Hethersett Athletic

It was the second in a series of three games between the two sides with Hethersett so far recording 6-1 and 7-0 victories in the League Cup and League respectively.

There was never any chance of Hethersett easing towards the title and promotion as they ripped into their Essex opponents with three goals in a five minute spell in the first half.

Top scorer Nicola Bray opened Hethersett’s account after 14 minutes when she finished off a fine move down the left with a volley. A minute later it was 2-0 as Hazel Brewster beat the ‘keeper to a long ball and chipped it goalwards before running on to head home to make sure.

Home fans only had to wait another three minutes for a third as Brewster again ran onto a through ball to slot home.

Chelmsford battled strongly to arrest the Hethersett tide but a fourth goal always looked likely before half-time and it came when the visitors’ ‘keeper charged off her line only to be beaten to the ball by Bray who coolly lobbed it into the empty net.

Hethersett looked full of goals and made it five after 69 minutes when Bray completed her hat-trick when she got the faintest of touches with her head to a powerful free kick from Jodie Allard.

Hethersett had the luxury of being able to make three substitutions and also take off top scorer Bray. It didn’t stop the goals coming, however, with Emily Coates scoring number six on 78 minutes when she tapped home a Lisa Ferdani centre. Amy Brooks rounded off the scoring seven minutes from the end when she headed home to round off an excellent performance from Hethersett.

This week the team travels to Chelmsford for their final league game of the season and then turn their attention to two important cup games which should give them an indication of the level they have reached.

On March 11^th they take on Eastern Region Premier Division leaders Cambridge City in the League Cup quarter finals and the following week they play Norwich City Racers in the Two Counties Cup semi-finals. Both games will take place at Easton College.

On Saturday the Girls Under-15s are home to Norwich City Canary Greens (Spooner Row 10 a.m) and the Girls Under-11s visit Blofield United.

Hethersett Athletic 0

Marlborough 1

A pulsating Norwich Sunday League Cup game was settled by a single goal from Marlborough in the first period of extra-time on Sunday.

Both sides had numerous chances to win the match but defences and both goalkeepers were in outstanding form.

In the end Hethersett were hampered by injuries to key players against a very experienced Marlborough team. The only goal of the game came in the 98^th minute when Marlborough sprung the offside trap and rounded Hethersett ‘keeper Chris Bolderstone to slot home.

Hethersett must now turn their attentions to the league. With nine matches still to play, they are still top of the Premier Division, but can’t afford any slip ups in what will be a long run in.

It looks very much as if the title is a three horse race between Hethersett, Delaneys and Marlborough. Hethersett still have to play Delaneys once and Marlborough twice and will have to be at their very best to take the necessary points from these two sides.

This Sunday Hethersett visit Poringland (10.30 a.m).

Hethersett Athletic Reserves were hampered by call offs and struggled against a powerful Wymondham Rangers team and were well beaten 13-1 with their only goal coming from Holl. This Sunday the team are home to Saxlingham Reserves (Memorial Playing Field 10.30)

Hethersett Athletic A were reasonably happy with a 2-2 draw against Wymondham Rangers Reserves with both goals coming from Paul Martin. This week the team visit Dynamo Denmark.

Hethersett Athletic Under-16s went down 2-1 at Salhouse with their goal coming from Chris Marshall. The Under-15s lost 5-1 at home to Salhouse with their goal coming from top scorer Ryan O’Sullivan. The Under-14s lost 5-3 to Thorpe (Chambers, Wigger, Crowe) and the Under-13s went down 2-1 at home to Thorpe (Keeley). The Under-12s were comfortably beaten 7-0 by Poringland but the Under-11s’ run of good results continued with a 3-1 win at Fakenham with Foster scoring twice and Greengrass netting the other. The Under-10s went down 1-0 to Thorpe but then beat Salhouse 2-1 with goals from Mehtab and Walker.

This Sunday The Under-16s are home to Hellesdon (Memorial Field 2 p.m), the Under-15s visit Wymondham United, the Under-13s are at Old Catton, the Under-12s visit Firside, the Under-11s are home to Firside (Old Hall School 2 p.m), the Under-9A side play Dereham and Attleborough A at Attleborough and the Under-9B side play Watton Rangers at Little Melton School.