Results

WOMENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 02/03/2024 VS DEREHAM (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI 
DATE: 02/03/2024 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI VS 02/03/2024 
HEADLINE: Aqua Hockey 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Dereham HC 
RESULT: 3-1 win to City 
 
REPORT: Dereham Dev’s 1 - 3 Norwich City Dev’s 
 
After a week where we have seen more water and rain than Aquaman, City took to the field in the wind and rain to (sea) if they could beat Dereham on their own pitch.  
 
From the very start, it was clear to see City’s determination and endeavour and we soon started to dominate the midfield with Flo and Sophie working hard and Summer showing her skill to support the attacking line and create some good early chances.  
 
It didn’t take long for City to make their dominance count and some great play down the right side lead to a cross where Megan was on hand to add to her impressive tally for the season and put City into a deserved lead.  
 
Both sides showed some great hockey with the highlights being some brilliant play down the left from Tilly, Megan and Anashe who showed skill and composure in tight spaces, Phoebe proving a constant threat with one incredible dribble and pass, India getting herself into oceans of space on numerous occasions to keep us attacking down the right and Ava playing amazingly as our lead attacker and was unlucky not to get a deserved goal with lots of great shots well saved by the Dereham goalkeeper.  
 
The second half started again with City showing incredible motivation in the wind and rain and with Flo working super hard to win the ball back, City pushed forward again and won a penalty corner. Captain Millie called the move, and fed Darcey, who rocketed the ball into the bottom corner with a great hit to make the score (H)2-0 which was reward for her hard work up and down the pitch throughout the game.  
 
Dereham continued to flood forward on the break with Sophie pulling off a wonder save where we all thought Dereham were going to score, only for Sophie to divert the ball past the post. (And loved the cartwheel after!!) 
 
Dereham were clearly determined not to lose, throwing their strong defender upfront and after a lucky ricochet trickled across the D, Dereham scored to set up an exciting finish! 
 
The Dereham goal was a watershed moment for City with the girls cheering each other on and with Tilly, Millie and Anashe at the back setting up a dam good defence, Mollie and Flo outplaying their more experienced and physical opponents and Sophie and India being amazing right forwards providing a constant option down the right.  
 
With City needing a third goal to calm the nerves of the travelling fans who could be heard throughout despite the miserable weather, City’s top scorer stepped up and Megan showed amazing determination to slot the ball past the goalie to put us 3-1 up.  
 
Flo nearly added a fourth outrunning Dereham’s defence making them look by like sitting ducks and getting to a great pass from Megan but narrowly deflected wide.  
 
With the floodgates threatening to open and Dereham at risk of shipping more goals, the umpire blew the final whistle to give City a deserved 3-1 win.  
 
Every girl played incredibly, working really hard in horrible weather putting huge effort into every tackle and run and they should be showered with praise. It was great to see how they cheered each other on and worked as a team.  
 
Sophie pulled off some amazing saves in goal, Millie was dominant at the back with Tilly and Anashe being a great trio. Darcey and Flo must have run a marathon with their work in the middle, Summer was a constant threat, Ava leading the attacking line was outstanding and was unlucky not to get a goal which she deserved and Megan’s goals showed what an exciting talent she is.  
 
Dereham’s POTM was Flo who clearly recognised her tenacity in midfield and attacking threat.  
Our POTM was Darcey who showed her class throughout and her goal was unstoppable and I wish I could hit the ball as cleanly as that!! 
 
Thanks to all the mums and dads on the side who cheered the girls on and your encouragement on the side made a huge difference and you deserved that warm cup of tea after!! 
 

WOMENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 13/01/2024 VS DEREHAM (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI 
DATE: 13/01/2024 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI VS 13/01/2024 
HEADLINE: A tough day at the office! 
A tough game against a strong and confident Dereham team was what awaited our Women’s Dev team today. If it hadn’t been for our Player of the Match Sophie making a lot of fantastic saves, the score could have been much higher. Despite being 3-0 down, the girls worked hard and were rewarded with a goal from Megan which she put away with power. This seemed to wake the girls up and Megan nearly scored another, but with time running out they just didn’t quite have time to take back control of the game. We were a little quiet and not quite showing the confidence we have shown in previous games, and we struggled to score or even get too many shots away for most of the game. Many great tackles made by Mils at the back stopped attack after attack. Thanks to Niamh, Martha, Megan and Anashe who all played at the back to help out as we are slightly lacking in defenders in this squad! Martha showed great flexibility today playing a mixture of defence, midfield and forward and she did fantastically well in each line! She was awarded player of the match for our team by the Dereham girls. Darcey played brilliantly again in the centre mid position, distributing the ball well and supporting attacks.  
A tough game, but it’s all good experience for the players.  

WOMENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 06/01/2024 VS NORWICH DRAGONS (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI 
DATE: 06/01/2024 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI VS 06/01/2024 
HEADLINE: What a team! 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 2-1 win 
 
REPORT: Women’s Development team vs Norwich Dragons 
Saturday 6th Jan 2024 
 
Team: 
Sophie E 
Millie B 
Tilly M 
Gen H 
Livs S 
Niamh B 
Megan A 
Neve A 
Darcey D 
Anashe M 
Sukey P 
Summer B 
Martha F 
Phoebe M 
 
Score 2-1 Win 
Goal scorers: Megan x 2 
Players of the match: Martha & Livs 
 
The NCHC girls were fired up even from the start of the warm up! Captain Livs was motivating and encouraging the girls during their warm up shooting drill and getting them all fired up! The game started with NCHC putting Dragons under immediate pressure and nearly scoring within the first few minutes. 
 
Megan, Niamh, Darcey and Livs were pushing forwards and passing beautifully across the pitch; threading the ball through to the forwards. Niamh showed some silky skills eliminating players and then moving the ball on well. Darcey tackled well and was always working to be free to be the pivot in the middle of the pitch for players to come back to if needed. Livs showed her strength on her reverse by dribbling well down the left hand side and through into the D. 
 
Summer worked tirelessly to win the ball from the Dragon’s defence, and got several shots away during the game. She was unlucky not to score. Martha picked the ball up well on the right and drove around to the baseline, making some lovely crosses and putting the ball to the penalty spot for the forwards to shoot. Sukey quickly picked up where to be on the wing when we were attacking and also learnt about where to be in our press on their hit outs. She received the ball well and looked up before she passed which was great to see. Anashe showed some good strength running forwards with the ball and put some lovely crosses in to the forwards.  
 
Megan weaved around players to get the ball in to the D and was often right in the middle of the attack in the D. Phoebe was in good positions going forwards and received the ball and moved it on well. Neve, playing in one of her first full pitch 11 a side games, showed great confidence picking up the ball and driving forwards and her work rate was great. Such keenness to learn and develop! 
 
Although the defence didn’t have too much to do at the start of the game, they definitely had plenty to do at some points to wards the end! Millie showed such composure on the ball, eliminating players to drive forwards and pass the ball up to the midfield. Tilly drove forwards and showed great power shelling the ball down the line to the forwards in the second half of the game. Gen worked hard marking players and often tackled the ball from the Dragons’ forwards before passing it out to our midfield. Soph in goal wasn’t tested too often, but made some good saves before they eventually got one past us. Dragons nearly scored near the end to equalise but it wasn’t meant to be for them. 
 
NCHC should have scored several more and training next week might well be focused around goal scoring! Dragons’ keeper had a really good game and made countless great saves. 
 
Dragons voted Martha as their player of the match and our team voted Livs. 
 
I am such a super proud coach, to see the confidence in all the players and how they worked for each other on and off the ball was absolutely brilliant! It was such a good game to watch and I love how the older, more experienced player support the younger, newer ones.  
 
Fantastic work everyone! One very happy coach here! 
 
Emma 
 
 

WOMENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 04/11/2023 VS HARLESTON MAGPIES (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI 
DATE: 04/11/2023 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI VS 04/11/2023 
HEADLINE: Dev girls rule 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: 
RESULT: 
 
REPORT: 
 
Excellent play from them all. Really good listening to instructions, movement of the ball around the space available and generally great team play. Some lovely skills coming on with controlled reverse passes and little controlled bunny hops over opposition sticks. Well done.  
 
We didn't get a chance to do player player for various reasons so coaches player this week goes to Freya. Brilliant use of space, excellent clearing of the ball and simply for being such a warrior. ???? 
 
The girls should be very proud of themselves. They all played the whole match as we didn't have any subs, against a team that fought hard with 4 subs AND an adult on pitch at all times! We even played the last 7 minutes with 10 players so a huge well done everyone. ???? 
 
Thank you to the hard core supporters that stood in the rain for the whole time shouting the team on. Hats off to you all. It makes such a difference to the team and we are all so grateful for you being there with us.  
 
Excellent result and very well deserved. I hope everyone is warm and dry by now. What a fab team we have all become ?? See you next week! ???? 
Laura Webb