Results

MENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 23/03/2019 VS HARLESTON MAGPIES (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens Development XI 
DATE: 23/03/2019 
FIXTURE: Mens Development XI VS 23/03/2019 
HEADLINE: Nkrumah double sets up Norwich City win 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Harleston 
RESULT: Harleston 1 v Norwich City 5 
 
REPORT: From the start of the match James Mckenzie and Sam Hancock dominated the Norwich City right hand side of the pitch creating a number of early chances, Norwich could easily have taken the lead before Harvey Nkrumah opened the scoring. Harvey reacted quickest, after a well struck Krishna Patel short corner strike was well saved by the Harleston keeper, to tap home from close range. 
 
Norwich continued to dominate with Ed Beake, Krishna Patel and Ollie Millett controlling the midfield. Any Harleston attacks were easily snuffed out by the impressive tacking of Lucas Hay, Farren Miller and Harry Kidner. On the rare occasions that Harleston managed to break through Will Jewers, in his first game for the developments, pulled off so significant saves. Ollie Millett extended the lead with a solo dribble and backhand shot.  
 
The second half continued to be dominated by Norwich; Harvey picked up his second before turning creator as setting one up for Louis Miller. Louis (who along with Harry Morgan was always dangerous) picked up a second goal. Magpies did manage to get a consolation goal through ex-Norwich city coached Harry Ford but by then the game had been won. A good performance from a talented group of Norwich players. 
 

MENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 19/01/2019 VS HARLESTON MAGPIES (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens Development XI 
DATE: 19/01/2019 
FIXTURE: Mens Development XI VS 19/01/2019 
HEADLINE: Pressure pays 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 2-1 victory 
 
REPORT: 
Firstly, congratulations to those making their debut in this Development match: Guy and Harry. They both showed good industry around the pitch and composure under pressure coming up with incisive passes throughout the game. They already have an assured platform from which to build and have clearly carved out a solid future for themselves at the club; we look forward to seeing them develop over the coming months and years, as we do for all of the devs. squad. The fact that they fitted right in is testament to the strength of the team ethic, particularly the maturity with which we handled the quick goal early on by Harleston, determinedly working our way back into the game. I was really pleased to see Harvey and Sam H in the midfield switching the ball often to the wide receivers - Ed (1st goal assist), Charlie (2nd goal assist), Sam K and Harry all of whom made good runs and offloads with the space this gave them. We had plenty of results from the questions we asked of their defence with 5 short corners - one of which Matt struck clanging like a bell off the post and then the opposing sidewall board only to be (correctly) judged too high with the two goals from Corey generated in open play - but if this is illustrative of the skills we have built for exciting competitive hockey, then bring it on! The midfield motors on Harvey, Mattie, Sam H, Kit and Ed helped close down and turnover the Harleston attacks and, if they got through, the assured and watchful Lucas, Guy, Louis and Sam K were ever present to clean up and initiate the next attack. When Harleston did penetrate the D they did so by using pace and running well off the ball, where tighter marking could be useful. A number of shots and particularly a number of goal mouth scrambles were won by Seb who had a great game growing in skill and stature, with close support by his courageous backs. In this way it was a victory for the whole team who could have been rightly proud of their endeavours whichever way the result might have gone, justifiable on the basis of possession, territory, turn-overs and shortcorners – anyway, well done!  

MENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 12/01/2019 VS NORWICH DRAGONS A (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens Development XI 
DATE: 12/01/2019 
FIXTURE: Mens Development XI VS 12/01/2019 
HEADLINE: City lose by a goal in tight game 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: City 1: Dragons 2 
 
REPORT: City started well dominating the early possession with Krishna Patel, Farren Miller and Sam Hancock passing the ball crisply. Dragons were however always dangerous on the break. Dragons took the lead midway through the first half. City managed to equalise shortly before half time through a Marcus O'Sullivan strike from the top of the D following a powerful run.  
 
Dragons took the lead straight after half time and could have stretched it if Seb Kimber, in the City goal, had not made some outstanding saves. City now tried to play a longer game with Jamie Granville and Ollie Millett dangerous on the break. Despite having a number of chances City could not force an equaliser. 
 

MENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 01/12/2018 VS DEREHAM (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens Development XI 
DATE: 01/12/2018 
FIXTURE: Mens Development XI VS 01/12/2018 
HEADLINE: Depleted and Young City Side overcome local rivals Dereham 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham - H20 
RESULT: 4-1 Win 
 
REPORT: 
With only a bare 11 available and a lot of Under 12s playing City were up against it from the start with Dereham playing 2 adults and a few senior boys. After a 0-0 draw in the first quarter, coaches Patel and Ling erged the boys to move the ball on quicker and cut out any uncessary dribbling. City improved in the 2nd half and scored one of the best team goals I have seen this season with Matt Roy, Krishna Patel and Ed Beake combining on the left to release young James Mackenzie down the left hand side to cut into the D and set up Corey Rushton for a simple deflected finish. HT 1-0  
 
Into the 2nd half and City continued to move the ball much better and started to use the right hand side more with Sam Hancock, Louis Miller and Corey Rushton combing well down the right, the latter set up the 2nd goal as his cross found an unmarked James Mackenzie who rounded the keeper to make it 2-0. Into the final quarter and City kept up the passing and in turn created chances, City started to win more penalty corners as well with Krishna Patel firing a low shot into the goal for the third goal and in turn his dragflick was saved by the Dereham keeper before Rushton got his 2nd goal on the rebound to make it 4-0. Dereham did get a consolation goal in the final couple of minutes with a deflected short corner effort.  
 
There were also good performances from Harvey Nkrumah and Ellis Byland-Brooks who were solid at the back, as well as Seb Kimber who made some great saves in the City goal. Alfie Sharp also playing his third match made some good tackles in the forward line. Full Time 4-1 and a good performance from the Boys.  
 

MENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 10/11/2018 VS WATTON (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens Development XI 
DATE: 10/11/2018 
FIXTURE: Mens Development XI VS 10/11/2018 
HEADLINE: Watton lose power to a purposeful City 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Watton 
RESULT: 7-0 Win 
 
REPORT:  
With Remembrance day tomorrow it would be cheap to use the armistice as a cover for good journalism (or having any ideas at all - so the temptation is great) but of course it is difficult to think past Sidney Lewis the 12 year old (N.B. average age of our devs.) who volunteered in 1918 to join the army and gain access to action at the front in the First World War. Mercifully - and this is not without connection to Sidney’s efforts - we have much to be grateful for in the current era; enjoying our sport under a liberal, prosperous democracy. So for those players today who spared nothing on the pitch and there were many of you who did, spare a few thoughts on the 11th at 11am, for Sidney and his like and what their sacrifice enabled us to enjoy.  

MENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 03/11/2018 VS HARLESTON MAGPIES (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens Development XI 
DATE: 03/11/2018 
FIXTURE: Mens Development XI VS 03/11/2018 
HEADLINE: Fireworks? 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Harleston 
RESULT: 3-0 Win 
 
REPORT: 
Bangers. A faint smell of cordite on the wind, sticks cracking and temperatures rising – you’ve guessed it: our Devs were back in action once more, this time taking on the mighty Magpies.  
 
Some lovely passing hockey - quick and to stick – saw off this otherwise resourceful Harleston team. We had a few sparklers up our own sleeves with the pacey and skilful Harvey up front stretching their defence and allowing the able and capable Duncan to weave some magic with 2 goals and Joel on his determined debut to score one and provide an assist – excellent effort from the whole team and in particular these three – Duncan being voted POTM.  
 
Midfield had a good day at the office too although a temporary lack of gumshield provided the comedy moment of the game with the quickest sprint ever coming from the dentist’s son matched only by his wide-in-disbelief eyes registering the profound silence and, for once, having to admonish himself with a self-rollicking. Still a clean sheet was had with Josie having his finest game this season and the excellent captain Angus magisterially organising from the back and providing a near impenetrable defence in the second half. The only other possible and remote explanation was the hoolie that had started to blow in, it was Harleston, after all. 
 

MENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 27/10/2018 VS NORWICH DRAGONS B (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens Development XI 
DATE: 27/10/2018 
FIXTURE: Mens Development XI VS 27/10/2018 
HEADLINE: Wilson Hat-Trick 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: 8-1 
 
REPORT: The City developments started well against Norwich Dragons B with Archie Ward dribbling through a static defence to slot home the first goal. City extended their lead with a well worked move round the back of the Dragons defence well finished by Max Wilson. The game then became tight for the remainder of the half.  
 
Dragons scored from a short corner and could have scored again if it had not been for solid defending from Krishna Patel, Sam Hancock, Angus Irving (captain for the day) and Harvey Nkrumah. The game was on a knife edge at half time. 
 
Max Wilson extended City’s lead shortly after half time but the game remained close until Max decided to control things. Within minutes he scored his third goal and set up two others; the second of which a bouncing reverse stick cross which was well finished by Kit Pallister. 
 
The final quarter was less intensive but City picked up two further goals with good strikes from the top of the D by Mattie Roy and Freddie Smith 
 

MENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 06/10/2018 VS DEREHAM (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens Development XI 
DATE: 06/10/2018 
FIXTURE: Mens Development XI VS 06/10/2018 
HEADLINE: Perseverance paid with a well deserved win 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Dereham 
RESULT: City win 2-1 
 
REPORT: 
With much possession and the majority of attacks city held on to the ball fairly well; the AI duo (Illing and Irving) at the back repelling the few fleeting attacks with composure and maturity. Midfield support from Hancock, Roy and Patel was rock solid and the our plentiful attacking sprees from Beake, Kassulke, Mackenzie, Miller, Millet, Nkrumah and Rushton had more batter than a pineapple fritter - and after that we warmed up. So it was with resignation that the team gathered at half time with the score at 1-a-piece; without Kimber's excellent save it could have been worse! However, in the 3rd quarter the team put in the work required to finally defeat the opposing keeper and his solid defence by crafting a terrific goal with speed, accuracy and a touch of class.  
Congratulations to Harvey Nkrumah, James Mackenzie and Louis Miller on their Devs team league debuts - determined, skillful and thoughtful players all making a solid first match contribution.  

MENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 15/09/2018 VS WATTON (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens Development XI 
DATE: 15/09/2018 
FIXTURE: Mens Development XI VS 15/09/2018 
HEADLINE: 7-1 win 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Norwich TRF 
RESULT: 7-1 win to city 
 
REPORT:  
Scorers:- 
S Kassulke x2 
M Roy x2 
S Hancock 
O Millet 
A Ward 
 
The opening game of the season gave the team the opportunity to blow the cobwebs away, get to know each other’s abilities and test their pass and move. The pass and move produced the better scoring opportunities with the solo efforts that took on more than one opponent generally coming undone relatively easily by Watton nonetheless they were vital to make the time for the pass to come available.  
Thanks to under 12 boys for their solid performances - Beake, Kassulke and Pallister.