Ladies 1sts Vs Norwich City 2

Saturday 12th December 2020

Mr Cricket Hockey East Women’s Hockey League

Division 2 (North- East)

Broadland   2     Norwich City II   1

With a great display of goalkeeping from their captain Jen Crawford and resolute defending, Broadland turned what could  have been a banana skin of a game into a victory.  Some might say undeserving, but with every Broadland team member giving their all, their efforts both individually and collectively gave them a surprising result and all the points in this local derby.

Norwich City pressurised the home side straight from the first whistle and had a number of chances to take an early lead, but the Broadland defence would have none of it and quickly closed down any opportunities the City forwards developed.  Crawford made a number of excellent saves to keep her side in the game.  A foray up-field by Broadland ended in a defensive hit out, the execution of which fell short of certain expectations.  Broadland’s Verity Becker swooped and collected the ball beyond the 23-metre line and jinked past one defender, sent another the wrong way and skill-fully side stepped the lunging challenge of not one but two of the City backline. Her snapshot fairly bulged the City net to give Broadland the lead.  City, stung by this set back, continued to take the game to Broadland, bombarding the Broadland goal at every opportunity. Broadland remained strong and resisted everything that was thrown at them and then somewhat against the run of play increased their lead through their top scorer Becker who unleashed a screamer towards the City goal and team-mate Lydia Lawrence who was racing in at the far post. A desperate interception by a City defender who managed to get to the ball in front of the Broadland player was shocked to see her deflection barrelled  past her own goalkeeper.

Sensing the game might be there for the taking Broadland strengthened their resolve and tried to keep the City attack at arm’s length, but with City launching wave of wave of attacks it was inevitable that they would pull a goal back, which they did towards the end when a cross, come goal attempt found its way through to City forward Mia Moore who gave them some hope of snatching at least a point.  No luck however, as Broadland garnered all the points with some excellent and controlled defending.

Report from Nat Brooks