The over 45’s were initially drawn away to Kettering O45’s in the first round of the Cup Competition on 5th November. A strong squad of 14 made the journey in the Wolfie Fun Bus, joined there by guest Keeper Sarah Jennings.
The game was fiercely competitive, Kettering had a strong squad, but Dragons were equal to it. The score was 1-1 for much of the game with Gail Thomas levelling after Kettering went ahead early. Unfortunately Dragons were on the wrong end of a bizarre decision when Trish Hagan put the visitors ahead with just minutes to go, and just as the game was about to restart, the umpires conferred and the goal was disallowed ?
The game went to flicks, and Dragons were heading out, despite GK Sarah’s valiant efforts. As a reward Dragons were drawn a short away trip to previous winners Kingston on Hull in the Trophy 2nd round! The Wolfie Fun Bus was once again up for the challenge….. a 7am start was scheduled on an icy November morning!
Sadly the outcome was the same, the slightly depleted squad battled hard over 70 minutes, but the final score was a 2-2 draw. Flicks it was, sudden death it went……we just missed out!
Fair to say however, good fun was had by all….. huge thanks go to Caroline Wolfe for being a top driver and making it possible! Thanks too to all who played their part!
Ladies Masters in warm up game against under 18s.
2015/16 Season
Round 1 = Pelicans 0:7 Norwich Dragons (18/10/15)
A repeat of last season’s opening round of the Knockout Trophy, Norwich Dragons Masters Ladies over 35s took on Pelicans, although this season saw an away rather than home fixture. Dragons took a little while to find their rhythm and it was Ally Windsor-Waite that opened the scoring from right midfield. Determined to improve on last season’s 3-0 win, Captain Marie James pushed the team on and alongside late call up Lizzie Moulton in the middle of the pitch, Dragons were dominating possession.
The second goal took a little while to arrive, however further goals from Caroline Wolfe x2, Marie James, Laura Shreeve, Hannah Hardy and Lizzie Moulton, saw the visitors finish with a 7-0 victory.
Guest keeper Kate Bond was superb in goal when called upon, although an unexpected sideline back pass did catch Kate and Spike chatting, resulting in a hasty retreat by keeper and defence to protect their cleansheet!
A great team performance from all members of the squad.
Team: Kate Bond, Marie James, Sarah Wagstaff, Rowie York-Smith, Angela Murgatroyd, Karen O’Neill-Simpson, Lizzie Moulton, Ally Windsor-Waite, Laura Shreeve, Lisa Harwood, Hannah Hardy and Caroline Wolfe.
Round 2 = Norwich Dragons 4:1 Wisbech (8/11/15)
Ladies O35’s beat Wisbech O35’s 4-1. Great team performance with goals for Capt Mazzie James x2, Debs Smith (and Celebration of the day!) andShelly Seaman……special mention to Laura Shreeve for 3 assists. Thanks also to our 2 x umpires Gary Burgess and Hazel Medler. To Rowan Graydon for her yummy Chilli & others who contributed. Finally to our brilliant sideline support which made a massive difference…..#roadtoleevalley #jerseyawayinnextround?! ✈??
Last 16 = Norwich Dragons 8:1 Chelmsford (7/2/16)
By 2pm the Ladies over 35s Masters were ready to get their game underway, buoyed by the return to the bench of Donna Vaughan and all keen to match the result of the Men.
Captain James set up an attacking formation with instructions to move to a more defensive line up if required, given that Chelmsford were an unknown entity.
Dragons used their slick passing triangles to put pressure on the visitor’s defence creating several short corners and from one such corner Hardy slotted the ball away. Space on the right from another short corner gave O’Neill-Simpson the chance to fire in Dragons’ second and before her visit to the naughty bench (for a dodgy tackle) Smith scored the home team’s third. The introduction of Vaughan reminded everyone of her class, despite only recently having given birth to little Eva.
Further goals in the half from Shreeve and James gave a comfortable 5-0 lead at half time, although the later stages of the half became scrappy. Bond was called into action more often than previous rounds and dealt with everything with her usual dexterity and calmness.
Half time called for more triangles, letting the ball do the work as the team would inevitably tire.
Second goals for both Hardy and Shreeve and a Chelmsford goal from a short corner brought the score up to 7-1 and that was then end of anything noteworthy. Oh, but then up stepped Windsor-Waite with a run from deep on the right, charging into the D and firing a bullet into the far corner, the celebration lasted longer than most hot dinners! Final score 8-1 and progress to the Quarter Finals for a home draw against Jersey.
Well played to the full squad of Bond, York-Smith, Windsor-Waite, Murgatroyd, Wagstaff, Vaughan, O’Neill-Simpson, Smith, Moulton, James, Shreeve, Seaman, Harwood and Hardy. Injury in Saturday’s game resulted in Gail Thomas missing out for this round.
Thanks to all the sideline supporters for both matches and umpires Joel Lawrence and Hazel Medler.
Quarter Final Warm Up Match – (22/2/16)
A good warm up game against a very strong, quick and fit under 18 team saw the Masters come away with a 3-1 win with goals from Tabba, Lisa and Marie.
Quarter Final = Norwich Dragons v Jersey (28/2/16)
Norwich Dragons Hockey Club hosted Jersey Hockey Club. The home side went ahead in the first half through a Hannah Hardy strike from the top of the D. However, the visitors, having flown in via Gatwick Airport the night before, were in no mood to roll over and head home with nothing and they brought the scores back level with some great pressure in the second half. With two minutes of normal play left and penalty flicks looming, the visitors won a short corner which was struck goalwards and cruelly deflected off a defender’s stick over the out-stretched keeper Kate Bond giving the keeper and defenders no chance. Jersey, last season’s beaten finalists, progress to the semi final of this year’s competition and happily set off back to Gatwick for their flight home.
2004/15 Season
Round 1
Ladies Masters won 3-0 v Pelicans in the Investec trophy, goals from Gail Thomas, Hannah Hardy and Natalie Beal. Good team performance, great sideline support, excellent umpiring thank you Hazel Medler and a lovely chilli tea thanks Pete Thomas.
Round 2
On the stroke of halftime Dragons won a penalty corner which found its way to Hannah Hardy who drove the ball past the keeper for a 3-0 halftime lead.
Just 8 minutes into the second half, Beal was on the scoresheet again with her third and Dragons’ fourth. Another great ball from Shreeve found Beal, who scrambled the ball home. Beal scored her fourth from a pin-point angled cross by Hardy.
Dragons had several further opportunities to increase the victory, however just one further goal was scored, a second for Hardy.
The home sides’ defence of Ally Windsor-Waite, Angela Murgatroyd, Louise Davis and Lucy King in goal had a few penalty corners to deal with and one or two breaks, which they coped with well, allowing the usual defenders Donna Vaughan and Lizzie Moulton to move further up the pitch to join captain Gail Thomas and Karen O’Neill-Simpson in midfield. Injury to forward Sue Cross brought a premature end to her match in the first half.
Round 3
Sadly the Ladies Masters team’s adventure in the Investec Trophy came to an end today with a 1-0 defeat to Bishop’s Stortford. A very even hard fought game which the visitors caught the Dragons dozing in the first 5 minutes. Thank you to all the players who gave 100%.