Results

MENS 1ST XI - 19/03/2017 VS BLACKHEATH AND OES (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 19/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 19/03/2017 
HEADLINE: City undone in bid to reach Lee Valley 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Eltham College 
RESULT: 4-2 
 
REPORT: 
 
The Men’s 1s had a trip to southeast London for their EH Trophy semi final against last year’s runner’s up Blackheath & OE. Unfortunately Dave Skinner must have forgot to pray for us, as on the trip down Messrs Tom Cooke and Louis Preston were severely delayed due to a flat tyre and an inability to change said flat tyre, meaning they missed the whole of the first half. 
 
The game started fairly evenly with both teams creating some attacking opportunities, but first blood went to Norwich City when Chris Wardale’s blocked short corner settled nicely for him to pick up for a second attempt, and he duly struck the ball into the bottom left hand corner. The lead however did not last long. Blackheath & OE equalised when an opponent burst though the midfield, skilfully beating 3 City players before launching a missile into the roof of the net. From here Blackheath began to find themselves on top, but City were seemingly managing to contain the pressure with some good saves from short corners from Ali Cooke. Blackheath eventually managed to break through, when they were fortuitously awarded a short corner when the umpire blew up for Harry Brown stepping in front of the intended receiver and intercepting the ball – which is apparently not allowed (though this was the only time in the game he blew for it...). The drag flick this time found its way past Ali Cooke, though he somehow still got a hand to it, as the ball flew at some velocity to his top right hand corner. As half time approached Blackheath managed to get a third when a sweetly stuck backhand from the left side of the D hit the post and rolled right across the line; unfortunately Blackheath managed to force the ball centimetres over the line from the resulting scramble. 
 
The arrival of Tom Cooke and Louis Preston boosted the City squad, though Blackheath quickly struck again as City were readjusting their line up. Harry Brown the unfortunate party was closed down by two or three forwards, and with limited options, his attempted pass was intercepted and the forward stormed through on goal and unleashed a backhand to the bottom right corner. City made good use of the aerial in the second half, as Blackheath were unsuspecting of this tactic as it had not been used at all in the first half. City forwards managed to latch onto many good aerials from Tom Cooke and converted from one when one was thrown down the left. The resulting cross was neatly converted by Chris Wardale with a sweetly struck backhand of his own. City kept fighting throughout the remainder of the match still creating some chances all the way until the end, but unfortunately could not find a way to convert any more of these and the game finished up 4-2 to Blackheath & OE who successfully reach back to back EH Trophy finals. 
 
The match was a very competitive, evenly contested game on the day with some clinical finishing from Blackheath proving the difference. Despite not achieving what they had hoped, City can be content with getting to the furthest stage of the competition in the club’s history. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 04/03/2017 VS FELIXSTOWE (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 04/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 04/03/2017 
HEADLINE: Composed City make Possession Pay 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Felixstowe 
RESULT: 1-4 
 
REPORT: 
On a bleak afternoon, City rolled into Felixstowe, confident and ready to play. City started with a controlled tempo to there liking; lots of transfers against a half court pressing Felixstowe meant City spent the majority of the time on the ball. The first goal came from a sizzling run by Luke Corden to receive a precise aerial from Thomas Cooke (who still had a hurty neck), further fancy play by Luke followed by a great finish by Dan Cheesman from an acute angle gave city the lead, proving to all those who still may be doubting that 'it ain't easy being Cheesy'. City still retaining possession for large periods of time seemed to be on top, until a quick counter attack, gave Felixstowe thier first goal. Scores tied City were keen to reassert there dominance the second goal came from Jeremy Elliott, scoring a short corner from no further than 8 yards out, helping city to regain there lead for the second half.  
During the second half chances came thick and fast for City, only denied by thier keepers ability and lucky on the line defending by Felixstowe. Eventually the superior ability of City, gave Jeremy his second goal from a low drag flick into the bottom right corner and City were up 3-1. Keeping a calm head City continued to maintain good periods of possession against the half court pressing Felixstowe. But there structure was disrupted after Sam Tomlinson decided to show the opposition who the real big man was followed by a yellow card for Sam shortly following a somewhat harsh green card for Chris Wardale. City, down to nine, defended well and after the return of the roadman to the pitch were able to restabilise. Then in the dying breaths of the game City scored once more through the new stick of Jeremy Elliot, the Hat trick hero. To everyone's amazement David Skinner decided to lay on an open goal for Jeremy Elliott as City countered with a 2 on 1 with the keeper! A well played 4-1 victory. 

MENS 1ST XI - 26/02/2017 VS OXFORD (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 26/02/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 26/02/2017 
HEADLINE: City through to EH semis via strokes again! 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 1-1, 5-4 after penalty strokes 
 
REPORT: 
With weary bodies and mudled minds Norwich City stepped on to the hallowed grounds of Taverham High School. Not so fresh from a 2-2 draw against the ever youthful Cambridge University 2’s we were once again facing a young team full of running and “trendy” haircuts. Our opponents Oxford were hard to work out with ex-NC player Ethan Marchant giving little away.  
Immediately after the starting whistle it was clear that a night of frivolities had taken its toll on the home team. A few wayward passes and some questionable ball retention forced penalty corner defence on NC early on. But, thanks to some tremendous keeping from Alastair “Russ” Cooke the score remained nil – nil. With some clever managerial work, kinks in the squad were ironed out, with Tom Hindle taking an early rest around 6 ½ minutes in.  
NC began to work themselves into the game, at some points stringing together at least 3 passes and fashioned out a few half chances but none produced goals, much to the frustration of the squad. With credit to Oxford they continued to put a serious shift in and their work rate and energy eventually gave them a goal. A tidy little reverse finish which most felt A. Cooke could have done better with. 
Heads did not drop. The crowd upped the volume and we pushed back, looking to respond as soon as possible. D. CHEESEman soon found himself with a chance on goal but some lucky tackles kept him at bay. It was clear though the NC had a point to prove and barely 2 minutes after conceding The Big Cheese won a penalty flick with some lovely skills and clever complaining to the umpire. The team grouped on the halfway line and David “Blessed By God” Skinner stepped up to the mark. Despite a questionable story about the oppo’s keeper having a couple of caps for England, Skinner easily slotted the ball and suddenly it was anyone’s game (PRAISE THE LORD!) 
The first half ended with little action from either team. A couple of saves, a couple of shots, Thomas Cooke getting a hurty neck. The halftime team talk from beloved captain Nicholas “NICHOLAS!!!” Jones was firm but fair and some hard truths were shared. We were playing poorly, we knew it. We needed to do something to fix it. We returned to the pitch with new enthusiasm and focus and the second half began. 
Almost immediately we lost the enthusiasm and focus and the game became a constant cycle of speedy Oxford attacks through their handy midfield; and long speculative passes from our resident big gun T. Cooke. A few half chances were made with Jezza Elliot almost scoring with an audacious reverse stick shot, but no goals were scored. We were better in the second half with Harry “Short Shorts” Gill, Ben “sorry I was late, the pigs needed feeding” Plumb and Luke “Heartthrob” Corden showing how a night in improves your game. As it neared the end of normal time both teams had chances for penalty corners, special mention to T. Cooke’s uncharacteristically budget strike, but neither side scored and the game ended. Flicks. 
We barely deserved the draw but we approached the shootout with the confidence of team who had nothing to lose (except a place in the semis obviously). The confidence was warranted as all of NC’s flick takers (Skinner, Elliot, Preston, Wardale, Jones) produced smart shots. Special mention must go to the thunderbolt hard push, and accompanying trademark hair flick, produced by Louis “Francis” Preston which sent shock waves around the grounds. In the end though, the game was decided by a woeful flick from an Oxford man who had spent the 70mins tearing up the NC back four, who barely managed to trickle it past the post.  
The Norwich City smash and grab was complete, time for showers and beers. Who will they draw in the next round, it remains to be seen but whoever they are they better get ready for some mediocre hockey and even worse chat. 

MENS 1ST XI - 25/02/2017 VS CAMBRIDGE UNI 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 25/02/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 25/02/2017 
HEADLINE: Close match sees City and Cambs Uni share the spoils 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 2-2 
 
REPORT: 
Cambs Uni took the lead with a deflected short corner into the roof of the net, but City equalised through a good passing move from Dan Cheesman, Jeremy Elliott, and neatly finished by Dave Skinner. City then took the lead through one of their own short corners when the initial shot rebounded to the top of the D, the ball was played back into Harry Gill to calmly apply the finish. Cambs Uni found the equaliser for 2-2 from a straight dragflick to the bottom left corner. With all the goals in the first half this was how the match finished in an intense affair. 

MENS 1ST XI - 18/02/2017 VS OLD SOUTHENDIAN (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 18/02/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 18/02/2017 
HEADLINE: Norwich City make numbers count 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 6-1 
 
REPORT: 
 
Norwich City had a full squad of 16 players for the match versus Old Southendian. After a tight start Harry Gill deflected a ball home from Tom Cooke at a short corner. That’s how it stayed until the break with Norwich having the better of the play with other chances falling to Dan Cheesman when Harry Gill put him through one on one with the keeper, and Jeremy Elliott when Dave Skinner did the same.  
 
Norwich knew that if they stayed patient more goals would come as their possession and superior numbers would pay off. Norwich doubled their lead after great work from Rich Green as he beat two or three men with some great 3D skills on the left before threading a lifted through ball to Jeremy Elliott, who showed great composure to simply lift the ball over the onrushing keeper with his reverse stick. Southend then got one back with a well worked short corner move back to the injector. However, this encouraged City to kick it up another gear and the response was swift when Harry Gill slotted in at the back post after a well worked move. As the second half continued to progress the extra numbers began to tell as Norwich began to find more and more holes in the Southend defence, scoring three more times in the final 10 minutes. These goals came from: Chris Wardale who finished a rebounded shot of Dave Skinner who picked up a beautiful lay-off from Ali Husband, and two from Dave Skinner. The first was the highlight of the game – Jeremy Elliott played an aerial over the last man and Dave Skinner, with his first touch, knocked the ball over the keepers head as took the ball on the full then volleyed home into an empty net. The second was a beautiful team move that culminated in a lovely lay-off from Chris Wardale for Dave Skinner to slide in and lift a reverse sweep over the sprawling keeper.  
 
The final score finished 6-1 to keep Norwich City right in the hunt from promotion.  

MENS 1ST XI - 11/02/2017 VS IES (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 11/02/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 11/02/2017 
HEADLINE: Norwich City make numbers count 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 6-1 
 
REPORT: 
 
Norwich City had a full squad of 16 players for the match versus Old Southendian. After a tight start Harry Gill deflected a ball home from Tom Cooke at a short corner. That’s how it stayed until the break with Norwich having the better of the play with other chances falling to Dan Cheesman when Harry Gill put him through one on one with the keeper, and Jeremy Elliott when Dave Skinner did the same. 
 
Norwich knew that if they stayed patient more goals would come as their possession and superior numbers would pay off. Norwich doubled their lead after great work from Rich Green as he beat two or three men with some great 3D skills on the left before threading a lifted through ball to Jeremy Elliott, who showed great composure to simply lift the ball over the onrushing keeper with his reverse stick. Southend then got one back with a well worked short corner move back to the injector. However, this encouraged City to kick it up another gear and the response was swift when Harry Gill slotted in at the back post after a well worked move. As the second half continued to progress the extra numbers began to tell as Norwich began to find more and more holes in the Southend defence, scoring three more times in the final 10 minutes. These goals came from: Chris Wardale who finished a rebounded shot of Dave Skinner who picked up a beautiful lay-off from Ali Husband, and two from Dave Skinner. The first was the highlight of the game – Jeremy Elliott played an aerial over the last man and Dave Skinner, with his first touch, knocked the ball over the keepers head as took the ball on the full then volleyed home into an empty net. The second was a beautiful team move that culminated in a lovely lay-off from Chris Wardale for Dave Skinner to slide in and lift a reverse sweep over the sprawling keeper. 
 
The final score finished 6-1 to keep Norwich City right in the hunt from promotion. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 05/02/2017 VS BARTON (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 05/02/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 05/02/2017 
HEADLINE: City through to quarters in EH trophy after penalty strokes 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Taverham Recreational Facility 
RESULT: 3-3; 4-2 Penalty Strokes 
 
REPORT: 
Tom Cooke: Worse for wear after a late night, but managed to score 2 goals from Centre back. Kicking one into his own goal, and surprising everyone with a half decent drag flick. 
Ali Cooke: Did alright, made some saves, said some naughty words, saved a flick, got man of the match. Nice. 
Harry Brown: Carrying on with his new habit, this man has decided that the PCDs needed lots of improvement. But with fantastic support from the side, he cleared up any mess that came through, even if he did get a booboo on his leg. 
Louis Preston: Hockey Player, heart throb, chat merchant. Just like his hair, his performance today was something truly special. Easily replacing Jeremy Elliot as post man for the rest of the season. 
Nick Jones: Pre match sweet talking with the umpires did not help him too much in the game, however he didn’t see red today. Did a hockey at a couple of points, was ok. 
Jeremy Elliott: Skillz 4 Dayz. Jeremy and stick blocking goes together like peanut butter and Jelly, turning numerous opposition players inside out, and bringing aspects of England’s rugby game yesterday into the match. Jez also scored, nice one mate. 
Tom Hindle: Solid performance from this man, chugging his way through the entirety of the match. However he was not too tired to slot his Penalty Flick home. 
Gabriel Marchant: Another one of the team under the effects of a late night, when the tables were down, and hope was running out, this man stepped up, well over the ball, deflecting in a cross with a sexy behind the back tap in. Lit. 
Ben Plumb: After a morning of cleaning up after his antics from the night before, still put in a shift, good work rate and ball possession. 
Dan Cheesman: Did some good skills and worked hard, this forward managed to find himself at left back, before a sniper in the bell tower ended this man’s game early. 
Tom Cox: Outrageous aerial pick from above his head, and good link up play down the right created some key attacking opportunities. 
Harry Gill: This natural right winger found himself on the left, confusing him. The opposition didn’t have much of an answer to this man’s pace. ZOOM 
Dave Skinner: His prayers were answered, excellent work rate and commitment, putting the opposition under threat throughout the entire game. Loves a good chat to the umpire. 

MENS 1ST XI - 04/02/2017 VS CITY OF PETERBOROUGH 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 04/02/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 04/02/2017 
HEADLINE: City come unstuck in second half 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Peterborough 
RESULT: 4-1 
 
REPORT: 
 
City started of well, with good movement and transfers. But Peterborough's continued pressure managed to force several repeat short corners. With amazing PCD's the City defenders managed to keep the score line at 0-0, with one brilliant stick save in particular from Russell, reaching to his top right corner to deflect the dragflicks wide. Throughout the first half City managed to create some break away opportunities using the pace, particularly of City's speed merchant, Ali Husbands, at right half. However the ball just wasn't falling correctly for city and at 0-0 the best chance came from Louis Preston. With a slick run into the D, he rounded the keeper, but the resulting angle was a tight one and the ball just slid past the post. 
 
Start of the second half, the downfall. Within 10 minutes City managed to let several unlucky goals in. Here, after City returned with renewed ambition and with an extended period of pressure, City managed to score through the lobbed shot of Dan Cheeseman; proving that it ain't easy being Cheesy. However Peterborough's class shone through and after slotting one more goal. They managed to see the game out to a 4-1 loss for City. 

MENS 1ST XI - 28/01/2017 VS HAVERING (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 28/01/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 28/01/2017 
HEADLINE: Slow start costs City dearly 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 2-2 
 
REPORT: 
 
Norwich City started much below par their usual selves and for the first 20/25mins were very lacklustre. Still Havering didn’t create too much themselves, but on the two opportunities they had they converted both of them. The first came from a short corner, where a deflected shot at the far post somehow found its way across the line after a series of ricochets. The second coming as City were caught napping after thinking (correctly, but that’s beside the point) that they would be awarded the free hit when an aerial was thrown to a marked forward. However, the umpire had given it the other way and the City backline was exposed after it was taken quickly; Havering making the most the unmarked men in the D. Just before halftime City began to find some sort of play and David Skinner pulled one back with a swept reverse stick shot to the near post. 
 
Norwich began to work their way back into the game further in the second half piling on the pressure. Havering’s tactics were clear – ‘shut up the shop’. They defended with all men behind the ball making it very difficult for City to break through. However, an equalizer was eventually found when Ed Sutton drove into the right hand side of the D and buried a low drive into the far left corner with a sweet strike. Norwich huffed and puffed for the rest of the game, but as the minutes ticked away they become more and more desperate for the winner and began to force the play becoming too direct. The winner eluded them and the final score finished 2-2. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 21/01/2017 VS WISBECH TOWN (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 21/01/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 21/01/2017 
HEADLINE: Norwich City keep pressure on league leaders 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Wisbech 
RESULT: 5-2 win 
 
REPORT: 
 
Norwich City got their campaign back underway with Wisbech away – their match last week having been postponed. City perhaps started a little slowly with Wisbech having the early play, but Norwich soon played their way into the match putting together some good passing moves. Two goals in quick succession saw Norwich take an early lead. The first from Dave Skinner and the second from George Anthony with a reverse stick strike. A third was added by Dave Skinner before Wisbech got one back from a penalty corner, the initial shot being saved but the rebound went back to a Wisbech player for him to score past the onrushing Ali Cooke in goal. Right on the half time whistle Norwich restored their three goal lead from a penalty corner when Nick Jones slipped the ball to Jeremy Elliott to drag flick into the side netting. 
 
Norwich got a bit too comfortable in the second half, with Wisbech never providing any great threat with their half court press, meaning a lower scoring second period. However, Norwich did add another when Chris Wardale found the goal after a good team move. Norwich would have converted more off their chances had it not been for the Wisbech goalkeeper who pulled off two remarkable saves from Chris Wardale and Gabriel Marchant. The latter had a great chance to grab a goal as the second half progressed, but could only find the crossbar after deflecting a cross from little more than a yard or two out! Towards the end Wisbech converted another penalty corner with a drag flick off the top to make the final score 5-2 to City. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 14/01/2017 VS OLD SOUTHENDIAN (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 14/01/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 14/01/2017 
HEADLINE: Match Postponed! 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Taverham  
RESULT: Postponed Due to Snow 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 07/01/2017 VS NORWICH CITY 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 07/01/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 07/01/2017 
HEADLINE: A win to start 2017 for City's 1st XI 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Taverham High School 
RESULT: 6-2 Win 
 
REPORT: 
In a friendly against the 2s to get the 2nd half of the season up and running it was the 1s who were victories despite going 1 goal behind; goals from Dan Cheesman, Chris Wardale, Ed Sutton, Gabriel Marchant and 2 from Dave Skinner gave the 1s a tally of 6 as the two's could only manage 1 more as it finished 6-2.  

MENS 1ST XI - 10/12/2016 VS WALTHAM FOREST (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 10/12/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 10/12/2016 
HEADLINE: City dig deep to come from behind yet again 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: WALTHAMSTOW ACADEMY 
RESULT: 3-4 
 
REPORT: 
 
The Waltham Forest v Norwich City match was the only game in Prem B to be played on the 10th of December, so Norwich were keen to secure the three points that would see them occupy the top spot over Christmas (although CoP 2s would have a game in hand). Norwich City 1s welcomed Rob Duffy and Dan Cheesman into the side for their first appearances of the season. 
 
Norwich started slowly and on the back foot, as within the first two minutes they found themselves a goal down when Waltham broke through the City left and won a short corner. A simple but neat routine, with a slip left and then a ball across goal to deflect at the far post put Waltham 1-0 up. City began to gradually ease their way into the match from this point and drew level after Chris Wardale converted a short corner of their own with a drag flick to the top right hand corner. Waltham went ahead again when they found a forward unmarked in the D and the ball was eventually scrambled home. The score at half time was 2-1 to Waltham Forset. 
 
Norwich knew they needed to raise their level if they were to get anything out of the game and started the second half with a higher intensity. With new instructions, Sam Tomlinson kept their deep lying playmaker quite in the second half, and as a result Norwich were able to impose themselves on the game more and more. It wasn’t too long before Norwich drew level again when Jeremy Elliott played Nick Jones in on the left. With time on the ball, he hit the ball through the keeper, who was perhaps expecting the shot to be directed towards the corner. It was then City’s time to take the lead for the first time in the match when Norwich countered off some Waltham pressure. Jeremy Elliott received the ball on the right of his own 23 and fired a cross field pass to Dan Cheesman who was stood on the left wing on the opposition 23. Dan then proceeded to cut inside, beating two or three defenders as he made his way towards the D, and as he was pulling the trigger after rounding the keeper was fouled by a recovering defender to win a penalty stroke and also earn his team a man advantage for the next 5 mins. Chris Wardale converted the penalty stroke to the top left corner to make the score 3-2 to City. Norwich knew they had to try to see the result out, but in realising as much seemed to invite Waltham onto them a little too easily and within the next 5 or 10 minutes they were back in the game when they converted a short corner to draw back level. City remained determined however, and eventually further pressure paid off when another short corner was converted when Jeremy Elliott powered a strike through, not one, but two defenders sticks as neither could get enough on the ball to keep it out of the goal. This time Norwich did manage to shut up the shop, and the score finished 4-3 to City. 
 
It is often said that the mark of successful teams is to win matches even when the team have not played their best, and this was definitely one of those occasions. City now sit at the top of the league for Christmas. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 26/11/2016 VS SPALDING (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 26/11/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 26/11/2016 
HEADLINE: City leave it late 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: 
RESULT: 
 
REPORT: 
 
Norwich City Men’s 1s travelled away to Spalding for a big top of the table clash that they knew could prove decisive by the end of the season, when all’s said and done. City started well, with the elected man to man marking system through midfield minimising the strength of the Spalding threat. City dominated early play with good ball retention and passing moves inside the Spalding half and went 1-0 up when Dave Skinner went through on goal and selflessly, somewhat to the surprise of his teammates, slipped the ball to Jeremy Elliott with a well-timed pass to eliminate the keeper. City continued in this manner and with a reduced use of the aerial had good possession. In fact, the reduced use of this weapon meant that when it was used it was more dangerous. This was proved when Tom Cooke threw a 23 to 23 aerial to Nick Jones who had made a run from midfield past the forward line, who had sucked the defence up the pitch. Unfortunately the keeper was quickly off his line to close down the shooting angle as the ball was being brought down and the keeper saved the resulting half volley ‘Gretzky’ slap. Against the run of play Spalding equalised when they clinically converted a penalty corner through a powerful drag flick to level the score at 1-1. The score remained until halftime to which City felt a bit hard done by after playing some excellent hockey in the first half and creating the majority of the chances including striking the post when Dave Skinner, with his back to goal and just one man marking him, turned onto his backhand and struck the post half way up. 
 
City, however, remained unperturbed and started the second half in much the same manner as they had played the first half. They again took the lead after breaking from a Spalding penalty corner, the ball eventually reaching Gabriel Marchant on the right hand side of the D who applied a diving finish, neatly slipping the ball under the onrushing keeper as he was going to ground. The lead was short lived however, as rather disappointingly City lost focus on the restart and Spalding scored another equaliser within 30 seconds of the ball being in the goal at the other end. Moments later, with City still hurting from this setback, Spalding managed to take the lead for the first time in the match to go 3-2 up. City tried to recollect themselves and were still playing good hockey for the majority of the half, so knew there would still be chances to come. As the game went on and City started to press more and more to get back on terms the game lost most of its structure and became a very frantic affair. This in fact played into City hands, as with bundles of pace throughout the squad they managed to exploit the space on the pitch. This bore fruit when Ben Plumb rolled his marker and accelerated into the space behind him towards the back line, only to be fowled from behind by the Spalding lynch pin. With only 5 minutes to go this saw him sit out the rest of the game after a yellow card was produced by the umpire. Desperate to take something from the game City ramped the intensity and press up with all they had left, with George Anthony pulling the strings in midfield and really imposing himself on the game. City made the extra man count almost immediately when Tom Cooke fired his ‘regionally renowned’ slider to Dave Skinner on the right wing. With numerous City players flooding forward into the opposition D and surprisingly not many Spalding defenders back, David Skinner crossed and found Nick Jones steaming in at the back post to make a composed two touch finish into the net as the keeper tried to scramble from his near post to the far. City knew this gave them the ascendency and, with the extra man advantage still, believed they could go on and win it. It appeared as if City had missed their opportunity to win the match when George Anthony played in Jeremy Elliott on the left hand side of the D, and, when trying to find Dave Skinner on the far post to return the earlier favour (yes, you are reading this right, these two are trying to lay on goals for each other!!), he fluffed his lines. However, the game was not done yet. With less than two minutes to go, George Anthony, reading the game like a book all day long, made yet another interception high up the pitch and found Nick Jones bursting into the D on the left hand side. He beat the defender closing him down, pulling the ball onto his backhand and striking the ball low into the far corner. Arms stretched out either side of him, he wheeled away in celebration knowing he had clinched the win. The game was effectively seen out when some nous from Nick Jones was used to waste the reaming time of the game in the corner of the pitch as the Spalding players, could not win the ball off him without either fowling or putting the ball out of play. 
 
The final score was 4-3 to Norwich City, earning a crucial three points in the title race. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 19/11/2016 VS WEST HERTS 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 19/11/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 19/11/2016 
HEADLINE: City turn on style with passing display 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: 
RESULT: 
 
REPORT: 
 
City started strongly imposing their high intensity style on the match from the off with their high press. The chances started to build and one was converted when Dave Skinner pounced on a loose ball in the D to slot the ball into the far corner post and in. West Herts 2s managed to get themselves back into the game after converting a short corner with a slip left routine and as Ali Cooke rushed off his line the attacked played the ball under him as he went to ground. This did not perturb City though, and shortly after they put together a scintillating team move to open up the West Herts defence. Sam Tomlinson, the player of the match, rolled his man in midfield and released the ball the Ed Sutton down the right of the pitch as his marker left him to engage the ball carrier. Ed Sutton then rolled a weighted pass inside the half back for Harry Gill to run onto and cross for Jeremy Elliott who had taken up a position a few maters off the baseline, in line with the near post. He then played a ball to the far post where Chris Wardale was waiting for his trademark finish, the tap-in. Half time came with the score at 2-1 to Norwich City. 
 
As the second half proceeded City created chance after chance with some really good attacking hockey with high ball pace and strong leading off the ball, playing a three or four touch style of hockey that the opposition simply couldn’t live with. Somehow City only managed to convert one more chance to go 3-1 up when a defender turned the ball into his own net off a Chris Wardale cross. The goal scorer himself said after he wasn’t sure if he was in the D or not, but if in doubt always celebrate! The only way West Herts looked like scoring was from creating short corner opportunities, but once City cottoned on to their slip left routine, used three runners and defended later short corners assuredly. The game finished 3-1, but it was not inconceivable that City could have been into double figures on another day. Never-the-less they will take great confidence from the performance into next weekend’s top of the table clash against Spalding. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 13/11/2016 VS BISHOPS STORTFORD (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 13/11/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 13/11/2016 
HEADLINE: City victorious in end to end encounter 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: 
RESULT: 
 
REPORT: 
City travelled away to Bishop’s Stortford in the EH Trophy welcoming debutants George Brine and Thomas Ling, and welcoming back back George Anthony for his first appearance for the 1s in four years after university (apparently he was Durham 1s… Big time!). 
 
Despite a rather poor preparation for the game, City actually started very strongly, utilising the aerial to messrs Gill and Wardale creating chances in behind the Stortford back line. The first goal, however, came after good work from George Brine in the centre of the pitch to beat his man and play in Harry Gill down the right, then applying a cross which Stortford managed to get a stick to, only for Chris Wardale to convert after the ball spilled behind him to the top of the D, and, running away from goal, struck the ball low into the corner for 1-0. However, with these chances and not converting perhaps as many as City should have, City took their foot of the gas a bit and Stortford found their way back into the game with a drag flick of a penalty corner and then took the lead with a back post tapin for 2-1. As half time began to approach City responded to this new challenge, again going to the aerial Harry Gill found himself in on goal. He smashed the ball straight at the keeper, but the keeper stood his ground (perhaps electing no to go to ground as on a previous one on one Harry smashed one directly into his helmet!); luckily the rebound came straight back to him, so again he smashed the ball this time beating the keeper for 2-2. Some neat play down the left saw Skinner enter the D on the left hand side, and from a tight angle smashed a backhand through the keeper’s midriff and into the net for 3-2 City. 
 
The second half was a game that lost all structure (not that it had much in the first place) and became a bit of a free-for-all with a few more cards handed out to boot. City managed to extend their lead to 4-2 after a penalty corner taken directly to Tom Cooke on the left hand slide to play his world renowned ‘slider’, besting the keeper at his near post. From this point Stortford really started to apply the pressure, realising that they needed to take more risks and press harder if they were going to get themselves back into the match. Their main threat came from short corners, with a well drilled straight drag flick, but no variations. City began to come under more and more pressure, especially when finding themselves down to ten men when firstly George Anthony saw yellow for a being overly physical in the tackle and then Tom Cooke saw green for reacting (what did he actually do… no one knows?) to some foul play from Stortford. During these phases it must be said that Ali Cooke in goal did make some fine saves from the penalty corners that ensued, however was beaten on two occasions, although was not helped by his post man on one occasion. With the score back level City new they needed to dig deeper and find something more. One David Skinner duly obliged. He did something we’re not as familiar as we’re used to these days – he tore down the left hand side of the pitch into the D and won a penalty corner. Tom Cooke (having this time understood the call for the routine properly…!) played a lovely ball to the far post off the top, for Dave Skinner to come sliding with the glancing finish past the helpless defender on the post. As time was running out, Stortford pushed more and more for yet another equaliser, winning a penalty corner on the final play of the game. This was it. Fitting that it came down to one of the themes of the game – the Stortford dragflicker versus the mighty Ali Cooke in the City net. One last round. The flicker hooked up a beauty and must have thought he’d sent the game to strokes, only to be denied by Ali Cooke flying to his right with a magnificent stick save! One of many fine saves too I might add. 
 
City won an extremely eventful game, and honestly I could go on and on about various other moments and chances within the game. Particular thanks go to the great support we had down there from the womens cheerleading squad of Gina, Emily, Jo, Harriet, Oli, and Flic. Debutants George Brine and Tom Ling put in particularly impressive displays, with the later sneaking ahead of the former in votes to take home the Man of the Match award. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 12/11/2016 VS BLUEHARTS (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 12/11/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 12/11/2016 
HEADLINE: City comeback in second half to claim all three points 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Hitchin 
RESULT: 3-4 
 
REPORT: 
 
Norwich City travelled to Blueharts on the back of a solid performance against Felixstowe hoping to keep pressure on the two teams above them in the league.  
 
That first half saw not what Nick 'The Captain' Jones was looking for as the defence had to work hard on a number of occasions to keep the score level. Norwich's best chance perhaps fell to Chris 'leading scorer' Wardale who was unable to find that back of the net after some quick right side play.  
 
Blueharts did eventually break the deadlock when Cookie 'The Younger' was beaten near the end of the first half even though he was manly 'The Man Mountain' for the majority of the game. 
 
The second half started better for Norwich but some quick Blueharts play around Tom 'Only One' Cooke 'The Older' forced him to surrender a short corner. The resulting flick found the net but this did not affect the games as some would think. 
 
This score seemed to galvanise the team and Ed 'Not as Old as You think' Sutton found some pace and skills linking well with Ali 'hmmmm' Husband and Sam 'Mini Jones' Tomlinson creating problems for the Blueharts midfield.  
 
Norwich began to press and Jeremy 'The Old Man' Elliott made a solid tackle on the press and found himself in the D. A backhand chip beat the keeper and Norwich were on the scoreboard.  
 
Norwich soon found the equaliser when some solid back play from Harry 'Silent Assassin' Brown was able to link the team together through Louis 'What is his real name' Preston, Chirs 'Leading scorer' Wardale to Dave 'Split Personality' Skinner who was able to get the ball across the D at pace for Nick 'The Captain' Jones to come sliding in and score. 
 
Following what can only be described as Dave 'No Banter' Skinner's pedantic nature he was sent to the bin for 5mins. This caused a few issues and Norwich they soon found themselves down again after some play down the Blueharts left. 
 
Norwich were undeterred though, and despite still being down to ten men found a quick response. Ed 'Not as Old as You think' Sutton received the ball just inside the Blueharts half and neatly rolled his man, surprising even himself with his pace as he burst through a gap in the Blueharts defence, entering the D on the right hand side and crossing neatly to Chris 'The leading Scorer' Wardale to score his bread and butter the tapin as he made the lead in front of his marker towards the ball, putting Norwich to level again. 
 
Throughout this period Richard 'Lord of the Rings' Green was solid at the back and City were able to build more structured atackes from this platform. 
 
Luke 'Hitchhiker' Cordon was not happy. But he was happier then Tom 'The Nice Guy' Cox who pushed hard together with Gabriel 'Archangel' Marchant to push the play.  
 
Norwich would not be denied today. A short corner was won by Norwich with 3 and a half minutes left in the game. The tension, the suspense. The, whatever, somehow Nick 'The Captain' Jones was able to score on the backhand into the far corner after the rebound from the dragflick fell to him and put Norwich back in charge. Who knew he had a backhand too? The all-round player!  
 
The remaining minutes were full of punting the ball up field. Confusion reigned when a late whistle somehow found Mr Elliott sin binned putting Norwich back under pressure. Ed 'Not as Old as You think' Sutton even managed to get on of their players carded for pushing a little too hard.  
 
Norwich managed to hold out the game and secured a 4-3 victory away from home. There were some massive smiles as Guy 'Jose Mourinho' Marchant showed his love for the team.  
 
Next week Norwich entertain West Hearts 2s at home in a game sure to be full for 'licence to skill' and classic Jonesy moments. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 05/11/2016 VS FELIXSTOWE (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 05/11/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 05/11/2016 
HEADLINE: Unlikely scorers as City pick a routine home win 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Taverham High School 
RESULT: 3-1 Win 
 
REPORT:  
City entertained their Suffolk counterparts Felixstowe at Taverham, City started strong in the 1st half and created early chances and one was taken with the unlikely score Luke Corden finishing well. Chris Wardale then added another goal to his tally for the season as he finished a PC. City dominated the 1st half and where hard done by when a unfortunate Penalty Flick was awarded against them and finished.  
 
After the break City regained their control of the game and limited Felixstowe to minimal chances as it was only a matter of time before City scored their 3rd to make the game safe, as Ali Husband finished well. Another routine win for the 1s as they remain near the top end of PREM B.  
POTM: Gabriel Marchant 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 30/10/2016 VS FAREHAM (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 30/10/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 30/10/2016 
HEADLINE: City raise their game for national league visitors 
COMPETITION: EH Cup 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 2-4 
 
REPORT: 
The Sun was high in the sky, and the warm breeze was rustling the leaves in the tree, which was weird for the last weekend in October. This was no ordinary day. Norwich City Men’s First Team were taking on Fareham Hockey Club. People were calling this the David vs Goliath match of the century. After surveying the ever eager opposition, who had been training since 10.30 that morning, the team gathered in the changing room, with one thought on their mind. How on earth had Tommo been out Roadmaned? Unable to answer this question, the boys continued with their preparation. However, 45 minutes to the game, a glimmer of light approached the team, as Ben Plumb entered the room, half cut, but raring to go. 
 
The warmup went as good as the team could have hoped for with resident physio Stu Wardle providing assistance. After the normal pass and follow drills, the boys found themselves with some spare time on their hands. A luxury which they didn’t normally have, so a game of shirts vs skins was in order in the corner of the pitch. For some unknown reason, the team put Cookie on the skins team, maybe this was to scare the opposition, or maybe to attract the attention of the other teams physio. Who knew? But the tactic seemed to work. 
 
The game started, after acting like a sponge and soaking up all that Fareham could throw at the team, the boys (through a quick, well worked counterattack managed to transfer the ball from left to right, through Ali Husband and Harry Gill, who gassed his way down the line, wrecking their left back, and casually slotting the ball past the mouth of the goal, to an eagerly awaiting Tapin, who slotted the ball in to make it 1-0 to the home team. Fareham looked scared, but it was noticeable that the away teams left back looked remarkable upset, whether this was because he didn’t get lucky at the 21st party they managed to crash the night before, or the fact that he knew that he would have a big afternoon ahead of him, attempting to keep up with Hazza G. 
 
City carried on with the momentum, and were all over Fareham like Rich Green and a free pint, but were unable to continue to soak up all the pressure, of the away team. Queue their first short corner. The ball was passed out to the top of the D, where it was stopped and then dragged bottom, striking the back board. City’s heads went down, until the umpires conferred and the ball hadn’t managed to finds its way out of the D at the start of the corner, and the goal was disallowed. Following this, Fareham seemed to be more and more determined to get the goal, they desired. Unable to contain this new found energy the opposition had, a ruthless stick tackle from behind and Chris Wardale was sent sitting in the dugout for 2 minutes.  
 
Enter Mr Gill pitch left.  
 
Gilly sprinted on upfront, after being substituted for Stu Wardle, determined to make amends for Chris’s tackle, steaming up towards the opposition’s ball carrier, dropping his shoulder, burying him into the ground. As a result, Harry found himself immediately replacing Tapin in the dugout after being awarded the team’s second green card. #classicgilly 
 
As a result of being a player down the team conceded another short corner, but was denied after a decent flying save by Russell. However City were unable to take the pressure any longer, and minutes before half time, Fareham scored to make it all level.  
 
The second half started, but the team could not produce the same fire that they had at the start of the game. The lack of defensive organisation, and ability to find passes further up the field. The City goal quickly came under fire, despite more clinical saves from Alastair Cooke, City were unable to keep the ball out of the goal for much longer, conceding 2 more goals, despite decent saves from Alastair Cooke. City heads started to drop, but with the thanks from the crowd, with particular mention going to the Jones, Cooke, Brown, Brine, and Wardale Clans, and support from the Cheerleading section, featuring, Jo, Oli, Flic, Harriet, Maddie, and Joby City regained their fire. Maybe a bit too much fire in the heart of Tom Cox, who wanted to do one better than Gilly and Tapin making the worst, (or best, in the opinion of Cookie) tackle in the game, was given a yellow. 
 
More and more pressure was being soaked up, but to no avail. The umpire City’s end seemed a bit tired, maybe he was overdue his afternoon nap, but he could only point towards short corners, no matter how clean and innocent the tackles were. Fareham took advantage of this, managing to find Louis Preston’s foot on the line. Giving a penalty stroke to the other team. No matter how hard Alastair tried to get his “python” of a stick to the ball, it still found its way into the net. Making the score 4-1. 
 
With the 2 minute signal being given, City mustered what little strength and energy they had remaining, getting the ball up the other end of the pitch, winning a short corner of their own, which Chris Wardale managed to convert, getting his second of the game. 
 
The final whistle went, with the final score being 4-2, the boys walked off towards the club house. The score not being what they may have wanted, but was much better than what they had feared.  
 

MENS 1ST XI - 29/10/2016 VS CAMBRIDGE UNI 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 29/10/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 29/10/2016 
HEADLINE: Norwich lose narrowly at Cambridge University 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Wilberforce Road 
RESULT:4-3 
 
REPORT: 
This week Norwich headed to play Cambridge university second team in prem B. The pace started off high with both teams having chances and Norwich getting some short corners but not being able to convert them. However the first goal came when Jeremy Elliott played the ball over the Cambridge defence with Chris wardale running onto the ball and playing it under the keeper for the first goal. However soon after Cambridge broke up to the other end of the pitch and winning a short corner, which was scored through a neat routine. After this Norwich began to push again and very quickly Tom Cooke was able to play a long ball cutting up the Cambridge defence for Tom cox to deflect into the goal. With this Norwich thought that they were able to see the game out until half time with the lead but no. Again the university side won a short corner and again this was put away leaving the score 2-2 at half time.  
Into the second half both teams began to push for another goal starting to bring the game end to end. Norwich were creating chances but weren’t quite able to finish it off and with this the university broke away and won a short corner and again this was put away meaning the score was 3-2 and Norwich were down for the first time in the game. This then meant the game began to get frantic with Norwich pushing for an equaliser and as a consequence committed men up field and were then caught on the break conceding another goal and now 4 -2 down. But Norwich came again this time through Jeremy Elliott creating himself some space on the left hand side of the pitch and then neatly finishing over the opposition keeper and getting a goal back for city. Norwich then found a spark to try and push for the equaliser but unfortunately ran out of time and the game finished 4-3. 
 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 22/10/2016 VS IES (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 22/10/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 22/10/2016 
HEADLINE: City produce first clean sheet of the season 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 1-0 
 
REPORT: 
 
After last weeks disappointing result City faced another tough test in IES 1's this week with their second home game in as many weeks. 
 
In an evenly contested first half City managed to take the the lead through what proved to be a decisive goal towards the end of the first half. Quick thinking from Louis Preston after being fouled outside the 23 resulted in a fast ball through the IES defence to Dave Skinner who in turn slotted the ball through the on rushing goalkeepers legs. Giving City a 1-0 lead going into the interval.  
 
The second half was again another tight affair with City initially trying to force the ball and making unnecessary errors as a result. A quick stoppage in play allowed City to attempt to refocus and go back to 2/3 touch hockey, however further mistakes and diving into challenges allowed IES to create more chances and as a result further penalty corners. However the defence stayed strong with Ali Cooke in goal ensuring City's first clean sheet of the season.  
 
Next week City face a league and cup double header with Cambridge Uni 2's in the league and Fareham of National League Conference West for a spot in the next round. 

MENS 1ST XI - 15/10/2016 VS CITY OF PETERBOROUGH 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 15/10/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 15/10/2016 
HEADLINE: City beaten at home 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 0-3 
 
REPORT: 
 
Ed Sutton got through the warm-up unscathed after an injury scare at the end of the week, and Gabs Inch was welcomed back to boost numbers. 
 
CoP began the game well, having the majority of the possession. This was somewhat aided by Norwich, who did not seem to have the same defensive intensity as last week. However the first quarter of the match did not see too many chances for either side. The deadlock was broken however when CoP managed to convert a penalty corner to the bottom left corner with a low flick. This was followed up moments later when a CoP forward found the far corner with a low backhand strike after a cheap, but costly, turnover in City’s own defensive third. CoP managed to add another just before half time and City found themselves in unfamiliar territory at the break at 0-3 down. 
 
City tried to raise their game in the second half, and despite a barrage of attacking penalty corners in the second half, failed to make any headway to get a foothold back in the match. The press was higher and a more chances were created, but ultimately the damage had already been done before the break. Throughout the match Ali Cooke managed to pull off a few good saves to limit the score to three, one of particular note where he came sliding out and cleanly took the ball in a one on one situation. 
 
City will look forward to turning in an improved performance when they welcome IES to TRF in a weeks time. 
 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 08/10/2016 VS HAVERING (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 08/10/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 08/10/2016 
HEADLINE: City patience and discipline wins the day 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: 
RESULT: 
 
REPORT: 
 
The game started very evenly, with Havering playing a fairly conservative style of hockey, and while they didn’t give too much away, neither did they create much themselves, with only a couple of short corners. The most memorable moment of the first half coming when a sniper appeared to pick off Ed Sutton as he knocked the ball past the last man, leaving him sprawled across the floor. A rather drab first half saw the teams go into the break at 0-0. 
 
City began to impose themselves on the game more and more as it progressed into the second half, playing clever hockey, leaving Havering to get on with all the complaining to the umpires riling themselves up. Chances eventually started come as spaces opened up. The first of which Gabriel Marchant found a bit of space in the D when turning onto his backhand, only to be denied by the underside of the cross bar. City kept their patience, realising that this was never going to be a game in which there would be a lot of chances. Eventually an inspired substitution provided the breakthrough. Just moments after coming on Tom Cox managed to get himself on the scoresheet twice within the space of two minutes. The first came after smart work from Chris Wardale who was in a tight spot in the centre of the D. He seemingly managed to get through a gap that did not exist, and when confronted by the onrushing keeper, calmly slipped the ball to his left where Tom Cox could apply a simple finish into the open goal. The second goal came from what was the best move of the game. With two and three touch hockey, the ball was worked down the left channel to Chris Wardale who dropped the ball off to the supporting midfield, who then found Tom Cox, who had somehow managed to find himself in acres on the top of the D. Again the keeper rushed out, but as he slid out at the ball Tom Cox, on full stretch, hit his backhand with just enough lift to see the ball fly into the net for 0-2. The third came when Chris Wardale this time had managed to find some space in the D, turned away from the defenders and onto his backhand. This also gave him space to aim for at the near post with the keeper again off his line, and with a clean strike the sweet sound of the ball hitting the backboard was heard. This passage of play was clearly not what Havering had in mind and their players began to lose their minds with their team decending into anarchy. City kept their composure well during these events and did well, on the whole, not to react to all the furore that Havering were stirring up and kept trying to play their hockey. This caused the game to peter out somewhat with Havering managing a consolation goal within the final few minutes. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 01/10/2016 VS WISBECH TOWN (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 01/10/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 01/10/2016 
HEADLINE: City show mental strength in comeback win 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 4-2 
 
REPORT: 
 
With a full squad of 15, Norwich City went into the game knowing that they could play high intensity hockey without suffering in the later stages of the game. This squad included the return of Alex Scott for his first appearance for the 1s in nearly two years, and Nick Jones returned for his first outing as captain. 
 
With the disappointment of realising that the Preston on the team sheet was in fact Louis and not Rory out of the way, the team took to the pitch in a positive frame of mind. Early pressure saw Norwich take the lead after a penalty corner broke down – City took advantage of their extra numbers with the ball eventually finding Chris Wardale on the left hand side of the D to volley home into the back of the net. City continued to apply the pressure for much of the first half and had the chance to go two up after a defender blocked the ball on the line with his body. Unfortunately the resulting flick was missed and Wisbech soon had one of their own when their centre forward was brought down as he was bearing down on goal. This meant that City went into the break, somewhat undeservedly, at 1-1 and down to 10 men, after what had been a promising first half. 
 
Early in the second half Wisbech got a second through a deflected ball in – Ali Cooke being somewhat unfortunate in goal not to keep out the spinning ball as it ricocheted of his pads and trickled across the line. There was an initial period of disappointment with this from City, but after realising that the game was still well within their control they began to press hard again and dominate proceedings. From here on in it was one way traffic, wave after wave of City attacks, but struggling to find the crucial breakthrough. Nevertheless City remained positive in the belief that it would come. The intensity of the game was raised further and Wisbech simply couldn’t handle it with their smaller squad size and inferior fitness. Eventually the hard work paid off when Dave Skinner produced what can only be described as a Zlatan-esque lob on the keep from a tight angle on the right hand side of the D. Norwich continued their dominance and shortly after got the goal for the lead when an overload was created when the ball was won high up the pitch after a penalty corner had broken down - the ball eventually finding its way to Nick Jones at the back post to volley into the open net. As the game drew to a close Wisbech lacked ideas and the game was well seen out by City who got a fourth near the final whistle when Dave Skinner slotted another goal from a tight angle beating the keeper at his near post. 
 
City maintain their unbeaten home record in the league since the 08-Feb-2015. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 25/09/2016 VS SPALDING (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 25/09/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 25/09/2016 
HEADLINE: City Cup run begins 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Taverham recreational facility 
RESULT: won 4-0 
 
REPORT: City faced Spalding in the EH Cup for the second time in 2 seasons on Sunday, wanting to make up for a disappointing result away at Old Southedians the previous day. With a number of players unavailable City drafted the Ben Plumb, Tom Hindle and Stu Wardle from the second team to give themselves the option to rotate players and keep the squad fresh. The game started well for City and after a couple of attacks in the opening minutes they won a short corner with only 5 minutes on the clock. Chris Wardale converted with ease, firing a drag flick into the top right hand corner. City doubled their lead less than 10 minutes later when Tom Cox's hunger and doggedness earned the home side a penalty stroke, and when Wardale stepped up again he gave the keeper no chance, flicking hard into the left side of the goal. Norwich's solid start set them in good stead as Spalding began to create a few chances of their own but Alastair Cooke stood firm in the City goal. Tom Hindle extended the home sides lead before halftime, playing a 35 yard 1-2 with Thomas Cooke, before smashing into the bottom corner to give Norwich a 3 goal lead at half time. The second half was much the same as the first half with City continuing to create lots of chances, however it took City nearly half an hour to add to their tally and round off the scoring, Ben Plumb doing some excellent work to get into the circle, only for the Spalding keeper just to nick the ball off him as Plumb attempted to beat him. The keeper was however unable to clear the ball effectively and Dave Skinner rushed onto the ball to forced home a fourth, unfortunately over stretching in the process and injuring a hamstring. 
 
Final score 4-0 to city, who advance to the next round and will find out early in the week which regional side they will face next. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 24/09/2016 VS OLD SOUTHENDIAN (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 24/09/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 24/09/2016 
HEADLINE: City stumble by the sea 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Old Southendian H C 
RESULT: lost 0-4 
 
REPORT: Norwich City made the long trip down to Southend-on-sea to play one of last years promoted sides from division 1. The visitors warm up and pre-game routine was disrupted by the umpires being held up in traffic on not turning up until the designated start time, but this should have given City ample time to prepare and get the long journey out of their legs. The game started fairly evenly with both teams venturing forwards, although neither team really tested the oppositions goalkeeper. Alastiar Cooke was called into action a couple of times during the first half but was never truly trouble and City managed to create a number of there own attacks, reaching the baseline several times, but the final passes didn't quite connect and the game looked like it was headed to halftime with the score still at 0-0. However with less than a minute remaining in the first half the home side were awarded a short corner and a powerful drag flick snuck past Cooke in goal and over the goal line.  
 
At halftime City knew they were far from out of the game, but they would need to raise their level if they wanted to get back into it. Unfortunately this didn't happen and midway through the second half they found themselves a further goal down after squandering a number of good chances to get them back on level terms. With only a few minutes left on the clock Thomas Cooke was adjudged to half committed a stick tackle worthy of a yellow card inside the 23m, and from the resulting short corner Old Southendians extended their lead, deflecting in from outside the right post. Only a couple of minutes later the home side scored a carbon copy to really put the nail in the coffin for City.  
 

MENS 1ST XI - 17/09/2016 VS WALTHAM FOREST (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 17/09/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 17/09/2016 
HEADLINE: City start new campaign with fine home display! 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Taverham High School 
RESULT: 4-1 Win 
 
REPORT: 
City started the 2016/17 season with a perfect home performance which saw them 4-1 winners against Waltham Forest. City took the lead through Ali Husband before Ed Sutton doubled the lead before Waltham pulled one back before the break.  
 
City however were in complete control and managed to score a further two goals in the 2nd half through Dave Skinner and POTM Gabriel Marchant. A great start to the season as City travel away to Southend next week.  
 

MENS 1ST XI - 11/09/2016 VS MAIDSTONE (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 11/09/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 11/09/2016 
HEADLINE: Tough Defeat for City against tough opponents! 
PLUM TOURNAMENT 
VENUE: Lee Valley 
RESULT: 1-0 Loss 
 
Goal Scorer: NA 
POTM: Harry Brown 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 11/09/2016 VS EAST LONDON (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 11/09/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 11/09/2016 
HEADLINE: City pick up another positive result 
PLUM TOURNAMENT 
VENUE: Lee Valley 
RESULT: 2-2 Draw 
 
Goal Scorers: Gabriel Marchant, Chris Wardale 
POTM: Sam Tomlinson 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 10/09/2016 VS HAMPTON IN ARDEN (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 10/09/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 10/09/2016 
HEADLINE: First Positive Result of the season 
PLUM TOURNAMENT 
VENUE: Lee Valley 
RESULT: 2-2 Draw 
 
Goal Scorers: Dave Skinner (2) 
POTM: Alastair Cooke 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 10/09/2016 VS MILTON KEYNES (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 10/09/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 10/09/2016 
HEADLINE: City Louse out by 1 goal! 
PLUM TOURNAMENT 
VENUE: Lee Valley 
RESULT: Lost 2-1 
 
Scorer: Dave Skinner 
POTM: Alastair Cooke 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 03/09/2016 VS CAMBRIDGE CITY 2/3 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 03/09/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 03/09/2016 
HEADLINE: No report 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: 
RESULT: 
 
REPORT: 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 27/08/2016 VS DEREHAM (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 27/08/2016 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 27/08/2016 
HEADLINE: No Report