LADIES’ 1STS BEAT LEAGUE LEADERS TO RECORD BEST EVER WIN
I just have to start with Sunday’s superb 1-0 away win by the Ladies’ 1sts over runaway league leaders Slough despite the strong claims of the Ladies’ 2nds, 3rds and 4ths after their splendid victories on Saturday. With the Ladies’ 5ths also winning one could say the Ladies’ teams are ruling the Magpies’ roost!
In what must go down as one of the team’s best ever wins Lizzie Clymer put the 1sts ahead in the second minute with her fourth goal in her last four games. The team’s solid defence was then put to the test as Slough, who had previously totalled 19 goals in their 4 other home games, looked for the equaliser which never came. This win for Magpies goes a long way to making up for the disappointment of points dropped late in other games this season. This coming Saturday the team are at home to Hampstead & Westminster (2.00) who beat them in the away game back in September with the only goal coming in the last minute.
Until the win by the Ladies 1sts I was going to lead with the Ladies’ 4ths for the simple reason I watched every second of their game at Weybread with club treasurer and 5th team captain Jose Tibbenham in the pouring rain! They were up against league leaders Norwich Dragons 3rds who at the beginning of last month beat our 3rds 3-0 at Weybread with former HMHC club captain and goalkeeper Kristina Smyth victorious on her return to the club. This time Kristina went away empty handed due to Magpies dominating from the first to last whistle and the score could easily have been more emphatic than three goals to nil. Laura Tibbenham put Magpies ahead early in the first half with a well taken goal before Kristina saved a penalty stroke. Magpies continued to dominate but were relieved to get the second goal before the interval through the energetic Caz Aldous. The story was much the same in the second half and with the rain still sweeping across the pitch Laura made the game safe with another skilful run and shot but not before a good save by goalkeeper Georgie Goodin had kept the Dragons at bay.
With this result the 4ths have moved into second place in the league while remaining three points behind new leaders Magpies’ 3rds who had a stress-free 7-2 away win over UEA 2nds who the 4ths host this Saturday (10.15). The 3rds played some of their best hockey of the season with several players giving MOTM-worthy performances. In the end the vote went to Alice Woollatt for her three goals with the other four coming from Sarah Legg. One of Sarah’s shots nearly broke the back board! It is really encouraging to see our two teams topping their league. This Saturday the 3rds are away to Broadland (2.30) who they will know beat the 4ths 1-0 a month ago.
The Ladies’ 2nds were in Kent once again and having beaten Tunbridge Wells two weeks ago had an even better result beating mid-table Maidstone 4-1 to record their third win in their last four games. Georgie Minta put them ahead before Tor Findlay beat three players to make it 2-0 at half time. Maidstone then got back into the game with a goal and Magpies had plenty of defending to do with goalkeeper and skipper Megan Brown in good form. Ellie Tennant was then obstructed in the circle and Amy Hipwell relieved the mounting pressure by slotting the penalty stroke to the right of the goalkeeper. Another piece of excellent stickwork by Tor made the game safe for Magpies who next Saturday have an even tougher task when on the road yet again they play fourth-placed Bedford (1.00).
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CHRISTMAS FUN CASINO EVENING
(16s and over only)
Black Tie. Champagne cocktail on arrival. Nibbles.
SATURDAY 5 DECEMBER (7.30PM)
STARSTON PLACE, STARSTON
Have you got your ticket(s) yet please?
Tickets are £20 each and are available at the clubhouse bar or from Katrina Sitch.
Please contact Katrina 07730 454206 or at [email protected]
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The Ladies’ 5ths also got an encouraging win when in better morning weather they dominated UEA 3rds and only an inspired display by the students’ goalkeeper prevented Magpies winning by a considerable margin. In the event they had to settle for an early second half goal by Georgie Cantrell who continues to find the back of the net following her promotion from the Development squad. This Saturday the team are away to Broadland 2nds (4.00).
The other two victorious Magpies’ teams from last Saturday were the Boys’ Development and the Men’s’ 3rds and both were away from home. The Boys’ Development eased past Pelicans 3-2 to maintain their one hundred percent record this season with a first league goal by Michael Ahrens and two by the team’s youngest player Sam Emms when he was moved from defence into the attack. The Men’s 3rds, with Jon Aldridge again in top form, beat lowly Norwich City 4ths but not before having some anxious moments. They were level at 3-3 at half time following goals by Gavin Cole (2) and Phil Cobbald before falling behind just after the break at a penalty corner. Gavin then scored again before Greg Jagger scored for the second week running. Skipper Matt Brand then set a fine example running a long way for a tap-in to make the final score 6-4. The team are now up to second place and this week they are away to league leaders North Norfolk (2.30).
Meanwhile back at Weybread the Men’s 2nds and Men’s 1sts had the realistic hope of victory when they took on, respectively, Felixstowe and Bromley & Beckenham but it wasn’t to be unfortunately. The 2nds were soon behind to Felixstowe when goalkeeper Simon Robinson, sportingly standing in for James Lane, got a yellow and Felixstowe converted the resulting penalty stroke and with Magpies still down to ten players the visitors then fired home a penalty corner. After these setbacks Magpies, without the injured Adam Lascelles but with Jonty Herschel-Shorland in impressive form and Pete Bale playing well in his first game of the season, played some really good hockey and they took the game to Felixstowe. But they failed to put ex-Magpies goalkeeper Marc Lloyd under significant pressure. After conceding a sloppy third Magpies were twice caught on the break while trying to get back into the game. This was never a 5-0 game but Felixstowe deserved the points. This Saturday Magpies have another must-win game when they entertain Long Sutton (1.45).
The 1sts were one up at half time against BromBeck through a penalty corner conversion by Andy Hipwell and this game seemed the one in which to record their first win of the season. It would have been 2-0 at the break had the whistle not gone for a penalty corner with the ball heading into the empty net. But not for the first time this season the team were forced back on defence at the beginning of the second half and except for a run by Toby Price that was where they stayed for fifteen minutes during which time the visitors had converted a penalty corner before taking the lead with a close range shot from the right of the goal. Magpies, for whom it was good to see Simon Hipwell playing well on his return from injury, responded with a quality goal. Stuart Leate found Thomas Ridley down the right and from his run and cross Ben Wright swept the ball home for the equaliser. A point or even three seemed on the cards before BromBeck got the winner nine minutes from time at another penalty corner. Before the match the players and spectators stood in tribute to the victims of the Paris terrorist attacks. This Sunday the team are away to Brighton & Hove (1.00) as they begin the second half of their outdoor season.
In other matches last Saturday the Ladies’ 6ths lost 1-0 at home to Norwich Dragons 6ths; the Ladies’ 7ths played through the puddles losing 4-2 (Shirley McAllen and Charlotte Underdown) away to Pelicans 3rds due in no small part to ‘falling asleep in defence’ and conceding three goals in five minutes just before half time; the Girls’ Development suffered a rare defeat going down 4-0 away to Lowestoft Railway; the Men’s 4ths lost for the first time in six games being beaten 4-0 away by North Norfolk 2nds; the Men’s 5ths lost 6-1 (Lewis Belsey) at home to Thetford Town and the Men’s 6ths lost 6-2 (Joe Walker and Jon Wells) at home to Norfolk Nomads.
Good luck as always to all our teams this weekend including the U14, U16 and U18 Girls and U14 Boys who are in England Hockey Championship action on Sunday. Please see the Latest News page of the website for the complete list of fixtures.
Last Sunday the club hosted a very enjoyable and successful minis tournament for U10 and U12 Boys and Girls involving a total of 23 teams from Magpies, Norwich City and IES. While Kirstin Cumming and her team were keeping players, coaches, managers and spectators well fed and watered in the clubhouse James Smith and his team of umpires were keeping the matches on track and giving guidance on the rules to those new to our sport. James has asked me to pass on his thanks to Kirstin and her team and to his successful umpiring squad of Graham Mobbs, James Hardy, Jack Richards, James Webster, Eric Davy and Amelia Herschel-Shorland for their support. The club will be hosting its annual minis tournament for all Norfolk clubs on Sunday 6 December.
Finally congratulations to John Adams, father of Megan Brown, on winning the lifetime achievement category in the recent Suffolk Sports Awards ceremony. John, who helps to manage the Magpies’ Ladies’ 2nds, has made a major contribution to Suffolk hockey as a player, coach, umpire and administrator at club and county levels over many years in addition to serving as deputy president of the East Region HA. In his playing days he was a regular visitor to Magpies as the IES 1st team goalkeeper.
PS. This article is far too long. In my defence all I can say is that reading all of it is not compulsory!
With kind regards
Mike Denham
17/11/15
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