LADIES IMPRESS AGAIN!
We were lucky with the weather last weekend with only the Men’s 4ths game falling victim to the conditions and it is fingers crossed for this coming weekend’s restricted programme – our last until 2013.
The Ladies’ teams were in impressive form again with the 5ths drawing and the 3rds, 4ths, 6ths and Development all winning while the 1sts and 2nds had the day off. The point the 5ths got at home in their goalless draw with Sprowston 2nds was their fourteenth in their last seven matches while the 3rds beat Thetford 1-0 (Kara Kilbourn) away to keep in touch with Norwich City 2nds at the top of their league. Meantime the 4ths got back to winning ways after losing to the UEA two weeks ago when Charlotte Rourke-Beasley and Caz Aldous scored in their 2-1 away victory over Evergreens to consolidate their sixth place position just four points behind the 3rds. This coming Saturday (12.30) sees the return clash between the 3rds and 4ths (the hosts) and the 3rds will be determined to put the 4ths in their place after losing 2-1 to them on the opening day of the season. But it is back to last Saturday to record the seventh win in their past nine matches for the 6ths and this time 5-0 at home over Sprowston 3rds with goals by Vanessa Vigrass, Vicky Blackmore, Verity Thompson (2) and Jordan Rainbird. Meantime the Girls Development beat Dereham 1-0 (Victoria Findlay) away to maintain their good season to-date under player manager Sandra Elliner.
Turning now to the Men’s teams there were wins for the 1sts and 6ths. The 1sts beat West Herts 2-0 (Andy Hipwell and Tom Graham) to retain their league leadership by two points from St Albans – who have a game in hand – going into the mid season break. With players absent due to injury, work commitments, unavailability and the clash with the East U16 indoor championship (in which we finished third) the team did well to win this match so comfortably with Will Blyth and (after injury) Alex Slater welcomed back in the 12-man squad. The 6ths went an early goal down against visitors Lowestoft Railway 2nds but in a match of several cards (including a yellow harshly given to veteran Stuart Peters!) the team kept their discipline and recovered to win 4-1 with goals by Ollie Sharp, Harry Haigh (2) and OG. Earlier in the day the Boys Development failed to put away their chances losing 4-3 (Kieran Peters, Sol Barker and Myles King) to Norwich City while away from home there were defeats for four of our other sides which were not helped by the annoying clash with the East U16 indoor event.
On Sunday at Weybread the Men’s O50s gained a very comfortable 4-0 EHB Masters Cup win over Ipswich with all the goals coming in the first half with a) Jonathan Aldridge and Philip Cobbald (or OG!) finding the net, b) Bob Skinner rolling back the years with a well taken brace and c) David Blackmore and Jon Wells in outstanding midfield form. Jonathan playing in a lone striker role was unfortunate to receive a nasty hit from the ball below his left knee after we went 3-0 up and with him off the pitch, until a brave return with ten minutes to go, a change of tactics was called for. These could be summed up as retaining what you have with the team (which is at home to Bromley and Beckenham in the next round on Sunday 20 January) caressing the ball about the pitch without once troubling the visitors’ keeper in the second half or once arousing the now somnolent crowd. But it was good to be out in the fresh air!
With the BBC’s 2012 SPOTY programme on Sunday I take the liberty of giving you my own selections for two of the prestigious awards. For the individual award I feel it just has to go to Bradley Wiggins (especially bearing in mind it is a personality award) for his Tour de France and Olympic triumphs and for the team award I go for the victorious Europe Ryder Cup squad. And if we had a similar team award in the club I would have no hesitation in nominating the Ladies’ 2nds. Not only did they clinch the East Div 2NE title and promotion in March with just two defeats to go alongside twenty wins they are now five points clear at the top of East Div 1N having dropped just two points all season – against Wisbech who they entertain this Saturday (NB. 2.15) in what promises to be an exciting return match. For fear of ruffling too many feathers I am resisting the temptation of making a nomination for a club individual award! Before leaving this subject will the BBC make a special team award for all the Olympic Games Makers?
Please see the Home Page of the website for the full list of all this coming weekend’s matches which include the U16 Girls (on Saturday) and the U18 Girls (on Sunday) playing in their respective East Indoor Championship at the University of Essex. Good luck as ever to all our teams.
Others news and comment
a) Very best wishes to Nick, Shirley and Ian McAllen following their car accident while returning from the Arsenal game last Saturday. Luckily they were not seriously hurt although they are feeling battered and bruised from the awful experience.
b) Congratulations to the U18 Boys squad under the management of Martin Fields and Richard Larkin on reaching the national indoor finals to be held over the weekend of 19/20 January. After losing to Peterborough in their opening East Championship match at the University of Essex last Sunday they went on to win their three other matches, including a crucial 5-4 victory over Old Loughtonians, to finish as runners-up.
c) Although the new-look England men’s team finished eighth and last in the recent Champions Trophy in Melbourne the tournament will have given vital experience to the young squad as they prepare for next year’s European Championship.
d) Andy Bedwell has sportingly asked me to include his thanks for the help given by Simon Hipwell with the U10 training last Saturday. While this ensures that Andy also gets a mention I’m sure he means it!
e) Youth training – please see the website for up-to-date position prior to and after Christmas.
The Musings will be back in early January. In the meantime please see the Home Page of the website for any important news. I hope all readers and their families will be able to have a happy Christmas.
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With kind regards
Mike Denham
11/12/12
To find out more about Lowestoft College ring 0800 854695
