Results

LADIES 1ST XI - 02/09/2017 VS LOWESTOFT 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 1st XI 
DATE: 02/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 1st XI VS 02/09/2017 
HEADLINE: City and Storm Brian blow Watton away. 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 1 NORTH 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 9-3 win. 
 
REPORT: 
 
On Saturday 21st October, table-topping Norwich City 1s wanted to continue their great momentum against Watton. In front a full home crowd, city were full of confidence straight from the push back.  
 
Without delay City forced Watton onto the back foot. Flic Williams forthwith showcased her disguised slap, scoring two and assisting a beautifully worked short corner, finished with an agile deflection by Oli Williams. Despite the pressure, Watton struck on a quick counter attack, but City dominated possession soon after. 
 
The defensive unit of Summer Haylock, Suzy Mitchell, Sally Rose, Dani Sizer, Harriet Johnson, Flic Williams and Fongy ensured Watton attacks were cut short, allowing City to attack relentlessly. This saw Norwich convert two more, to the frustration of the Watton defence. Krystal Bishop opened her account with a calm finish. Emily Francis followed with a neat half-volley on her reverse. City finished the first half with a convincing 5-1 lead.  
 
A spurring team talk from Pies encouraged the team to continue commanding possession and see the game through for another victory.  
 
Watton started the second half with intent and hence managed to get a goal back. However, City continued their swift attacking play as Micayla Tootill, Rachel Mayne and captain, Jo Staines tore down the pitch. City managed to capitalise on this pressure as Krystal Bishop fired two home in quintessential fashion, rounding off her hat-rick. The City defence stood strong as they repeatedly interrupted the Watton play. Felicity Williams and Rachel Mayne time and time again picked out the forward line of Krystal Bishop, Abbie Ingham, Emily Francis and Oli Williams, who lead tirelessly. Sally Rose could have added to the scoring as Oli Williams won a penalty flic, shortly after Krystal Bishop hit the post. Sally left the goal keeper going the wrong way, but the ball hit the post (again!) and unfortunately ricocheted out the goal. Nonetheless, dynamic City managed to score again as Ange Hindle saw her hard work pay off, with a brilliantly placed shot into the bottom corner.  
 
However, Watton were persistent and City saw themselves concede again. Norwich responded turbulently, not letting the Watton defence rest. A deft piece of play up the left saw Krystal Bishop set up Abbie Ingham, as City reached nine.  
 
Another win for City sees them continue their threatening form as they look to pursue another win next week.  
 
Match report written by Abbie Ingham. 

LADIES 2ND XI - 02/09/2017 VS DEREHAM 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 2nd XI 
DATE: 02/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 2nd XI VS 02/09/2017 
HEADLINE: Solid start as City shoot for 6 
VENUE: Dereham Hockey Club 
RESULT: 6-0 Win 
 
REPORT: 
Norwich City Hockey Club's Womens 2nd XI started their preseason with an East Div 2NE preview clash against Dereham 2s. Even with an influx of players over the summer for Norwich, the 2's travelled to Dereham with a fairly familiar team, many of whom had played several games together last season however they did welcome new recruit Georgia Cleveland and youngster Hannah Bush for their first games with the team. 
 
Right from the off both teams were keen to assert themselves on the game and both worked hard to create chances in the first few minutes, Norwich trying to build their attacks from maintaining possession and cutting in from wide areas while Dereham were more reliant on the work of their forwards to drive through City half. Both goalkeepers were tested early as forwards from both sides were given space to shoot, but in the early exchanges both held firm and kept the score level for the first 15 minutes. 
 
It was Norwich who broke the deadlock as Rosie Humphrey opened here account for the season after Milly Brown cut in from the right hand side and shot from wide in the D, the goalkeeper was only able to stop the ball and Humphrey pounced on the ball to tap it through the legs of floundering keeper. The score was doubled before half time as Rosie doubled her tally for the game, Emily rash drove round the baseline and pulled the ball back towards the penalty spot for Rosie to sweep home into the bottom corner of the goal. Conceding twice did not deter Dereham from pushing forwards and challenging the City defence but the forwards were no match from Serena Scott, the Norwich 'keeper, who's confident performance earned her the first clean sheet of the season. 
 
The second half followed much the same script as the first, the high September sun taking it's toll on the small Dereham squad, and the 4 more goals followed for Norwich City. Hannah Bush claimed her own brace in similar form to the first half goals, her first was deflection at the far post following another attack down the right and her second was arguably from the best move of the game. Rachael Cave earned a free hit on the very edge of the circle and with quick thinking rolled the ball into the path of the overlapping Emily Rash, who hit the baseline and pull the ball back towards Bush to finish across the goal keeper and in at the far post.  
 
Georgia Cleveland opened her Norwich City account with a great strike from a short corner. The initial shot from Leigh-Ann Worrall was blocked but the ball fell loose on the right hand side of the circle and Georgia was the first to react, smashing the ball the past the right foot of the keeper. The game was sealed by Player of the Match Hannah Jarvis, converting from close range to make sure a well directed shot from Worrall wasn't to be reached by the retreating defenders following good build up play down the left hand side of the pitch. 
 
A great effort from all the players saw NCHC put in a very solid performance in their first test of the season as they look to build on the promotion of last season and remain in the east league this season. 

LADIES 3RD XI - 02/09/2017 VS DEREHAM 3 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 3rd XI 
DATE: 02/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 3rd XI VS 02/09/2017 
HEADLINE:  
LEAGUE: NORFOLK PREMIER DIVISION 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: 
RESULT: 
 
REPORT: 
 

LADIES 4TH XI - 02/09/2017 VS LOWESTOFT 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 4th XI 
DATE: 02/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 4th XI VS 02/09/2017 
HEADLINE: Hannah our Heroine saves the day 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK PREMIER DIVISION 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE:East Point Academy, Lowestoft 
RESULT:2-2 
 
REPORT: 
Lowestoft Railway 1's looked in a strong position coming into this game with two wins behind them. City only fielded 11 players and some of us were playing in new positions. We knew that this was going to be a tough match. We had a positive team talk and spirits were high at the beginning of the game however it unfortunately took us a while to settle and Lowestoft Railway took advantage of this by gaining an early lead. City then began working well as a unit and we were awarded our first short corner which Fiona Spencer converted from the top of the D.  
 
The second half started in a similar way with Lowestoft again scoring early on. We didn’t let this get to us and we stuck to our game plan. It looked as though we were quickly going to be back on level terms when Fiona had another shot from a short corner which was put into the back of the net helped by a deflection from a defender but unfortunately the initial shot was deemed too high and the goal was disallowed. City kept up the pressure and worked well as a unit, we knew that we wanted to come away from this match with something to show. After another one of our attacking short corners was blocked, Fiona managed to regained control of the ball and powered it past the keeper into the goal to bring the score to 2-2. We all worked so hard for the last 10 minutes – marking players, defending short corners and keeping our cool. City were pleased to come away from this game with a well-deserved point, a great effort from the whole team! 
 
Match Report kindly provided by POTM Hannah Sangar, who as an outfield player was prepared to play in goal for us this week and was simply outstanding - thank you so much Hannah. 

LADIES 6TH XI - 02/09/2017 VS NORWICH DRAGONS 6 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 02/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 02/09/2017 
HEADLINE: Hard battle 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 2 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Dragons' Den 
RESULT: 2-1 
 
REPORT: 
City 6s met their Dragons’ 6s counterparts for a fixture at the Den. All encounters last season led to a draw. This season Dragons have had a good run of form and a stronger squad, so City knew it would be a tough game.  
The first half saw City battling hard and succeeding in holding off the Dragons' attacks. The organised and confident City defensive unit saw them repel any onslaught. There was also some impressive keeping from player-of-the-match Anna Linsmith. 
The half-time break arrived with a nil-nil draw, however Dragons came back on to the pitch with a renewed determination and scored the first goal of the match within a few minutes with a straight strike from the top of the D.  
The excellent City defence continued to work hard but another Dragons goal took the opposition two nil up 10 minutes later. City regrouped, kept their heads up and battled back. They were rewarded soon after when a expert outlet ball from Vicki Myhill was picked up by Josine Van den Berg and passed down the right line to Liz Hollis who sent a fast hit into to a perfectly-positioned Julia Marchant in the D, who netted it with brilliant precision.  
With just 10-minutes left to play, City youth players Maddy Smith and Frances Underhill worked the ball up the pitch over and over again but a strong Dragons defence scuppered City’s attempts and left the final score as a 2-1 win for a top of the league, unbeaten Dragons.  
 
 

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MENS 4TH XI - 02/09/2017 VS NORWICH DRAGONS 3 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 4th XI 
DATE: 02/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 4th XI VS 02/09/2017 
HEADLINE: Cobwebs blown away 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Dragons Den 
RESULT: 1:3 
 
REPORT: After what seems forever, the Men's 4s returned to action in this hotly contested friendly against Norwich Dragons on Saturday. Using a mixture of old heads and new blood, the team started solidly with the defence of Ingham, Higginbotham, Clabon, and Dale repelling all raiders while the ever keen midfield and forward line drove again and again at the Dragons back line. Eventually pressure took it's toll and after a goal mouth scramble City scored and looked good for the lead. A slight mistake on the left wing by City led to a breakaway goal for the home team which gave encouragement up until the break, with Dragons finishing the half on top. A good constructive team talk at half time along with a few positional tweaks saw City resume the game with the control and poise they showed in the opening 15 minutes of the game. a further 2 goals were added during the half allowing City to stamp their authority on the game and stroll to a well deserved win. 
 

MENS 5TH XI - 02/09/2017 VS NORWICH DRAGONS 4 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 5th XI 
DATE: 02/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 5th XI VS 02/09/2017 
HEADLINE: Opening pre-season victory  
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 4 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Away 
RESULT: Won 1-3 
 
REPORT: A scrappy, but well deserved victory from the opening pre season match. City 5s dominated much of the opening parts of the game, but always looked vulnerable against the quick counter-attack. It was great to see a few new players to the club strutting their stuff and making a good early mark on the team in preparation to the season ahead.  
 

MENS 7TH XI - 02/09/2017 VS NORWICH DRAGONS 6 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 7th XI 
DATE: 02/09/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 7th XI VS 02/09/2017 
HEADLINE: New squad members perform well 
VENUE: TAVERHAM HIGH SCHOOL 
RESULT: NORWICH CITY 7 3 NORWICH DRAGONS 6 0  
 
REPORT: 
City 7's started the season well with a comfortable win over Dragons thanks to a good team performance that contained lots of good passing and movement off the ball. The team welcomed several new players to the squad Jack Luther from Milton Keynes who will be moving onto higher levels as his recovery from injury continues and a number of boys that have moved up from the Development squad - Monty Platt, Malachy McDonnell, Elliot Fox, Reuben Cooke and Robert McCall. 
 
City deservedly went into the break a goal up as a result of a Jack Luther short corner strike. After the break there was plenty of midfield prompting from Paul Gallop, Simon Parsons, Monty Platt and Elliot Fox, however both of City's second half goals came from good work down the right wing, Nathan Dixon and Robert McCall adding the finishing touches. 
 
All new members of the squad performed well which augurs well for the forthcoming league season. 
 
Ali Wardale 
07798 862956