeat after leading for most of the game, City were determined not to give in and kept fighting hard. With just 30 seconds left to play, Josine van den Berg took a powerful shot on goal and the rebound from the save was netted by Emily Williams. A collective sigh of relief and a well-earned point for the 6s.  
 
 

LADIES 6TH XI - 02/09/2017 VS NORWICH DRAGONS 6 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 02/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 02/09/2017 
HEADLINE: Hard battle 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 2 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Dragons' Den 
RESULT: 2-1 
 
REPORT: 
City 6s met their Dragons’ 6s counterparts for a fixture at the Den. All encounters last season led to a draw. This season Dragons have had a good run of form and a stronger squad, so City knew it would be a tough game.  
The first half saw City battling hard and succeeding in holding off the Dragons' attacks. The organised and confident City defensive unit saw them repel any onslaught. There was also some impressive keeping from player-of-the-match Anna Linsmith. 
The half-time break arrived with a nil-nil draw, however Dragons came back on to the pitch with a renewed determination and scored the first goal of the match within a few minutes with a straight strike from the top of the D.  
The excellent City defence continued to work hard but another Dragons goal took the opposition two nil up 10 minutes later. City regrouped, kept their heads up and battled back. They were rewarded soon after when a expert outlet ball from Vicki Myhill was picked up by Josine Van den Berg and passed down the right line to Liz Hollis who sent a fast hit into to a perfectly-positioned Julia Marchant in the D, who netted it with brilliant precision.  
With just 10-minutes left to play, City youth players Maddy Smith and Frances Underhill worked the ball up the pitch over and over again but a strong Dragons defence scuppered City’s attempts and left the final score as a 2-1 win for a top of the league, unbeaten Dragons.