TOP MENTop billing this week just has to go to the Men’s 1sts after their splendid league win over Holcombe – followed by the Ladies’ 2nds, for their excellent away draw with unbeaten Wisbech and the U18 Girls for their battling performance before eventual defeat by Pelicans in the EHB Cup.
Back in outdoor league action for the first time for ten weeks the Men’s 1sts were up against a Holcombe team with realistic promotion ambitions and they were soon into their stride and after goalkeeper Richard Harms twice expertly dealt with the potent penalty corner threat of ex-GB and England international David Mathews the team thoroughly deserved to take the lead through Andy Hipwell. Further goals in the second half by James Fanger, his fourth of the season, and a national league first by Will Martin gave the squad one of the best wins I’ve ever seen by a Magpies’ first team. It is to be hoped that David Ling and his team can make it three wins in a row away to Oxted this Sunday (1.30).
Meanwhile with goals by Tania Pendreich and Keira Booty the Ladies’ 2nds came away from Wisbech on Saturday with a 2-2 draw against the league leaders made even more meritorious bearing in mind their 5-0 home defeat by the same team back in early October. In contrast the team entertain bottom placed Cambridge City 2nds this Saturday (1.45) so they must be on their guard to avoid being on the wrong end of a shock result. On Sunday the U18 Girls were twice in the lead, through Emily Wilford, against a strong Pelicans side before conceding a second goal towards the end of the game after a long spell of almost constant Pelicans’ pressure. Unfortunately only Emily was successful in the penalty shoot-out and keeper Flora Marfleet, who had had a splendid game, was very unlucky to see the decisive Pelicans’ stroke spin back into the net after her initial save.
On a really good Saturday for Magpies there were home wins for the Men’s 5ths who recorded their sixth successive victory by beating Norwich Dragons 2nds 4-0 with another brace from Joel Nelson; the Men’s 3rds who had a comfortable 7-0 win over nine-man Bourne and the Ladies’ 5ths who beat Pelicans 3rds with a goal by skipper Shirley McAllen. It was good to see Neil Toulson coming out of retirement to play for the Men’s 4ths but even he could not stop Sudbury maintaining their 100% record with five second half goals after Magpies led by a goal at the break – a game of two halves?! Away from home there were good wins for the Men’s 2nds, with Daniel Legg converting two penalty corners in their 4-0 victory over Cambridge Nomads, for league leaders Ladies’ 4ths who put six goals passed Norwich Dragons 3rds and Girls Development who beat North Walsham 2-0.
This coming weekend the Ladies’ 1sts return to outdoor league action with a tough double-header starting with Horsham at home on Saturday (12.30) before they travel to leaders Surbiton on Sunday (12.00) while in the other games at Weybread on Saturday the Men’s 2nds take on third-placed Letchworth (2.15), the Ladies 3rds entertain Watton 2nds (10.30), the Girls Development play Dereham (3.15) and the Men’s 6ths and 7ths play, respectively, Norwich City 4ths (4.00) and North Walsham 3rds (12.15). Best of luck to all our teams in action this weekend (a full list of fixtures can be found on the website) including the Mixed who play Norwich City on Sunday (1.30) at Taverham in the EHB Trophy without the services of any of the first team squads.
Comments in brief
· The organising committee thanks our hosts Gordon and Pat Tibbenham for their hospitality and all the other 100 members and friends of the club who attended last Saturday’s very successful Savoury and Sauvignon Soirée. Thanks also go to those who kindly donated prizes for the raffle.
· This column is always prepared to offer profuse apologises for serious omissions and one is the failure to highlight Leigh Sitch’s goal against Bournville in the recent national indoor league. This significant event (which involved Leigh running the whole length of the pitch to receive a pass at the right post) doubled Leigh’s goals for the club with the first coming away to Long Sutton two seasons ago in the Mixed Trophy when his reverse stick shot was the vital and clinching eighth for the team!
· I have it on good authority from a whistleblower that after yet another win and with the transfer window about to close skipper Murray Graham was fighting off enquiries for several members of his Men’s 7ths squad. Amongst other rumours were Dereham wanting John Pestell to play for them in goal and umpire at the same time; the RSPB wanting Peter Dolton (his price rocketing after his two goals) as their part-time migration manager; Norwich City FC seeking Bardy (an Ipswich Town fan) to join Delia’s restaurant as chilli con carne chef and John Wells wanting a pass from ‘You Know Who’!
Mike Denham 01603 506925 [email protected] 1/2/11
