Results

WOMENS 2ND XI - 30/10/2021 VS IPSWICH 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 2nd XI 
DATE: 30/10/2021 
FIXTURE: Womens 2nd XI VS 30/10/2021 
HEADLINE: Top of the Table Clash 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH EAST 
VENUE:Taverham 
RESULT:1-0 Win 
 
REPORT: 
With only goal difference separating undedeated Norwich City 2s and Ipswich 2s at the top of the table it was all to play for. City had a full squad of 15 and were ready to go from the off with the midfield of Georgia Cleveland, Emily Francis, Helen Busfield and Dani Sizer working hard and linking up well. Ipswich felt the pressure as City played a very attacking game which resulted in a penalty corner early in the half. A swift stop and pass from the duo of Georgia Cleverland and Emily Francis found Rosie Humphrey who slotted the ball into the back of the goal past the Ipswich keeper. Both teams were battling hard in midfield and a lifted ball straight to the head of Hanna Hall sparked a moment of worry for City, but after a short break on the sideline Hanna was back in action and causing Ipswich problems alongside Lauren Lawrie. Pressure by Milly Brown, Emily Francis, Emma Hewett and Grace Hanworth-Knights led to a few more shots on goal, the best of which was Emma's strike to the bottom left hand corner of the goal which was saved by the Ipswich keeper.  
 
The second half saw City under more pressure than the first with Lucy Walton, Sally Rose, Sabina Baker and Leigh-Ann Worrall taking turns to thwart the efforts of Ipswich. This period of attack from Ipswich saw a series of shots on goal and a short corner but none of these made it past goalkeeper Georgina Barratt. City stepped their game up again and continued to work hard for the remainder if the match, with everyone giving maximum effort to ensure the 1-0 win to take the team clear at the top of the table. 
 

WOMENS 3RD XI - 30/10/2021 VS DISS 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 3rd XI 
DATE: 30/10/2021 
FIXTURE: Womens 3rd XI VS 30/10/2021 
HEADLINE: League match 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST NORTH 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: WON 6-0 
 
 
 

WOMENS 5TH XI - 30/10/2021 VS NORTH NORFOLK 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 5th XI 
DATE: 30/10/2021 
FIXTURE: Womens 5th XI VS 30/10/2021 
HEADLINE: Brilliant Team Performance  
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 4 NORTH EAST NORTH 
VENUE: 
RESULT: 
 
REPORT: 
On what turned out to be a sunnier afternoon than expected, City 5s took on North Norfolk 2s. The first half had multiple chances for both teams and lots of great play all over the pitch. City had a couple of short corners, and whilst these were played very well no goals came from this half for either team. 
The second half was a different story, with lots of end-to-end play resulting in dozens of chances for both teams, along with several short corners for North Norfolk. However, a strong defensive unit of Annette Peters, Vicki Myhill, Rose Byrne, Chloe Green and Lauren O’Hanlon, plus Zara Hunter in goal, kept out all but one attempt on goal. Meanwhile, down the other end City were scoring goals! Both came from some great team build-up play, with the first being scored by Anna Horsley and the second by Millie Whimhurst.  
A brilliant team performance keeps our unbeaten streak going!  

WOMENS 6TH XI - 30/10/2021 VS UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA 4 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 30/10/2021 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 30/10/2021 
HEADLINE: A very difficult game 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 5 NORTH EAST NORTH 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 1-1 
 
REPORT: 
 
NCHC L6s played against UEA L4s at Taverham for a late 4pm PB game. From the very start, this game was evenly matched with both sides making some great runs and excellent opportunities on goal. For City there were some great runs in the midfield by Alice Petch, Claire Clark and Ellis Couzins with some excellent opportunities at goal by Scarlett Rhoades and Liz Hollis. Many times City nearly scored with the ball just rolling wide of the goal. UEA also had some excellent chances but thanks to the amazing defending of Sam Harvey, Niamh Rushton, Sarah Sandell, Alice Brand and our GK Joanne Di-Corpo these were safely deflected away. 
 
At halftime, both teams were still struggling to score their first goal - 0-0. 
 
In the second half, UEA rallied having some excellent opportunities at the City goal. The incredible goalkeeper by Joanne Di-Corpo prevented the majority of these from going in. Unfortunately, a tap in at the left-hand post meant that UEA scored, 1-0. 
 
Looking at their first loss of the season City pulled together towards the end of the second half having the majority of the possession. Some fantastic runs from the midfield by Emily Winter saw City keep the ball and have many chances at the UEA goal. Unfortunately, most of these rolled just wide of the goal. Finally, a strong ball was sent from the right-hand side of the pitch towards Ellis Couzins. A quick pass from Top D to Liz Hollis who was standing at the left-hand post saw City equalise 1-1. 
 
In the last second of the game, City was awarded a short corner just before the whistle blew. This was our chance to win the game, but unfortunately for City, this shot was deflected meaning that the game finished 1-1.  
 
Special thanks to the 7s players who stepped up to help us out this week including Alice Brand, Alice Hood and Claire Clare. As well as Julia Marchant and Emily Winter for helping us out this weekend. POTM was a tie between Niamh Rushton, Alice Hood, Emily Winter, Ellis Couzins and Sam Harvey highlighting just how well everyone played. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 30/10/2021 VS SAFFRON WALDEN 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 30/10/2021 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 30/10/2021 
HEADLINE: 1st Team make hard work of another win 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION 
VENUE: Taverham  
RESULT: 4-3 Win 
 
REPORT: 
Windy but sunny, a good day for Hockey and after a slip week off everyone was happy to be back playing in anger. From the off we realised what kind of day it was when saffron turned up playing smart hockey that meant they half courted and took out the middle of the pitch. After the first few phases of feeling them out we slowly grew into the game creating more chances but so were saffron, a quick forward line meant they had the ability to punish us if we couldn't get past their press.  
 
Thankfully we drew first blood with a quickly taken Thomas Cooke free hit resulting in a Cameron Cooke deflection from the P-Spot. 1-0. A few more chances came and went, just lacking the slickness in the final 1/3 to move the ball into space effectively. And we were punished for that, with a turnover in midfield and a quick break leading to back post deflection it was 1-1. Saffron came out a bit after that goal and showed dominance for the remaining 10 or or minutes to half time, but thankfully Alastair Cooke was on hand to keep the scoreline to 1-1, a great collection of reaction and 1-on-1 saves. 
 
Second half begun much the same with Saffron backing off and us taking our time to get forward, but with our 3rd short corner of the game Cameron Cooke dragged in for 2-1 lead. Although, about 60 seconds later we conceded a short which which led to a p-flick after an unfortunate save on the line fell onto a foot and it was 2-2. Saffron just wouldn't let us get away.  
 
After a questionable 1st half of sluggish and off brand hockey we had really grown into the hame and getting some good passages going, once again just missing the clinicalness around the D to make it pay. Saffron held strong for 10 minutes but eventually a Harry Gill free hit and drive round the D before hitting in behind their defence to Chris Wardale for a lovely deflected finished was a well earned lead for a 3rd time. 
 
But once again the saffron 1/2 or 3/4 press paid dividends as we turned it over in mid, they broke quickly and had an easy overload to pass round Russ and put away to comeback AGAIN. 3-3. As we have done so many times in the last 2/3years we pulled together for the last 10, won a short and Cameron Cooke competed his hattrick and put us 4-3 up and we played smart territorial hockey to see out the last 5 and secure another 3 points. 
 
I'd rather win ugly than lose pretty but we really tested that today. A deserved 3 points and 3 points to be proud of given we struggled to break them down in 1st half. Bring on the local Derby vs Dereham next week and we'll try to work on the above in the meantime. 
 
 

MENS 3RD XI - 30/10/2021 VS IPSWICH EAST-SUFFOLK 3 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 3rd XI 
DATE: 30/10/2021 
FIXTURE: Mens 3rd XI VS 30/10/2021 
HEADLINE: Big home win 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: 
RESULT: 
 
REPORT: 
Norwich City Mens 3rd XI welcomed another 3 points after the half term break after a thumping home win over IES 3rd XI. City were 3-0 up after 10 minutes after an electric start following goals from Ethan Rushton, Ross Butler and Max Wilson. City added a fourth from another excellent Butler PC before IES scored from their one attack of the half (Poor Tom Franks in goal! P.s Shut your legs!!!) City regained composure to add a fifth before half time with an excellent move which saw Ethan Rushton tap home on the post. HT: 5-1 
 
After the break City struggled to find their rhythm they had in the first had often choosing the wrong options and finding flat sticks however City kept working hard and scored a further three goals through Butler, Jeffers and a rare goal from Pallister J! IES did score another consolation through a penalty corner as the game finished 8-2.  
 
A good all round positive performance with City's fire power proving again to strong for this league.  

COLTS XI - 31/10/2021 VS OLD LOUGHTONIANS U18 (H) 
 
TEAM: Colts XI 
DATE: 31/10/2021 
FIXTURE: Colts XI VS 31/10/2021 
HEADLINE: Halloween tragedy 
EHA U18 cup 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: Norwich City 1 - 2 Old Loughtonians 
 
REPORT: 
 
The morning’s howling wind and driving rain cleared just in time to provide an evenly contested entertaining U18 cup match in autumnal sunshine. 
 
City nearly opened the scoring inside the first 5 minutes when some wizardry skills down the right led to a half chance for Ethan Rushton to the left of the penalty spot. Sadly the forces of evil conspired to make him lose his footing at the critical moment and set the scene for a game of misfortune. 
 
As the half progressed both teams created half chances which the defences and keepers thwarted with calm assurance. After 30 minutes the visitors took the lead in unusual circumstances when, with both teams unsure whether the ball had been hit from outside the D, a goal was awarded. 
 
The second half continued to provide end to end entertainment with excellent spells of play failing to add to the score. With 15 minutes left Bobby Rash pulled off a truly world class save high and to his right from a penalty corner. Unfortunatly moments later City conceded a second after some creative magic on the base line somehow resulted in a goal. 
 
Undeterred City drove forward and forced a series of penalty corners. With 3 minutes left a neat variation allowed Rafe Lochore to reduce the arrears and set up a tense finale. With Old Loughtonians trying to run down the clock there was still time for late drama. City were awarded a penalty corner on the stroke of full time, could this be their moment? Injection, clean. Stop, clean. Shot…stopped by a lunging defender…the whistle goes…a penalty stroke awarded. The home crowd jubilant. Was this late drama to turn into home found joy? But wait…the second umpire enters this tragedy stage left and overrules the decision…penalty cancelled. Penalty corner awarded…and saved. 
 
When the dust had settled and the emotions calmed, all agreed they had seen and taken part in an excellent, some might say, “spell binding” (well it is Halloween) contest. 
 
Jonty Black was named player of the match.