This Week’s Results

Team	Opposition	H/A	Score	Scorers	Player of Match
L1s	St Neots 1	H	2-2 (D)	Lauren Lawrie Haz Green	Liv Leary
L2s	Broadland 1	A	2-0 (L)		Alex Daplyn
L3s	East Coast 1	H	1-6 (L)	Lilli Ballard	Sophie Farrow
L4s	Pelicans 2	A	1-4 (W)	Lillian Sore x2 Lisa Harwood Amy Forse	Emily Smith
L5s	Watton 2	H	1-0 (W)	Gemma Ballard	Anita Mancini
L6s	Beccles	A	0-1 (W)	Lara King	Honey Wells Hatty Harrison-Mobbs
L7s	Norwich Dragons 8	Friendly
L8s	Norwich Dragons 7	Friendly
M1s	Harleston Magpies 3	H	4-0 (W)	Jack Hallworth x2 Sean Orton Ollie King	Jim Barker
M2s	Ipswich-East Suffolk 3	H	5-3 (W)	Jack McIntyre Rich Moulson Joe Flatt Rupert Snelling x2	Joe Flatt
M3s	Ipswich-East Suffolk 2	A	4-2 (L)	Mitch Smith John Ives	Harry Brown
M4s	Ipswich-East Suffolk 5	H	5-1 (W)	Tommy Gale Adrian Kemp Jon Miles x3	Bobby Sheppard
M5s	East Coast 2	A	4-0 (L)		Alex Wolfe
M6s	North Norfolk 2	A	7-1 (L)	Richard Draeger	Stephen Holland
BD A	Norwich City Dev	Friendly
BD B
GD A	Dev Girls B		1-2 (L)
GD B	Dev Girls A		1-2 (W)

East League,  Ladies 1N
Norwich Dragons Ladies 1s v St Neots 1s:  2-2

Goalscorers:  Lauren Lawrie, Haz Green
MOM:  Liv Leary

Dragons Ladies 1s played St Neots at home and came away with a 2-2 draw. 

Dragons went ahead in the first half with Polly Watson finding space through the middle to play a lovely ball to Lucy Morton on the edge of the D, who touched it into Lauren Lawrie for a well composed finish.

St Neots lead the scoring in the second half with a strike off a short corner at a difficult height into bottom right corner. Though Dragons soon scored from a short corner of their own, with a slip right to Katie McKenna for a beautiful shot across goal, hitting the far post where Harriet Green was already waiting to tap the ball into the goal from the rebound. With less than 10 minutes to go Dragons were playing for time to hold onto their lead but were punished when they played a loose pass into the middle of the pitch allowing St Neots to break through the middle and bring the score level before the final whistle.

East League, Ladies 2NE
Norwich Dragons Ladies 2s v Broadland 1s:  0-2

MOM: Alex Daplyn

Dragons started the game brightly with a prolonged early spell of pressure. Maddy Reynolds looked bright on her return to the team, however after less than 5mins was forced off with a back injury to take no further part in the game. Then just minutes later, GK Emma Cleland stretched to for a ball, and in doing so, potentially tore her hamstring. Whilst sitting in the dugout she was then taken ill, needing to be taken to the Clubhouse and play no further part in the game – get well soon Emma.

So Dragons saw themselves down to a bare 11 with no GK, a goal down and 65 minutes remaining. The team battled hard however with the defence and mids working hard to keep the ball out of the D. Unfortunately despite some decent build up play, Dragons didn’t quite do enough in the final 25 and the home team went into the break 1-0 up.

The second half saw a similar pattern and despite lots of good build up play by Dragons, the goals wouldn’t come. Broadland were awarded short corner after short corner and eventually they made one count against the team playing with no GK! Dragons continued to attack and could have scored but poor finishing combined with good GK’ing meant the score remained 2-0.

A strong effort from a depleted Dragons team. Best wishes to Emma and Maddy for speedy recoveries. PoM went to Alex Daplyn for some strong work down the left.

East League, Ladies 2NE
Norwich Dragons Ladies 3s v  East Coast 1s:  1-6

Goalscorer:    Lilli Ballard
MOM: Sophie Farrow

Dragons started with determination for the first 15 mins of the game and we were playing with confidence. But East Coast started to find their feet with clinical playing hockey they ruled the rest of the first half.  Two goals were scored, one  from a short corner for East Coast.

Dragons battled hard and achieved 3 short corners of their own but the opposition’s back line was so confident we couldn’t get a goal past them.

Eventually our hard work paid off as the game started from Spike (Angela Murgatroyd) at the back switching to Beth Prakash who passed through to the midfields of Catherine Matthews, Sophie Farrow, and Harriet Rant and eventually onto Vicki Earley who set up Lilli Ballard who scored our goal.

We were now in hope of increasing our goals, with Nic Cage-Brimelow battling and working hard and Jess Haw running the line forcing Abi Flatt to sprint fast up front we weren’t able to score any more goals.

Grace Brown and Emma Bambridge did a superb job in defence but we just couldn’t keep out the clinical work of our opposition.

Jillian Christie had a storming game – in more ways than one!

At the end of the day we played against an excellent well controlled team but we kept our heads up and didn’t give up, lots to learn!

 

Empresa Norfolk Women’s League, Premier Division
Norwich Dragons Ladies 4s v Pelicans 2:  4-1

Goalscorers:  Lillian Sore, Lisa Harwood, Amy Forse
MOM:  Emily Smith

Goalscorer:  Gemma Ballard
MOM: Anita Mancini

On a crisp but unexpectedly sunny and dry morning, Ladies Dragons 5s took on the mighty Watton.  After an enthusiastic warm up routine by Kate Atkins (in Lou’s absence) and a motivational pep talk by skipper Gemma Ballard the game began. Both teams began at a pace with both teams’ mids and forwards pressing hard. Watton had some good early breaks but the Dragons defence of Emily Grint, Kate and Nat Crisp held firm. Dragons worked the Watton defence hard with short corner after short corner with just that first goal alluding them. Fortunately for Dragons it seemed that Watton forwards may also be suffering the same frustration on the final strike.  Opportunities were missed by both sides with Claire Stuart, Jane Wells and Lizzie McDonnell coming close to breaking the deadlock.  Watton pressed hard and had an opportunity to go 1 up from a 1 on 1 against the Dragons goalie, but there was no way any ball was going to get past the immeasurably experienced Kristina Smyth in the Dragons goal who comfortably cleared the ball wide. After breathing a sigh of relief, the Dragons mids pressed forward and from a beautifully delivered ball from the right by Jane to Brooksy (Louise Brooks) who then perfectly floated the ball past two Watton defenders on to the stick of young Gemma  (back on form after time away through injury) who aced the ball into the back of the net- hurrah! The deadlock was broken after 22mins and Dragons were in the lead. Dragons lifted by this started to press the Watton defence with the formidable mids of Brooksy, Mel Widdows,  Emma Merryweather, Floss Andrews and Anita Manchini distributing the ball well to the forward line but they just couldn’t pierce through the Watton defence . First half ended 1:0 and time for a quick review.

Second half began at a pace – so much so it had to be restarted as the Watton forwards began the pushback before the whistle had started. Restart. Again there was good to end to end pressure down the left and right wings by both teams with some lovely creative play especially across the back (Nat, Kate and Emily) and up the wing. Pressure by Dragons on the short corners saw some excellent strikes at goal from Jane and Gemma with the goalie thwarting their best efforts. Floss came close with a reverse hit from a rebound, Lizzie had opportunities to widen the gap between the sides but just couldn’t find the backboard. It seemed as if the Watton defence had built a blue wall between the goal posts with even defenders on the ground scrambling the balls away . Short corner hit from the left (Mel and Emma) from the right (Lizzie and Jane) and centre (Neet and Lizzie)…Dragons just could not find the net- guess we need to practise A LOT more 😊 Hopefully we can borrow Emily’s mums recording . All credit to the Watton Mids and Defence from holding off the continued pressure from Dragons throughout the second half …A much better second half girls, some nice creative play, clever use of triangles and relentless barrage of shots in the D. Well done to all. Bod of the match Neet M

Special thank you to Amy F for first half scribing and subbing (hope the bench wasn’t too wet) and Emily’s mum for pizza delivery.

 

Empresa Norfolk Women’s League, Division 1
Norwich Dragons Ladies 6s v  Beccles:  1-0

Goalscorer:  Lara King
MOM:  Hatty Harrison-Mobbs, Honey Wells

Empresa Norfolk Women’s League, Division 2
Norwich Dragons Ladies 7s v no league game

East League, Men’s 2N
Norwich Dragons Men’s 1s v Magpies 3s:  4-0

Goalscorers:   Sean Orton, Ollie King, Jack Hallworth x2
MOM: Jim Barker

East League, Men’s 3NE
Norwich Dragons Men’s 2s v IES 3s:  5-3

Goalscorers:  Rupert Snelling x2, Jack McIntyre, Joe Flatt, Rich Moulson
MOM: Joe Flatt

East League, Men’s 3NE
Norwich Dragons Men’s 3s v IES 2s:  2-4

Goalscorers:  John Ives, Mitch Smith
MOM: Harry Brown

On a beautiful sunny autumn Saturday the NDHC Men’s 3s, in their black away kit, headed down to Ipswich to face IES 2s. The home team had a clear advantage from the start being used to playing on the trampoline-like blue pitch and after 10 minutes took the lead through a penalty-flick.  Dragon’s missed some key chances during the rest of the half but kept the home team at bay to go into halftime 1-0 down. The second half started brightly with Mitch Smith scoring quickly from a penalty corner before the home team responded in the same manner. Dragons looked to be getting back into the game before another penalty-flick was awarded to IES which was converted. After that all the play belonged to IES with captain/keeper Tom McLean having to make some smart saves to keep the score respectable including a stunning stick save. Finally IES scored their fourth before the experienced Jon Ives capitalised on some lax defending to score a great consolation goal. On reflection an excellent match by both sides. Man of the match went to Harry Brown for his excellent work on the right hand side, offensively and defensively. 

East League, Men’s 5NE
Norwich Dragons Men’s 4s v IES 5s:  5-1

Goalscorers:  Jon Miles x3, Tommy Gale, Adrian Kemp
MOM:  Bobby Sheppard

Dragons met at the Den with plenty of time before their 2.30pm push back. Unlike in previous games, there were only 12 of them this time, mainly due to schools’ half term. With the previous game running late and a very vivid memory of what happened in the past, Dragons decided to go for a team run-around outside the pitches. As expected, as soon as both teams put their feet on the pitch the umpires requested a quick start, but that didn’t catch Dragons with their pants down this time.

Dragons started well in the first half, keeping control of the ball and creating multiple chances but the scoreboard remained untouched for a very long time. Their attacks kept gaining momentum but Ipswich-East Suffolk’s defence, also with some help from the goal posts, managed to hold Dragons for most of the first half. Finally, with some ten minutes still to go before the break, Dragons found their path to goal when Tommy Gale, after challenging a few opponents, managed to send a great pass from the right side towards the top-right side of the D, where Alberto Embarba was waiting to slap in a ball that was brilliantly deflected by Adrian Kemp around the penalty spot. And not long after that, a very similar second goal came with Greg Reynolds long shot being just tapped by Jon Miles to slot it in between the keeper’s legs. That brought us to a 2-0 score at half time.

Ipswich-East Suffolk boys reacted well after the break and managed to shorten distances with an early goal, coming from a striker who managed to break the defence lines and have an unexpected reverse hit on target which ended up finding its way to the net. With 2-1 on the scoreboard the game seemed to have changed direction for a little while, but soon it was redirected by Jon Miles scoring for the second time, with a strong square hit from the right side, next to the end line. But Jon wasn’t happy with just two goals, he wanted to get a hat-trick before going on his paternity leave. And he got it, from a short corner this time, with a brilliantly executed drag flick to the top side of the net. It was just 7 minutes after the break and Dragons had granted themselves a comfortable advantage. But Ipswich-East Suffolk boys were determined to fight and got a few chances, with keeper Jamie McKinnon having to pull some of his best saves to keep the score. A few minutes before the end of the game, Tommy Gale got a well-deserved reward to his fantastic contribution to the game with a fantastic late goal that set a final 5-1 score.

Another great win for Dragons, which will keep them on the second position of the league table for another week, with equal points as the first team. Man of the match went to Bobby Sheppard this time, for his magnificent contribution throughout game, proving his great value not only as a goal scorer but also as a generous passer. But he wasn’t alone in the contest. Will Mares was also in the draw after completing a really good game. Of course, Jon Miles also had a say here with his hat-trick. And, as usual, Greg Reynolds and Tommy Gale were both well worth their weight in gold.

East League, Men’s 5NE
Norwich Dragons Men’s 5s v East Coast 2s:  0-4

MOM:  Alex Wolfe

East League, Men’s 5NE(N)
Norwich Dragons Men’s 6s v  North Norfolk 2s:  1-7

Goalscorer:  Richard Draeger
MOM:   Stephen Holland

Development Leagues

Dev Girls A v Dev Girls B:  1-2

Goalscorers:
MOM: