Results

MENS 5TH XI - 01/12/2018 VS WATTON 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 5th XI 
DATE: 01/12/2018 
FIXTURE: Mens 5th XI VS 01/12/2018 
HEADLINE: Does the sun ever shine in Watton? 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 4 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Watton Sports Centre 
RESULT: 4-1 Loss 
 
REPORT: 
Norwich city started well and just minutes after the starting whistle Charles with his first touch of the match struct a beautiful ball on a very tight angle to the top on the net, 1-0 at this point Norwich really needed to keep the pressure up. Unfortunately, Watton upped their tempo and pulled a goal back. 
 
With a very slow pitch Norwich struggled to pass the ball around fast enough and this allowed Watton to score another 2 goals, 3-1 at half time.  
 
The half time team talk from Joe and Ali tried to put a little fire in the bellies of the deflated 5th team and at the start of the second half we tried to fight our way back with some good aerials from Paul Kassulke trying to pick out our youthful players up front, Freddie, Rob and Ed in the middle of the field, but to no avail. 
 
A comment also goes out to the strong back line made up of Grocer, Paul, Al, James and superb Rueben for the sterling job holding up the Watton strikers. 
 
Final score 4-1.  
 
Being the writer of this sorry story, I couldn’t finish without adding a note about the TOTALLY unfair green card, all I’ve got to say about this event, ‘I was just having a friendly discussion with one of the Watton team’, from my recollection his name started with a ‘W’ or thats what he got called afterwards!, joking a side we should all remember its a game and should be played ALWAYS in a sporting and friendly manner and this should be encouraged in the youth of the team (mental note to self..) 
 
I would like to say ‘and everyone lived happily ever after….’  
 
Lets just say the rematch at home after xmas will be interesting. 
 
Report credit: Mark Bailey (TYFC) 

MENS 5TH XI - 10/11/2018 VS NORWICH DRAGONS 4     (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 5th XI 
DATE: 10/11/2018 
FIXTURE: Mens 5th XI VS 10/11/2018 
HEADLINE: City convert chances and it does make a difference! 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 4 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Taverham H20 
RESULT: 4-0 Win 
 
REPORT: 
With Dragons missing a keeper at the start it was crucial that City made the early break through and they did just that with Joe Holden scoring his usual flukey goal. One became two in the first half as Pies converted a penalty stroke. City then ran riot a little bit as a further goal from Pies and another PC goal from the inform James Hughes made it 4-0 at the break. 
 
A reorganised and much more determined Dragons came out in the 2nd half and made it much tougher for City; both teams did still create chances however but both goalkeepers were on form as City's first half heroics were enough to seal a comprehensive win.  
 
Next week the interclub derby, fun! 

MENS 5TH XI - 27/10/2018 VS PELICANS 2     (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 5th XI 
DATE: 27/10/2018 
FIXTURE: Mens 5th XI VS 27/10/2018 
HEADLINE: Just pipped to the final hurdle! 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 4 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Taverham - Sand 
RESULT: 4-3 Loss 
 
REPORT: 
After a disapointing start to the season the Mens 5th XI were looking to bounce back at home against a strong 2nd placed Pelicans team. Pelicans had a mix of youth and experience but were on top in the first half, City had Charles Anderson to thank in goal for saving a penalty flick but he had little chance with Pelicans first's goal. City battled hard but it was Pelicans who were the stronger in the first half with City's defence of Koppleman, Paterson, Hughes and Hooper had to rebel constant Pelicans attacks. City however did have one break away with Holden doing some great skill on the byline and with some good advantage played by umpire Ling he managed to sqaure the ball to the onrushing Mark Bailey to finish low into the corner. However sadly not long after City equalised Pelicans regained the lead with an aerial all the way from the back into the 23 was scrambled home from a tight angle. 2-1 Pelis at half time.  
 
The 2nd half started just like the 1st half with Pelicans once again starting on top and putting a lot of pressure on the City defence, however City's midfield of Bailey, Hughes and new recruit Duncan Buckmaster started to become more influential and a low drag flick from James Hughes from a short corner brought City level. However the game turned into pinball for the rest of the half as both teams started to tire and fire more long balls, Pelicans once again regained the lead for 3-2 before similar to City's 2nd goal James Hughes once again fired a low drag flick into the goal to equalise. The game was in the balance but sadly for City in the final 5 minutes another cross into the City D from the Pelicans winger saw the ball glanced home by the Pelicans forward to give the home side a 4-3 victory.  
 
A tough result for City to take but they must work on keeping the ball if they are to pick up any points in their next fixture against Bury.  
 

MENS 5TH XI - 13/10/2018 VS THETFORD TOWN 1     (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 5th XI 
DATE: 13/10/2018 
FIXTURE: Mens 5th XI VS 13/10/2018 
HEADLINE: City undone by Thetford 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 4 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 3 - 0 Loss 
 
REPORT: 
This week, City welcomed top of the league Thetford to TRF. 
 
City started the first 10 minutes of the game strong and were unfortunate not to take the lead early on when Mark Circuit pushed a fantastic ball through to Shaun Ferris, who put the ball just inches wide of the post. 
 
Thetford then began to find there pace, with some quick attackers managing to burst past our players who were struggling in the intense heat of sun (Odd for an October morning?). 
 
Thetford went on to score 3 goals through long balls into the D, cementing their place at the top of the table and unfortunately ending the 5's unbeaten start to the season. 

MENS 5TH XI - 29/09/2018 VS NEWMARKET 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 5th XI 
DATE: 29/09/2018 
FIXTURE: Mens 5th XI VS 29/09/2018 
HEADLINE: MARK BAILEY SCORES A GOAL! 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 4 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Newmarket Leisure Center 
RESULT: 2-1 Win 
 
REPORT: 
Despite only getting a draw last week which could have very much been a win, City turned up to Newmarket wanting to play the high tempo hockey that they did against Ipswich. 
 
The pitch was very slow and City were almost caught out at the start with long hit-and-hope balls from the Newmarket defence/midfield. This was shortly undone with the introduction of Monty Platt, who with some great link-up play with inners Elliot Fox and Nathan Cordon, managed to get the ball to Freddie Paterson. Freddie took an excellent first touch, danced around three Newmarket defenders and placed a reverse stick strike past the keeper. 1-0 City. 
 
City maintained a lot of the possession for the remaining time of the half, with good passing play around the defensive and midfield areas controlling the game. Just before the stroke of half time, City had the game under control as Mark Bailey picked up the ball in the D and took a shot on goal. It didn't go in, but luckily the keeper passed it back to him and he had another go. This happened a further three times before Bailey decided he actually wanted it to go into the goal and then there it was, 2-0 City and half-time. 
 
Right at the beginning of the second half, Newmarket managed to get the ball into City's D. The forward bulldozed his way through Cordon who made a great defensive tracking run, and after a goalmouth scramble, managed to get the ball in the goal. No foul given, 2-1. Controversial. 
 
City then managed to see the game out to the end, with Elliot Fox fantastically controlling the game at the end, completely slowing the game down, and man of the match Rueben Cooke making some vital interventions in the closing minutes. 
 
A well-played game and fully deserved win for City. 

MENS 5TH XI - 22/09/2018 VS IPSWICH 3     (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 5th XI 
DATE: 22/09/2018 
FIXTURE: Mens 5th XI VS 22/09/2018 
HEADLINE: Ipswich GK denies City 3 points 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 4 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 0-0 
 
REPORT: 
City turned up for their first league game of the season with a strong squad, ready to overturn the 14-1 loss that occurred against the same opponents away last year. 
 
The game started slow, with some poor ball pace and sloppy passes made in midfield areas, which allowed Ipswich some early chances of getting the ball into the D, but that was the best they managed for the majority of the game. 
 
City then picked up the pace, with some good triangles operating in midfield, with Circuit and Cordon dictating play, whilst Hughes and Cooke were working well and switching play across the field from set pieces. The home team was unfortunate not to go ahead before the break as a short corner was awarded as the half-time whistle was blown. Some good skill by Pies at the top of the D got past the first runner, only for his back-post bound pass to be picked out by a defender. Half time. 
 
Some small words of wisdom from new captain Holden (still working on the team talks) and then quickly handed over to Pies who gave some good tactical ideas for the second half. 
 
The home team started the second half strong and put a performance on for the Womens & Mens 1st XI who remained after their game to support. City kept the momentum for the full 35 minutes, with good attempts on goal from Brine, Circuit, Koppelman and a goal mouth scramble involving Holden, but the England U-21 International in the Ipswich goal kept everything out with a spectacular display of saves. 
 
City were nearly undone in the final 10 minutes, as Ipswich broke forward completely against the run of play, only for a fantastic 1-on-1 save from Grocer to keep them at bay. At this point, Holden was sent to the side of the pitch by the umpire, and to be honest, none of us were quite sure why... hey ho! 
 
Full time - 0-0. 
 
MOTM: Goes to Reuben Cooke - Tireless running and great defending to keep the Ipswich ringer at bay! 

MENS 5TH XI - 15/09/2018 VS WATTON (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 5th XI 
DATE: 15/09/2018 
FIXTURE: Mens 5th XI VS 15/09/2018 
HEADLINE: Match Cancelled by Watton! 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 4 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: 
RESULT: 
 
REPORT: