Home Match Report 21/1/12

We are now into the second half of the league so from bow on these will all be rematches.

Another home fixture for Heigham Park Rangers with a slight advantage of being used to the over-sized pitch at St Thomas More. Hellesdon and Surlingham kicked off at the early time of 9.45am so that the Carrow Road regulars could get to the Chelsea match. This first game ended with a 2-0 win to Hellesdon who we considered the stronger of these two sides.

Surlingham game (final score HPR won 1 - 0)

The drizzle came down and our players had to keep moving to stay warm while they waited. When we kicked off the rain had stopped and we were playing 6-a-side as Surlingham weren't able to muster 7 players. HPR were soon pushing forward and Sol had a chance of an early goal but hit the bar. Surlingham were playing a bunched-up game which meant that out players were always surrounded and had difficulty spreading the play. Evie and Felix did some solid defending to keep the score at 0-0 at half time.

Early in the second half Aidan was unlucky with a shot on goal and Frankie made a brilliant save as the two big Surlingham forwards made a break. Soon after the HPR players settled into some excellent positional play keeping the opposition on their toes. A wonderful corner from Archie R found Luke in front of goal and we were 1-0 up. The Surlingham defence didn't seem that effective but we weren't able to capitalise on this apart from a shot on goal from Felix which was saved. Full time 1-0.


Hellesdon game (final score HPR won 5 - 1)

A very short rest period and we were kicking off again against Hellesdon. Heigham Park Rangers were now passing the ball like professionals. The defence were clearing any dangerous attacks - the blond haired Hellesdon danger man had a couple of chances but spooned them both over the bar. The HPR team spread out over the pitch and Luke soon had the first goal of the game from close range, soon to be followed by another from Evie who was playing in midfield and had folowed the play into the Hellesdon penalty area.

At half time the players had been reminded that last time out we had lost 4-2 after being 2-0 up at half time. Chocolate all round seemed to do the trick and Aidan had soon pirouetted through the Hellesdon defence to knock the third of the game in from an Archie R one-two. Another Archie R pass allowed Aidan to secure the fourth and Max cemented the win with a shot from range that passed two Hellesdon players and went through the goalie's legs.

Hellesdon must be commended for continuing to attack as they managed to get one back near the end.

So nearly a clean sheet for both games (much like the Canaries), but two good wins with very few tense moments.


Player of the match goes to Felix for solid defence and positional play on the left and fast left wing action up front.

Next games are on 4 February against Norwich Utd. and Firside at the Norwich Utd. ground at Blofield Heath.

Home Match Report 7/1/12

Some you win, some you lose.

Another bright start for the resumption of NYFC U8 League matches and another home fixture.

This was our first time in the league against Old Catton Lions and the second match with Blofield.

I was chatting to Tommie's dad (Norwich Corinthians) about the fact that all the teams have become stronger during the last few months and those big wins are now more difficult to come by, which was borne out by the 1 - 1 result for the Old Catton Lions and Norwich Corinthians game today.

Warming the goalie up

Blofield game (final score HPR won 2 - 1)

First up were Blofield who we beat 7 - 0 back in September. We were playing on the bigger pitch again with 7-a-side. Heigham Park soon found their shape and put together some good attacking play with Aidan rapidly pushing forward down the right wing. Archie R had soon sent a cross in from the right for Ted to knock home. Soon after Aidan had put one away from an Archie R corner and we went into half time 2 - 0 up with Frankie having had little to do in goal due to the effective defence of Evie and Max. A few changes to the line up and we were off again, this time with a hefty breeze against us. There were a few tense moments when the opponents broke through, most of these held back by the Evie/Felix back line, but unfortunately a shot went in off the post. Blofield felt they were back in the game and certainly had a lot of the play in the HPR half. There were a couple of promising runs forward by Sol but no further goals. The win was sealed by Archie G's fine save from a Blofield free kick just before full time (the ref was hot on these so HPR need to think about those fouls in the future).

Old Catton Lions game (final score HPR lost 2 - 4)

Old Catton Lions handshake

The Old Catton Lions are strong team and we were aware that this game would be tougher than the first. Aidan's role was to mark and frustrate Rafa, their big new 'signing' from Norwich Corinthians who was always going to be a threat. HPR kicked off well and had soon put a lovely sequence together to go 1 - 0 up. Frankie slid the ball through to Luke who quickly dealt with the Old Catton midfield passing to Archie R who crossed it back to Frankie again who had found space on the far side of the goal area for an easy tap-in. The ever opportunistic Archie R managed to poach the ball from an Old Catton goal kick to get another, much to the dismay of the Catton adults. The Lions fought back and chipped one over Ted's head as he had made the snap decision to come out from the goal line. Just before half time, the ball had gone out for a goal kick but the ref waved play on. A shot on target past the keeper was stopped by Archie R on the goal line - phew!

During the second half, Old Catton soon scored from a corner and were frustrating the HPR defence. They were able to capitalise on some HPR defence confusion and get two more past some of the days best goal keeping action from Aidan (who was congratulated by both the Blofield and Old Catton managers for his valiant efforts - the Corinthians manager was silent on this occasion, unusually).

Player of the match was Archie G for sealing the win during the first game.

So only the third loss of the season with some learning to be done before the next games - again at home on 21 January against Surlingham and Hellesdon,