Hethersett Athletic

Two down at half-time, Athletic had to pull out all the stops to win a pulsating tie in extra-time against a side challenging for promotion from Division One.

The home side were certainly not over-awed by their Premier Division opposition and attacked strongly from the start, taking advantage of a strong swirling wind.

It was no surprise when the home side took the lead after 14 minutes with a wonder goal from 35 yards which swirled in the wind before drifting into the top corner.

Hethersett continued to be unsettled and fell further behind after 42 minutes.

A stern half-time talk from player-manager Ross Potter did the trick as Hethersett came out a team transformed. Taking advantage of the strong wind, they piled on the pressure as they went in search of goals. Mark Appleton made it 2-1 after 65 minutes when he fired in an unstoppable shot after a fine solo run.

Man of the match Chris Arnold equalised when he headed in a corner after 74 minutes and two minutes later Hethersett’s renaissance was complete when Danny Self was hauled over in the penalty area and Scott Woodcock coolly slotted home the spot kick.

That should have been job done for Hethersett, but they went to sleep and allowed The Grove to breakaway to take the match into extra-time.

In the extra period Hethersett’s superior fitness and command of the conditions paid dividends. Scott Woodcock burst through to be hauled down. Initially the referee pointed to the penalty spot but, after consulting with a linesman, awarded a free kick just outside the box. Danny Self stepped up to bend the ball into the top corner of the net for a 4-3 victory and a quarter-final place.

This week Hethersett resume their bid for the Norwich Sunday League Premier Division title with a re-arranged home game against Prince of Denmark (Easton College 10.30 a.m).

Hethersett Ladies 6

Lakenheath 0

Hethersett Ladies are within one win of taking the East Anglian Women’s League Division One East title.

A comfortable victory over Lakenheath means that they need three points from their remaining two league matches to make sure of the title.

Ironically both those matches will be against the only team that can overtake Hethersett – Chelmsford City.

The home game against the Essex side will take place at Easton College on February 18^th with the return match at Chelmsford the following week.

Hethersett still have the chance for a league and cup treble. Ironically they have been drawn against Chelmsford in the League Cup and in the Two Counties Cup will play Norwich City Racers at Easton College on March 18^th.

Top markswoman Nicola Bray hammered another hat-trick against Lakenheath to take her tally to 19 from just seven games since joining the club from King’s Lynn. Nicola Stolworthy scored twice and the other goal came from Emily Coates. Hethersett were 5-0 up at half-time before easing off in the second half.

Hethersett Athletic Girls Under-15 team scored a double figures victory when they beat Swaffham Vixens 12-0 on Saturday. Charlotte Fisher and Amy Batch both scored four. There was a hat-trick for Kim Broom and the other goal came from Rosemary Richardson.

Hethersett Athletic Under-15s scored a good 3-2 win over Firside with Ryan O’Sullivan on target twice and Adam Buffin scoring his first goal for the club. The Under-11s beat Costessey 5-2 with a hat-trick from Will Foster. Their other goals came from James Burton and Toby Peres.

The Under-13s went down 4-2 at Hellesdon (Ford and Springall) and the Under-12s lost 5-0 at Costessey. All other club games were postponed.

This Saturday the Under-15 Girls are home to Firside Foxes (Spooner Row 10 a,m) and the Under-11 Girls are home to Dereham (Easton College 10 a.m).

On Sunday the Men’s Reserves visit Ketts Tavern, the Men’s A are home to Norfolk County Council (Memorial Field 10.30 a.m). The Under-16s are home to Drayton (Memorial Field 2 p.m), the Under-15s visit Heigham Park, the Under-14s are home to Blofield (Old Hall School 10.30) in the League Cup Quarter-Finals, the Under-13s visit Lakeford, the Under-12s play Fakenham (Old Hall School 2 p.m), the Under-11s visit Taverham, the Under-10s play Costessey and Norman on the Memorial Playing Field (2 p.m) and the Under-9A team play Dereham at Poringland in the quarter-finals of their League Cup competition.