Results

MENS 1ST XI - 04/12/2021 VS CAMBRIDGE CITY 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 04/12/2021 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 04/12/2021 
HEADLINE: Men's 1s complete unbeaten half-season! 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION 
VENUE: Wilberforce Rd Ground  
RESULT: 5-2 W 
 
REPORT: 
We started poorly, struggling to find our footing on the slick pitch. It took a while for us to settle and to get the ball moving but once we did the hockey flowed from there. 
With our first short corner of the day Cameron Cooke dragged down the middle but it was saved, although straight back to him at the p-spot and with a half volley he almost took the keeper in with the shot and we were away. 
A few minutes later Cambridge pegged us back with a hopeful hit in that found its way after a deflection to an unmarked forward for a finish past Russ. We continued to play well and were back in front a few minutes later. Jonty Black found Ben Chapman on the baseline who beat one and passed passed to Harry Gill at the P-Spot who deflected towards the bottom corner (open debate if it was going in) but Chris Wardale made sure for 2-1. 
Out third goal was instantly after and was the single sexiest goal we may ever witness. 60 seconds of passing round the back tiring their fwd press and then defence to attack in the blink of an eye. Ball up the right to Gilly who played it back inside to Pete who found Jeremy and with a one touch deflection sent Ben Chapman through on the left before he softly played the ball round the GK to Cameron for an easy finish into an empty net. Cambridge were unfortunate to come up against a prime passing and moving display, very unlike us but was massively appreciated from all who witnessed. 
Some lazy defence before halftime led to a hit into our D that was deflected and save by Alastair but fell to their unmarked forward for an easy finish of their own. 3-2 HT. 
 
2nd half saw Cambridge be more direct with some attempted runs through the middle channel but MOTM Thomas Cooke was on hand to not let them through.  
A few counters from Thomas' turnovers and Short Corners won later and Cameron dragged a beautiful flick into the top left for 4-2. We knew our work wasn't done and kept pushing for a bigger lead with Chris Wardale doing some outrageous forward press work to singlehandedly cause turnover after turnover and after 5/6minutes of tormenting their backing he managed to recover the ball, quickly find Ben Chapman who ran around their last defender and baseline before passed back inside to an unmarked Cameron for a 1-on-1 with the keeper and made no mistake to put away his 4th and our 5th.  
 
Some phenomenal defensive unit play to continue to frustrate our opponents as well as Tom Harris giving Cambridge the time wasting corner flag treatment for the last 3 minutes, saw us safely home with 3 points and other results meaning we end the halfway point with a 6 point lead and unbeaten. Amazing work from the team and nothing short of what they deserve, a hard last week of work to see us through to the deserved Christmas break after Blueharts incoming! 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 20/11/2021 VS IPSWICH 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 20/11/2021 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 20/11/2021 
HEADLINE: Battle of the East Coast as hot a contest as ever: Mens 1s come away victorious! 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION 
VENUE: Tuddenham Rd 
RESULT: 5-2 Win 
 
REPORT: 
The history of Ipswich HC Vs Norwich City has always been well fought and with national league promotion on the line it was an important as ever. A nice early pushback allowing us to watch the rugby later was appreciated and we thanked Ipswich by getting straight down to business with a flurry of early chances, unfortunately none found the backboard. After a dominant start but no goals Ipswich began to find their feet and came back with a stint of pressure of their own, thankfully Alastair Cooke was on hand to make some crucial saves, including a triple save, and keep the score to 0-0. 
 
After a few loose touches getting used to Ipswich's shiny new pitch we finally took the lead through a Cooke connection as Thomas slapped into Cameron at the top of the D and he gladly roofed a hit home for a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately In classic City style we immediately allowed a counter attack as Ipswich went from one end to the other efficiently before a messy D resulted in a few goal ward bound shots and eventually one found the net. It also found Harry Browns face first but he didn't have the Harry Maguire neck strength to head it away, and I'm sure he's wearing the scars of that with a lovely bruise beneath his right eye today. 
 
Fortunately this goal knocked the sense into us and for the remaining 10minutes of the half we played some of the nicest fluid hockey we have all season. Plenty entries to the Ipswich 23, a few shots to show for it but no goals until last weeks 1st team debutant but long time 1st team fan boy Jeremy Elliot stepped up to plant home a slip from a Short Corner and then became provider as he reversed from the baseline into Ben Chapman who recklessly threw his body at the pacey ball and beautifully sent it sailing into the net. Well done to Jeremy, the 35 years of hardworking getting into the first team have paid off. 3-1 HT lead.  
 
2nd half begun with Ipswich throwing everything at us with 5 minutes of a full press, we soaked up the pressure and kept their attacking territory to a minimum. We did get lucky with a few counter attacks but the ever dependable Alastair Cooke was on hand to mop up our sluggish counter press and mop up the MOTM for a 2nd time this year. Soon after Ipswich sat back and allowed us to move forward and with a Rich Green turnover at halfway, quick pass to find Cameron Cooke and with a sharp cut inside and ball to Chris Wardale who rounded the keeper and sent he ball flying home we had a comfortable lead at 4-1.  
 
Cameron Cooke then decided to do what he does best and run around 6 players before reversing into the opposite top corner for an utterly outrageous solo goal. 5-1. After a few cards to various players for various offences that Ipswich had manged to dodge getting their own cards for they eventually made the extra man pay and made it 5-2. 
 
As time expired Harry Gill found Cameron Cooke at the P-Spot to finish his 5th hattrick in as many games, but unfortunately it was 3 seconds too late and the whistle had gone for a 5-2 final scoreline.  
 

MENS 1ST XI - 13/11/2021 VS IPSWICH EAST-SUFFOLK 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 13/11/2021 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 13/11/2021 
HEADLINE: Tight 1st half but City stay in control to dominate the 2nd half  
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION 
VENUE: Taverham  
RESULT: 7-2 win 
 
REPORT: 
We had been blessed with good weather so it was about time the traditional British Winter took over and we had some cold and wet to deal with. 
 
Fortunately the poor weather didn't slow us down and we were 2-0 up inside 6minutes with 2 open play foals. First Thomas Cooke turned the ball over in midfield and found Chris Wardale open at the top D for the lovely reverse hit into the bottom left. And then a quickly taken free hit from Thomas found Pete Morgan before Ben Chapman received the ball on the baseline and found Cam Centre of the D for an easy flick home. 
 
This early excitement showed as we probably pushed a little bit too hard to go 3 up and got caught a few times on the break and gave away a few shorts. Thankfully Russ saved one and Tom Harris picked another but it was 3rd time lucky for IES who brought it back to 2-1 midway through the half. We started to take back control and with a Short corner of our own Thomas Cooke had restored our 3 goal lead. Although almost immediately IES had traded back with another short corner 3-2. The last 10mins of the half was all ours as we looked confident in building phases and running the game, thankfully this effort was rewarding with a short corner as time ran put and Thomas Cooke went 2/2 at SCs for a HT lead of 4-2.  
 
Building on from that end to the 1st half, the 2nd half was more of the same. Plenty chances created in the first 10, but unfortunately no goals to show for it. Until Jonty Black stepped up with a fine interception and run down the left, before cutting inside and passing to Cam who found Gilly on the right of the D and happily hit home for a 5-2 lead. 
 
It wouldn't be a normal Saturday without a Cameron Cooke hattrick so he dragged home our 5th SC and 6th goal of the game before going on a mazy run to find himself 1 on 1 with the GK and planted it beautifully in the opposite top corner. 7-2 final score and Cams 4th hattrick in a row.  
 
As was the case last week, we did really well to take control in the first half and then were patient enough to keep our heads and really takeover when the game opened up in the second half. 8 wins from 8 and the big battle of the East coast next week! 

MENS 1ST XI - 06/11/2021 VS DEREHAM 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 06/11/2021 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 06/11/2021 
HEADLINE: Men's 1s Make it 7 Wins from 7 with a Big Victory Against Norfolk Rivals 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION 
VENUE: Dereham 
RESULT: 8-1 Win 
 
REPORT: 
After completing the shortest away day we'll have this year we were in good spirits and ready to get going in a game we always know will bring some added spice in the Norfolk turf war. We started well, putting some phases of play together and forced some early saves. But in classic City style we managed to get caught in attack and a quick Dereham break saw them go from one end to the other, round Alastair into an empty net for the lead. After that we switched on and were solid under the high ball and looked to end every Dereham attack before it got dangerous.  
 
This fed through into the attack with more and more chances coming and them looking more and more dangerous. A few shorts were won, not many were scored but with the 3rd one we did see the net bulge from a Cameron Cooke flick. Then just before half time a Thomas Cooke aerial was controlled down by Ben Chapman just outside the D and fed into Cameron Cooke who planted it into the far top corner to se us into the lead. 2-1 HT. 
 
2nd half was a much different story. we were still fresh and lively, whilst Dereham started to lag. Harry Gill came on did what Harry Gill does. 2 strong drives round the top of the D and 2 open hits from the top D led to 2 goals and a 4-1 lead. Alastair Cooke kept out the few attacks Dereham did have impeccably. Cameron Cooke then completed his hattrick with a dribble from SC corner injection, went round 3 then the GK then still decided to flick it as hard as he could into the underside of the crossbar. 5-1. 
 
Cameron Cooke then turned provided for the 6th with a lovely ball to the back post for a Pete Morgan deflection. 
Thomas Cooke's aerials had caused havoc all day with Dereham struggling to understand the 5metre rule and with the defender backing off and allowing Harry Gill in before Pete Morgan played the ball to Cameron Cooke we had our 7th. We finished off the day with a Stu Wardle turnover in midfield, Harry Gill run, Cameron Cooke rounding the keeper and planting into an empty net for an 8-1 win. 
 
Always nice to win well away from home, especially after an off-week last week against Saffron. With other results going our way we're now 6pts clear with a 100% record and GD of 37. 3 big games coming up against 6th, 4th and 2nd so lets keep pushing and end 2021 in an outstanding position! 

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 1ST XI - 25/09/2021 VS CHELMSFORD 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 25/09/2021 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 25/09/2021 
HEADLINE: 2 Games, 2 Wins, 2 Clean Sheets for Men's 1s  
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION 
VENUE: Taverham  
RESULT: 3-0 Win 
 
REPORT:  
After last week's perfect start to the season we came into our first home game with great expectations of another victory against a team we're very familiar with having played them 4 times in the last year. 
 
Things started well with Chelmsford not touching the ball for the first 4 and a half minutes. This frustrated them so much that they decided to pretend to have a kit malfunction to have a tactical break for a minute and then continue to not change anything and us to continue to dominate possession for the foreseeable. 
 
The possession and territory domination slowly lead to increasingly better and better chances and after a few near misses from Chris Wardale, Jonty Black and Ben Chapman we won our first short corner which Cameron Cooke kindly decided to drag into the net for a greatly deserved 1-0 lead. That was about the only thing of note from the first half. 
 
2nd half started much the same but Chelmsfords low block did start to spee some promise with odd counters and short corners being won. Thankfully, Alastair Cooke nd Louis Preston were on hand for some great goal line saves and the score remained 1-0.  
 
Chelmsfords failed counters then began to tell on the hot day as they ran out of steam which allowed Thomas Cooke to combine with Ben Chapman for a rapid break and found Chris Wardale in the D for a 1v1 and tidy finish over the keeper. And then Cameron Cooke and Stu Wardle combined with Ross Pitcher for a similarly quick goal and his first since rejoining from his 3 year loan deal to Loughborough Uni. 
 
All in all a great performance, another Clean Sheet and what should see us top of the table but no one knows for certain as the new GMS doesn't like showing any useful information. 
 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 11/09/2021 VS SPALDING 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 11/09/2021 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 11/09/2021 
HEADLINE: Men's 1s End Preseason with a hard fought win 
LEAGUE: Pre-Season Friendly  
VENUE: Taverham  
RESULT: 4-3  
 
REPORT: 
The weather was hot. Very hot.  
Definitely more cricket weather than hockey, which probably explained both teams warmup involving a bat and ball.  
 
When we did get on the pitch, either the weather or very bobbly astro led to some sluggish hockey from both sides. Both sides won plenty short corners but struggled to get used to the bobbly sticky pitch and both had to have a 2nd go to score. End of Q1: 1-1 with 2 identical slaps into bottom left corners, ours from Club Captain and Birthday Boy(a day late) Thomas Cooke.  
 
After a much needed break we started more positive, trying to get the ball moving but getting caught in possession a few times, leading to some messy turnovers in our own 23 which Spalding eventually made us pay for with a tidy reverse from the top of the D giving them the lead. Another Tom Cooke slap brought us straight back but almost immediately Spalding had a pitch length breakaway that lead to a 4 man pile in our D and a Penalty Flick to Spalding of which they planted into the corner and went into halftime with a deserved 3-2 lead as we hadn't really switched on yet.  
 
The 2nd half was much improved as we dominated possession and territory with only a few hiccups. Great wide play from Tom Harris, Stu Wardle, Jeremy Elliot & Harry Gill and with Chris Wardale and Cam Cooke suffocating their CBs and Screen down the middle we eventually made the pressure pay off with a pair of goals for Pete Morgan and held on for last 3minutes to end pre-season with a 100% win record and very much looking forward to some rain on the Taverham pitch ASAP and more importantly our big away day to Hitchin to start the season vs Blueharts next week. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 04/09/2021 VS CHELMSFORD 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 04/09/2021 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 04/09/2021 
HEADLINE: Solid win for Norwich  
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION 
VENUE: Taverham  
RESULT: Norwich 3 Chelmsford 1 
 
REPORT: Norwich started well in the first quarter with lots of possession and plenty of chances . Norwich took the lead through a lovely move finished off by Cameron Cooke. Chelmsford equalised at the end of the second quarter. Norwich dominated the third quarter but couldn’t manage to find a finish to any of their chances. they finally took the lead again in the fourth quarter after a deflection at the back post from Chris Wardale. The lead was then extended as Cameron Cooke capitalised on a Chelmsford mistake.