Results

MENS 2ND XI - 19/03/2022 VS IPSWICH 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 2nd XI 
DATE: 19/03/2022 
FIXTURE: Mens 2nd XI VS 19/03/2022 
HEADLINE: Who needs subs?  
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: 4-1 
 
REPORT: 
After a rather subdued title-winning match last week, City 2s were in high spirits even though they turned up at Taverham with only 11 and either not all fully fit or running half marathons the next day.  
 
The team talk laid out a defensive option should we go behind though straight from the whistle, City dominated and this was never needed. 
 
City found their passing rhythm with balls in and out of the corners for the forward five. The back three of Anthony, Circuit and Riddleston patiently transferring waiting for an option forward. The Marchants controlled the middle of the park, although an injury to Ethan, who had kindly dug out his stick, made him wonder why he had bothered. 
 
City went ahead early on through Anthony at a short corner. A pacy slingshot needed no assistance from the on rushing forwards. The second was not far behind with Land finding Kidner in front of goal. This start gave City the confidence to play great hockey as noted by one of the umpires. The third followed before half time from Pitcher from a right slip short corner to make it 3-0 at half time. 
 
Captain Anthony was thrilled and nothing but positive messages were relayed. Why bother having subs when you put in the effort and play as well as we did.  
 
The second half saw Ipswich improve but Norwich continued their dominance without scoring as many as maybe they should have. 
City's final goal was the best of the four. Riddleston, who wanted it noted he assisted the assist, found Anthony. He found Land with a pinpoint pass, running wide of the goal. He managed to deflect it back behind him and past the keeper. 
 
There was time for Ipswich to get a consolation which I imagine did not impress keeper Dolan who would have been looking to keep yet another clean sheet.  
 
City will be hoping for more of the same next week as they travel to Pelis for their final game though a sub or two might be nice.  
 
 
 

MENS 2ND XI - 19/02/2022 VS BURY ST EDMUNDS 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 2nd XI 
DATE: 19/02/2022 
FIXTURE: Mens 2nd XI VS 19/02/2022 
HEADLINE: City dominate despite the scoreline.  
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Culford school 
RESULT: 0-2 
 
REPORT: City visited Bury hoping that three points from this rearranged game would see them top of the league with a seven point advantage over second place Dragons. 
From the whistle City dominated play with only a couple of forays from Bury into the City half. Thanks to the Bury keeper who's outstanding performance meant that dispite City peppering the target he kept the scoreline to just two goals.  
Not the greatest performance by City but as they say a win is a win.  
 
 

MENS 2ND XI - 04/12/2021 VS PELICANS 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 2nd XI 
DATE: 04/12/2021 
FIXTURE: Mens 2nd XI VS 04/12/2021 
HEADLINE: Hard fought victory!  
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Taverham  
RESULT: 4 - 1  
 
City welcomed Pelicans 2's to Taverham knowing a win would cement their position at the top of the table. The game started with both teams fighting for possession with neither team having to many clear cut chances. 10 minutes in and City started to take the game by the scruff of the neck and started to play some really good hockey the way they knew they could. Half time 3 - 0. 
 
The second half started much the same with City dominating play with only sporadic chance from Pelicans. It was one of these sporadic chances and a sleight lapse in concentration that lead to the opposition grabbing a well worked goal. City pulled them selves together and dominated the rest of the game comfortably. 4 - 1 final score and a well deserved hard fought victory for City.  
 

MENS 2ND XI - 09/10/2021 VS HARLESTON MAGPIES 3 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 2nd XI 
DATE: 09/10/2021 
FIXTURE: Mens 2nd XI VS 09/10/2021 
HEADLINE: City 2’s pile on the goals 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH 
VENUE: Magpies 
RESULT: 6-2 
 
REPORT: City’s 2’s travelled to unbeaten Magpies buoyed by their emphatic win against Bury a week earlier. And true to form City came out of the blocks fastest with a flurry of goals from Cresswell x 2, Marchant and Patel which left Magpies shell shocked and searching for a route back into the game. They were rewarded for a quick counter attack move which left their centre forward entering the D and letting off a clinical finish - half time saw lead Norwich 4-1. 
 
Norwich were wary that Magpies would likely look to continue their momentum from the end of the first half and come at Norwich hard. City’s men responded with a professional display and the hardworking midfield of Hindle, Circuit and Patel dominated long spells of possession and looked to quell any sniff of a Magpies attack. Magpies purple patch came 20 minutes into the second half scoring another well worked goal and now chasing a third to pile the pressure whack onto Norwich. Again City responded instantly with goals from Hindle and Josh Bailey to reassert a four goal cushion. City saw out the last minutes of the game to cap an impressive performance and would look forward to the chance of another home win against the travelling Newmarket.  
 

MENS 2ND XI - 25/09/2021 VS FELIXSTOWE 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 2nd XI 
DATE: 25/09/2021 
FIXTURE: Mens 2nd XI VS 25/09/2021 
HEADLINE: Missed chances cost City 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH  
VENUE: Felixstowe  
RESULT: 3-1 loss  
 
REPORT:  
 
We took time to adapt to the slowness of the pitch during the first 15 minutes and shipped two goals giving ourselves a mountain to climb to get back into the game. Our first and only goal came from a short corner with Jeremy finding himself dribbling past two from the top before calmly putting it in the back of the net. A bit of controversy late in the first half saw a goal awarded before being stripped from Harry as a 16 was promptly awarded to the opposition, before a short corner was decided as time ran out on the first half.  
 
The second half saw us dominate once more however Felixstowe scored again and despite the fashioning of a few chances we were unable to score.  
 

MENS 2ND XI - 18/09/2021 VS NORWICH DRAGONS 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 2nd XI 
DATE: 18/09/2021 
FIXTURE: Mens 2nd XI VS 18/09/2021 
HEADLINE: City Slay Dragons  
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 7-1 Win 
 
REPORT: 
City welcomed local rivals Norwich dragons to a sweltering TRF. With 43 available players, captain Anthony did well to narrow his selection to a meager 17 only to find that he was officially obliged to select no more than 16 players for the first league game of the season.  
After a last minute personnel reshuffle city took to the pitch with high hopes of an opening day victory! 
City started on the front foot and within minutes had earned their first short corner of the match. Unfortunately the warm conditions had created a rather dry and sticky pitch meaning the first drag out barely made it over the touch line. Fortunately city managed to win another short corner but the same result followed… another failed injection. Though great pressure and perseverance it wasn’t long before city had yet another short corner and this time a change of routine lead to the opener. After an initial save from the dragons keeper Anthony found himself alone in the D and flicked the ball powerfully into the back of the net. 
City kept up the pressure and soon enough added another goal. This time a close range effort was neatly put away by city forward Cresswell. City remained dominant and next up it was the turn of young and no doubt future star Patel. Another short corner, this time the routine went to plan and Patels drag flick made the score 3-0. 
Before the break city made the score 4-0 after Hindle managed to squeeze a shot underneath the onrushing dragons keeper. 
 
Captain Anthony was full of praise for his team at the half time break and asked for more of the same in the second half.  
 
City didn’t start with quite the same gusto they had in the first half but still created plenty of chances. Unfortunately they conceded an unlucky goal against the run of play. A bit of a goal mouth scramble lead to Dragons first and subsequently only goal of the game. 
City quickly returned the status quo when a lovely move down the right found poacher Land lurking at the back post to finish from close range.  
Soon after city had more attempts on the dragons goal and again found the back of the net when Hindle picked up a poor clearance to flick the ball past the stricken Dragons keeper.  
Finally it was the turn of farmer Gill to join the party. Those long lilly white legs carried him and the ball to the top of the D and what followed was a lovely strike low into the corner of the goal.  
A great opener for city who in truth could have made it double figures but will be thrilled with a rampant victory over a local rival.  
Next week city travel away to Felixstowe.  
MOTM - Hindle 
 
 
 
 

MENS 2ND XI - 11/09/2021 VS DEREHAM 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 2nd XI 
DATE: 11/09/2021 
FIXTURE: Mens 2nd XI VS 11/09/2021 
HEADLINE: Dereham Deservedly Defeated... Eventually 
VENUE: Dereham 
RESULT: 2-1 Win 
 
REPORT: 
Following last week's captivating match report, plenty of people will be eagerly anticipating this report to see whether it can live up to those heights!  
 
Stand in captain, Hindle, organised his troops after being pleasantly surprised to see Monty upon his arrival though still unsure if more were arriving. The warm up took in the sights and new developments of Dereham where we bumped into the friendly tea lady for Mattishall youth football as she exited her house who proceeded to mistake us for footballers. A chatty lady nonetheless who appeared to take a liking to the muscular calves of some of the younger members of the team!  
 
The very warm afternoon combined with just 11 plus Jim returning from the odd niggle was not welcomed by the older squad members. City started reasonably well trying to play the right kind of hockey while keeping Dereham's danger players quiet with what is still a new formation for most of us. Dereham set out to make it difficult and often physical. City though were rewarded after a pinpoint ball from the back was received by Land who turned to beat one before playing a one-two with Monty taking out the final defender and the GK for a simple finish. City had other spurned chances in the first half before seeing their lead diminished after a Dereham aerial that went straight out of play was given as a Dereham sideline. They quickly found their forward who beat three City players to equalise. City will be disappointed with the nature of the goal from many aspects. The unusual decision was only the start of a high number of confusing decisions. City need to improve their conduct although they would hope this is not a standard of umpiring seen regularly this season. However much we may have disagreed we must acknowledge that umpires do give up their time so we can play which we must be grateful for.  
 
At half time, the messages painted a generally positive picture with a tweak in players' positions made. City dominated most the play in the second half with Jim adding experience at the back allowing Sam to control more of the play and giving Toby freedom up top. On another day City could have had 6 or 7 or more but were in fact thankful that no more were conceded. Dereham had plenty of short corners and the odd chance from open play. These were well thwarted by Simon who was excellent throughout in the away goal. A green card for Mark came as a shock to him after he was bumped to the floor trying to defend a short corner. That was followed shortly after with another green but for Krish this time. City kept plugging away and were eventually rewarded with the winner from a short corner played in from the left by Hindle for Sam to deflect in. 
 
City will be happy overall but will be looking for more improvement next week when the league starts.  
 

MENS 2ND XI - 04/09/2021 VS BURY ST EDMUNDS 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 2nd XI 
DATE: 04/09/2021 
FIXTURE: Mens 2nd XI VS 04/09/2021 
HEADLINE: City M2 team victory over Bury M2  
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH 
VENUE: Culford 
RESULT: Win (7-1) 
 
REPORT: 
City started the game slow, but after a Fred short corner goal and a calm p-flic from Aaron city found themselves 2-0 up and all of a sudden the intensity started to pick up. Adie then scored the third, leaving city 3-0 up at half time. Harry then put in the forth, followed shortly after by a second goal for Adie making it 5-0. Bury then got a goal back, before Harry scored his second of the match . Pie's then slotted home the seventh leaving the final score 7-1. 

MENS 2ND XI - 28/08/2021 VS GRESHAMS 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 2nd XI 
DATE: 28/08/2021 
FIXTURE: Mens 2nd XI VS 28/08/2021 
HEADLINE: Set Pieces pay dividends 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH 
VENUE: Taverham - H20 
RESULT: 4-1 Win 
 
REPORT: 
Norwich City Mens 2s started the season with a competitive and hard working win at home versus Greshams, many of whom are in fact NCHC players.  
 
City started the better and won an early penalty corner which was flicked home by Aaron Curtis. The game became a little end to end with chances at either end but City doubled their lead from the penalty flick spot after Richard Silvester was fouled inside the D, Tom Hindle converted the stroke to make it 2-0. Greshams never gave in and scored from a set piece of their own to make it 2-1 at half time.  
 
Into the second half and again it was end to end with both teams creating chances and forcing both keepers into making smart saves however it was the set pieces which continued to be the only way to find the net with Josh Bailey finishing a well worker short corner routine and the game finished off by another Aaron Curtis drag flick.  
 
Full Time: 4-1 Victory but lots of positives to take into next weeks fixture v Bury