Hethersett Athletic

Hethersett Athletic re-ignited their title chances with a superb second half display that saw them come from behind to beat Quebec Rovers 5-2 and move back into second place in the Norwich Sunday League Premier Division.

As heavy rain fell, the pitch at Britannia Barracks became very slippery, but the visitors used the conditions to their advantage to beat the Quebec offside trap.

At half-time it looked as if Hethersett could be heading towards their third successive league defeat. They opened the scoring after 34 minutes when a bad back pass eluded the Quebec goalkeeper and dropped into the net, but within eight minutes were 2-1 down.

Hethersett cruised into top gear after the break with substitute Mark Appleton turning the match round with a hat-trick inside 20 minutes. Firstly Chris Steele equalised from the penalty spot after Lee Barrett had been fouled. Then Appleton took over. He gave Hethersett the lead after 65 minutes by beating the offside trap and rounding the ‘keeper and then made it 4-2 after 77 minutes when he lobbed the ‘keeper. He rounded off the scoring two minutes from time when he scored with a low cross shot.

Hethersett Athletic are now just one point behind leaders Marlborough. They are without a game this weekend.

Hethersett Athletic Reserves notched their first win of the season when they beat Thorpe Rovers 5-3 with Eastman hitting four goals and the other coming from Paul Martin who was playing his 299^th game for the club. The win takes Hethersett Reserves off the bottom of Division 2A.

Hethersett Athletic A went down 4-2 to Dancing Farmers with their goals coming from Andy Oliver and an own goal. Both the reserves and the A team are also without a game this weekend.

Hethersett Athletic Ladies 4

Peterborough Ladies 1

Hethersett Athletic’s women’s team are reaching for the stars after going top of the Eastern Region Premier Division following a comfortable 4-1 win over fellow title contenders Peterborough.

With the halfway stage in the league programme fast approaching, any one of five teams could win the title and promotion to the South-East Combination which is the third tier of women’s football in the country.

Hethersett are attempting to win the Premier Division at their first attempt after gaining promotion from Division One East last season.

Their latest win took them top of the league ahead of Woodbridge, Haringey Borough, Peterborough and Norwich City.

Midfielder Jodie Rettie opened the scoring early on with a long shot that dipped and eluded the Peterborough ‘keeper. Sophie Fuller doubled Hethersett’s advantage with a fine individual goal to make it 2-0 at half-time.

Nicola Bray made it 3-0 in the second half before Peterborough pulled a goal back. Nicola Stolworthy added a fourth to make sure of the points and top slot.

Hethersett Ladies are a very ambitious team, determined to play at as a high a level as possible:

“We can be proud of what we have already achieved, but this is only the start. We would love to be competing on the national stage. We are already playing in the fourth tier of women’s football, but know we have the players to take us even higher. This is reflected in the fact that a number of our players have already represented the county,” said club chair Peter Steward.

The team is managed jointly by Sue Milne and Tom Parke.

“We have a highly-talented squad of players who are starting to apply themselves to every game and believe they can get to the top. Much of our success is based on togetherness, team spirit and workrate,” Tom Parke said.

The team has recently received £1,000 of sponsorship from Fosters Solicitors that has enabled them to acquire track suites.

This Sunday the team, who play at Easton College, are home to Haverhill Rovers (2 p.m).

Hethersett Athletic Under-12s striker Will Foster took his tally for the season to 24 as his side beat Salhouse 3-1. Foster has hit four hat-tricks in just eight games.

Hethersett Athletic Under-16s bowed out of the County Cup when they made the long journey to play Corinthians and went down 3-0. The Under-15s had a good 6-3 win against Thorpe with four goals for Smith and two for Brookes. The Under-14s went down 5-2 to Norman (Bensley, Smith), the Under-13s lost 7-1 to Norman (Wilcox), the Under-11s beat Salhouse 3-1 (Butcher 2, Mehtab), the Under-10s hammered Watton Wanderers 6-0 (Hugo Barratt 2, Rix 2, Pegg, Joe Barratt) and the Under-9s suffered two defeats, 6-0 against Drayton and 5-2 against Norwich United (White, Jones). This week the Under-16s are home to Horsford on Saturday (Memorial Field 10.30). On Sunday the Under-15s are home to Firside in the League Cup (Memorial Field 2 p.m), the Under-14s visit St Andrew’s in the county cup, the Under-12s are home to Old Catton in the League Cup (Old Hall School 10.30), the Under-11s are home to Hellesdon in the League Cup (Old Hall School 2 p.m), the Under-10A side play Old Catton at Poringland and the Under-10B side are away ro Dereham Wanderers Blues in the league cup.

Hethersett Athletic Girls’ teams found it tough going at the weekend with the Under-15s being overwhelmed 11-0 by North Walsham Angels and the Under-12s going down 5-1 to Norwich City Canaries with their goal coming from Adelaide Mott. This Saturday the Under-15 Girls make the long journey to Clenchwarton and the Under-12s visit Norwich City Canaries.