Results

WOMENS 3RD XI - 14/01/2023 VS SUDBURY 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 3rd XI 
DATE: 14/01/2023 
FIXTURE: Womens 3rd XI VS 14/01/2023 
HEADLINE: Goals galore for City 3s 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: WON 4-1 
 
REPORT: 
 
City started the match vs Sudbury 2s hopeful of upgrading their recent run of draws. Sudbury, however, had some strong attacks in the first 10 minutes and soon won a penalty stroke. Despite an impressive dive by Serena Scott, Sudbury scored and City were left playing catch up. City didn’t panic and started to pass the ball around more confidently building many promising attacks. Chloe Holmes and Hollie Blackham made some great runs and City finally got the equaliser they deserved just before half-time.  
In the second half, City took full control of the match. Jess Taylor-Balls and India Fox quickly stopped any Sudbury attacks and surprised the opposition by making their own impressive runs from defence. Lucy McNarry scored early in the second half which opened the floodgates. Within minutes Ange Hindle scored City’s third goal with a new penalty corner tactic known as the bobbler! Before long, Chloe Holmes added her name to the scoresheet following a goalmouth scramble with City players falling over the goalkeeper in their determination to score. City pushed hard for the rest of the match and were close to scoring several more goals but the score remained 4-1. A fantastic start to the second half of the season! 

WOMENS 5TH XI - 14/01/2023 VS BROADLAND 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 5th XI 
DATE: 14/01/2023 
FIXTURE: Womens 5th XI VS 14/01/2023 
HEADLINE: NCHC5s 1 - 2 Broadland 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST (NORTH) 
VENUE: 
RESULT: 
 
REPORT: 
 
Norwich City womens 5s set out against Broadland 2s with their heads high hoping for a victory. It was a slow start for city who found it difficult to make a way past the Broadland press. Goalkeeper Jo had an incredible game with multiple saves however, city went 0-1 down at half time. After an intense team talk at half term from the co-captains (Amy and Chloe )city went out in the second half hungry for a goal to level out the score. A special mention goes to Esme for her runs down the sidelines, creating several close chances for City. City’s confidence was boosted and after some great link-up play, especially in the midfield, they scored a much-deserved goal. Unfortunately, city’s intensity was not maintained. After a few decisions which did not go our way, a counterattack from Broadlands meant our defence were outnumbered and put Broadlands ahead 2-1. The final score was 2-1 to Broadlands. However, the score did not reflect the game because city had the majority of possession and were unfortunate not to score another goal. Bring on Dragons next Saturday. 

WOMENS 6TH XI - 14/01/2023 VS THETFORD TOWN 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 14/01/2023 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 14/01/2023 
HEADLINE: A tough battle with the big hitters! 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 4 NORTH EAST (NORTH) 
VENUE: Breckland Lesiure centre 
RESULT: L 1-5 
 
REPORT: 
Fielding only 11 players, we knew it was going to be a tough game but we were hopeful of it being a good game nonetheless. CIty started off with good possession and an even better attitude. We came up against it in the first half, when Thetford sent a massive shot on goal which flew by us all, but we weren't perturbed, we now knew what we were up against.  
 
Jess in goal had some brilliant saves against these big hitters, but unfortunately 2 more pinged by, at height, and in to our goal in the first half. Not once did City let this stop them though, We defended their short corners and conceded no goals on these, despite one ball pinging off Sarah Smith's mask!  
 
Half time came and despite the score line, city were in good spirits. We had gotten used to how we needed to play this game and settled in to it. We went back in to the second half as a team and were the first to score this half, from a short corner Kate got City, a fabulous injection was smacked back to goal line by Alice (rightfully getting her POTM today) and tapped in brilliantly by Liz - you'd have thought we had just scored the winning goal!  
 
Unfortunately, a shot on goal blocked by a player meant Jess has to face a penalty flick, and despite her best efforts we were 4-1 down. Another tricky scrap in the D meant one more goal went in, and shortly after we were left with only 10 players on the pitch for the last 10 minutes due to injury. We battled to the bitter end, we upset the apple cart with the opposition and we fought every minute. A team to be proud of, despite the final score. You did us proud girls! 

MENS 1ST XI - 15/01/2023 VS CITY OF PETERBOROUGH 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 15/01/2023 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 15/01/2023 
HEADLINE:  
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: City of Peterborough Hockey Club  
RESULT: 3-2 Loss 
 
REPORT: 
The first hockey of 2023 was upon us. Time to see who had enjoyed Christmas and New years a bit too much. 
 
It may have been the tier 1 Cup where we couldve faced a number of national prem clubs but thankfully the draw had gifted us with a local journey and familiar foe in Peterbrough. But we knew this would be the perfect back to hockey test. 
 
And we were not wrong. From the off Peterbrough were man to man and pressing hard trying to catch us napping. Thankfully Tom Cooke & Louis Preston were equal to it and kept the ball well to build from the back. It didn't take long before the first chance was made, Tom found Chris Wardale on the baseline and he forced a save from the Peterborugh keeper. Shortly after Harry Gill then found Chris Wardale and this time he deflected past the keeper to take the lead. Q1: 1-0.  
 
Quarter 2 had only one storyline - Peterbrough short corners. Within the first 2 minutes they had won 1 short corner which was subsequently re-awarded 4 times and after 5 drags to the same spot they finally got the goal. 1-1. Straight from pushback City were desperate desperate regain control and Jonty Black was able to cut past 3 men before finding Stu Wardle for a deflected finish and restoration of the lead. Before once again we were stuck in our D as 1 short corner became 3, but thank fully it didn't become a goal. HT: 2-1 lead to Norwich. 
 
Early into the 2nd half a Peterborough aerial got in behind our defence and with a reserve across the face an unmarked player backpost tapped in to draw the game level. The rest of the quarter saw plenty cards with Peterborough and Norwich both having 2 players off for Green cards and neither side doing much offensively. Q3: 2-2. 
 
Quarter 4 returned to the story of Quarter 2 with 3 short corners and an eventual goal for Peterbrough. 3-2 lead with 10minutes remaining. Norwich pushed for an equaliser to force penalty flicks but couldn't quite get a deserved goal. Very tight game all round, good kickoff to 2023 and sets the bar high for more good hockey to come. And hopefully Norwich can get even when they face Peterborough in the league in 4 weeks time. 
 
 

MENS 3RD XI - 14/01/2023 VS FELIXSTOWE 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 3rd XI 
DATE: 14/01/2023 
FIXTURE: Mens 3rd XI VS 14/01/2023 
HEADLINE: City youth battle in vain 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Felixstowe School 
RESULT: City 3s 2 - 6 Felixstowe 1s 
 
REPORT: 
Following a challenging time in terms of availability and sudden changes to the team, a very altered team from the last game played took to a very far away game at Felixstowe. The home team started out the game with some very promising attacks with city not quite adapted to the way each other play. Felixstowe scored 3 before halftime with city having some promising chances but none of which were put away. Into the 2nd half the team was learning more and more how each other plays, however Felixstowe were able to score their 4th goal not too long after the halftime break. City came back strong with a great ball across from the left side, with Dan taking a deflected pass to his right past the defender to Corey who hit the ball under the keeper and into the goal to gain city their 1st. Felixstowe battled back to score again bringing the score to 5-1. However city were not quite done with a great ball from Harry to Corey who was able to get a decent shot away forcing a save to Matthew Brine who was able to capitalise and put the ball in giving city their 2nd. Felixstowe continued their pressure and were able to score again bringing the final score to 6-2, some good individual performances with plenty to work on.  
 
With a number of good performances from City’s youth production line, Corey Rushton was named player of the match