GOOD BALMY SATURDAY
Last Saturday was a particularly good day for three of our Men’s teams as two banished lingering relegation concerns and one moved nearer to promotion with a combination of a huge win and the surprise defeat of one of the teams above them.
At an almost balmy Weybread the Men’s 4ths had a must-win game against Ipswich Cranes and they came out on top by two goals to one in an exciting encounter. They went ahead in the first half when Ali Williamson found Paul Shelley unmarked on the right edge of the circle and with no colleagues to be seen Paul smashed the ball past the startled keeper from a narrow angle for one of the goals of the season. Ali then found the net himself early in the second half to make the game more comfortable for James Smith and his team before the visitors got a goal back and they looked to have got an equaliser which (with the score up on the scoreboard in a flash) was disallowed after the umpires conferred. This was the team’s third victory in four games and a continuation of their timely return to form.
An hour after the conclusion to the game the excellent news came through that the Men’s 1sts had won 5-1 away to now relegated Sevenoaks to finally remove the slim chance of being dragged into the relegation play-off spot – a position taken by St Albans after their recent revival. With this win the 1sts took their tally of points for the second half of the season to eleven and oddly their first against a team they took points off in the first half. This coming Sunday the team play their final match of the season away to Southgate (2.00) looking to repeat their opening day victory over the league champions. NB. Robert Stimpson is hoping to run a coach to this game with spectators very welcome at £10 per head. If you are interested please give Robert a call on 01728 685885 or 07976 741719 (M).
After taking just three points from their previous four games the Men’s 5ths went into their home game against North Walsham 2nds needing a win (and another one this Saturday) and a slip-up from Holt Harlequins in one of their last two games to clinch the second promotion spot alongside champions Lowestoft Railway. The win duly came with the score line Men’s 5ths 13 (Roger Kent 0!) North Walsham 2nds 0 and the hoped-for slip-up came when Holt Harlequins lost 4-2 away to IES 2nds. This leaves the 5ths requiring an away win over Felixstowe 2nds this Saturday (11.30) to ensure they keep ahead of the in-form Norwich City 3rds who have an easy looking game away to Pelicans 3rds and Holt Harlequins who have a difficult home game with the champions.
In other home games last Saturday the Ladies’ 4ths continued their triumphant season with a 3-0 win over Yarmouth 2nds with goals by Beth Alexander, Rachel Peters and Kay Dennis (the team’s excellent press officer); the Men’s 3rds let slip a two-goal lead over Norwich City 2nds to draw 2-2 (Tiger Brice 2) in an exciting game and the Boys Development beat Norwich City 2-1.
On Sunday the excellent run of victories by the Ladies’ 1sts came to an end against Sevenoaks who scored the only goal of the match (a deflection) with their only shot and this was enough for them to clinch the league title. Magpies dominated the first 20 minutes of the game and with their overall performance deserved at least a draw but it was not to be with Emma Lee-Smith being denied by two excellent saves. The team complete their season’s programme when they entertain second placed Chelmsford on Saturday (NB 2.00) seeking to make up for their 5-0 defeat by the Essex side on the opening day of the season.
All of a sudden the league season is over for most of our Ladies’ teams but there are two important games remaining for the Ladies’ 2nds who after their recent run of poor results need a home win over second placed Cambridge University this Saturday (NB 12.00) and possibly another next week over IES to avoid relegation.
Other news
· Congratulations and best wishes to Angie and Colin Wheelhouse on the birth of Ethan George who arrived at 2.55am last Friday weighing in at 6lb 8ozs. Ethan’s arrival gives Angie plenty of time to prepare for next season with Colin left holding the baby!
· Help will be needed in the kitchen during the Magpies Tournament, i.e. Saturday 30 April and Monday 2 May. If you are kindly able to help fill one or more of the two-hour slots would you please contact either Kirstin Cumming (Tel: 01986 788439) or Daphne Beckett ([email protected]).
· Well done to the Mixed team who moved into the last 16 of the EHB Trophy with their 6-0 away win over Luton.
Please see the Home Page of the website for a full list of this weekend’s games which include the U10 and U12 Boys and Girls in the Dereham Minis after their excellent results last Sunday in the Watton Minis. Good luck to all our teams.
Mike Denham [email protected] 22/3/11
