Hockey team aims for top

Dereham IV 2, North Walsham 3

NORTH Walsham entered this game with the aim of returning to the top of the table over Christmas.

With a number of players missing they met a formidable Dereham side and this was reflected in a number of early chances for Dereham who got a short corner in the first five minutes, followed by a close miss from a poor Walsham 16.

Walsham soon got into their stride and Ashley Green beat the keeper before missing an open goal.

The deadlock was broken right at the end of the first half with a goal from Tom Cox. After half-time Walsham played some nice passing hockey but Dereham equalised within minutes of the second half beginning. The next 10 minutes was a period of good pressure from Dereham but good defence by Buck, Dale and Younger kept Dereham at bay. A poor Dereham clearance gave Walsham gave a chance for Richard Nickerson to slap a goal in.

A run from Cox saw him lift a shot over the bar but minutes later Nickerson added a second, set up by Green. Pete Gardner crossed a ball into the D to see it deflected into the goal by a Dereham player, the cross was ruled out of the D by the umpire.

Dereham won a short corner late on, coolly converted.

North Walsham III 2,

North Walsham IV 2

THE excitement of this end-to-end match was appreciated by a good crowd. Man of the match was undoubtedly III's keeper Chris Wildee who was outstanding. At the other end of the pitch 14-year-old Luke Tuthill also made some fine saves on his debut.

This game was about good squad performances and was played in a competitive yet sportsmanlike way.

III were the first to score via James Carswell and he scored again late in the first half. After the break the IVs scored when a fine cross by Dan Cheesman was met by David Duncombe. Late on Brendan Clements levelled the score at 2-2.