Colchester 7 Norwich City II 3

Division One

Colchester 7 Norwich City II 3

COLCHESTER maintained their push for promotion with a well- deserved victory against bottom side Norwich City. Colchester came into the game looking for an improved performance from the previous week.

Colchester started the game well, putting their visitors on the back foot. There was wave after wave of wave of Colchester attack. Colchester showed some good play as they worked the ball out of defence to Chris Rich on the left hand side. Rich drove down the left and into the 'D' where he was fouled to give the hosts a Penalty Corner. With Matt Brown making no mistake in firing a dragflick low to the goalkeeper's right.

Colchester continued to press forward in such of more openings. However a lack of cohesion meant that chances often came to nothing. Colchester's difficulties increased when Norwich equalised from a penalty corner.

Colchester had regained the lead before half-time with Rohan Khaira sweeping the ball home after good work from James Logan. With the half drawing to a close Chris Rich was sent to yhe sin-bin for a stick tackle.

At half-time the Colchester coach called for the team to play more as a team and stick to the basics, and they delivered. With Rich back on the pitch Colchester began to dominate. Matt Brown added his second goal of the match, with another dragflick, this time going to the goalkeepers right.

Colchester's fourth goal came moments later when Chris Rich was allowed to dribble the ball into the 'D' and unleashed an unstoppable reverse stick shot from the top of the 'D'. Colchester were looking rampant and soon further extended their advantage. Rich was once again fouled in the 'D' and Brown for the third time stepped up to dragflick the ball into the goal.

Colchester allowed their visitors a glimmer of hope when Norwich converted another Penalty Corner to make the score 5-2. This just pushed Colchester on and had soon added to their goal tally once again. Brian Barker scoring from close range after another good run from Chris Rich.

James Logan scored Colchester's final goal, bundling the ball home from close range. The goal scoring was completed when a Norwich shot was deflected by Matt Brown past Jason Wilkins.

Brown's eventful afternoon was completed when he received a harsh yellow card for tripping a Norwich forward as he made a tackle.

Colchester will be hoping they can keep the goalscoring exploits up when they face fellow promotion hopefuls Bury St Edmund next week.