North Notts – 9
Solihull Blossomfield – 3
North Notts played league strugglers Solihull this week and where looking to win.
The game started with Notts going hard at the visitors and pressuring them early. Eventually, this lead to Al Butler grabbing an early lead through a good piece of work from youngster Nathan Smith. Minutes later Solihull came back with an equaliser through some poor defending. With the game now level Notts continued to press and many chances were missed. Notts gained the lead again through a well worked short corner which Glyn Fowler finished well. Not long after, another corner was scored this time by Alex Greer. With minutes of the first half left a defensive error lead to a penalty corner to the visitors which they converted to give them a lifeline.
As the second half started, Solihull came out a lot faster and hungry for an equaliser, this paid off for them as they were soon back on level terms with a well finished goal. The game then went into stalemate for 10 minutes with North Notts looking bewildered and unable to penetrate the visitors defence. Finally they got back ahead when Greer finished a loose ball in the D. This got the Notts lads back on their game, they were soon 5.3 up when Greer picked the ball up on the half way line and skipped past the Solihull players and finally setting up Al Butler who finished well. Now Notts were playing at a fast tempo and were keen to score more. Good work from defensive man Eli Hind found him at the top of the D setting up Greer for his hat trick. Soon after this Will Butler and Matt Kanalas helped set up Al Butler for his hat trick. Shortly after it was back to Greer for his turn to score again when Al Butler drew the defenders out giving Greer the ball and just the keeper to beat. Al Butler got his fourth of the game when he decided to parade his skills around the visitors defence eventually finishing the ball well. The final score being 9.3.
Notts look forward to playing South Notts next week who are currently top if the league and boast a young skilful side. North will be hoping to get one over there local rivals after this seasons earlier 10.2 drubbing in which they suffered.
North Notts 2nd X1 – 1
Telford & Wrekin – 6
Notts travelled away to Telford already knowing they did not have much chance of escaping the relegation zone. Even though Notts fought hard the first half showed Notts concede 4 goals from well worked short corners from the Telford side even though some of the decisions were questionable.
Notts continued to press hard to try and get back into the game eventually I. Whittaker slotted the ball in past the keeper after a well worked break by Notts. However, they struggled to keep out the Telford side and the final score finished 6-1.
North Notts 3rd X1 – 4
Coventry City and University – 4
Notts made the journey to Coventry Uni to play the bottom of the league team. Notts expecting a win and also needing the 3 points to ensure safety from relegation zone started strong.
3-1 up at half time Notts thought there win was in the bag.
Even after 2nd half started Notts scored again to make score 4-1. After a accident on 55 minutes, Notts captain Hannah was injured, spraining his ankle. Unfortunately this made Notts lose their shape and with just 12 minutes remaining of the game Coventry managed to score 3 goals pulling it back to a 4-4 draw.
Goals for Notts came from Bestwick – 2, Workman -1 and Shepherd -1.
Notts disappointed in this result are now in relegation zone and need a minimum of 6 points to stay in this league. Next week they travel to mid table Loughborough Town to try and redeem themselves and gain crucial points.
North Notts 4th X1 – 1
Players – 1
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North Notts 5th X1 – 2
Chesterfield – 1
A much-needed win for the 5th team this week. Boosted by the presence of influential playmaker Nick Glynne-Jones in midfield, the 5ths took the game to Chesterfield and consistent early pressure paid off as Keith Johnson’s shot was saved by the keeper for Chris Bolus to reverse-sweep into the net.
Minutes later it was Keith Johnson again, lifting the ball to pass the keeper at waist-height for the second goal.
With a small cushion, Notts were able to let more of the young players take on bigger roles, and with five under-15s playing some excellent passing hockey, it was only surprising that they didn’t put a few more away.
Chesterfield tried to stage a comeback in the second half, but were thwarted by strong defending, and only managed a consolation goal with the help of a Notts player who turned it past goalkeeper Parr who had it covered.
North Notts Ladies 2nd X1 – 2
Players Ladies – 0
North Notts Ladies 2’s were back to their winning ways at the weekend with a 2- 0 win over Players. Sam Irving opened the scoring with a goal from a penalty corner in the 3rd minute. Notts remained in control of the game throughout the first half and any attacks from the opposition were easily dealt with by the ever improving keeper, Linzie Bolus, and a solid performance from the Notts defence. The second half was very much as the first with Notts in control, a second goal scored, in the 48th minute, by another improving youngster, Hannah Smith. A great performance by Notts, who saw the return of several key players. Man of the match again a joint affair between Linzie Bolus and Natalya Baxter.
SUNDAY
North Notts 5th X1 – 0
Burton -5
A strong Burton side set out to play hard fast hockey against the young Notts team, who managed to hold the score level for 33 minutes before Burton scored past keeper Ken Marland, in his first game back after injury.
Shortly after the restart, Notts conceded a short corner, and as Jamie Cartwright ran to block the shot, the ball deflected off his stick and hit him on the chin, necessitating first aid. Within minutes Burton took advantage of the defensive rearrangement to score a second.
Burton then changed their formation to add an extra wide player, and Notts found it difficult to keep up with this fast winger who scored a further three goals before the end of the match. The final score finished 5-0.
North Notts Ladies 3rd X1 – 1
Boots Ladies – 2
In the first half Notts scored a cracking goal with Hannah Smith doing a lone run up the wing an taking the keeper on which resuled in a superb goal. Boots however fought back and scored 2 goals taking the win.
North Notts played extremely well an it was not a deserved loss.
