Crane 2 Norwich City III 4

Division 4NE

Crane 2 Norwich City III 4

Crane relinquished the top spot in the league, which they had occupied since early in the season, and now face a battle to ensure promotion out of this league.

Despite comfortably winning the earlier fixture this season, Crane knew they were in for a game as City were the form team of the division and so it proved as City dominated proceedings.

Ultimately this was a game lost through collective failure to use the ball, and individual errors in concentration. City were happy to push six men onto the Crane defence and, while this would normally play into Cranes hands and allow them to play swift counter attacking hockey, the spark was missing and City converted their chances while Crane failed to make any.

City scored twice after good work down the right and it was only Craig Bloomfield's penalty corner strike that kept the visitors in it. The outcome might have been different had Aiden Bloomfield finished his mazy run right at the start of the second half.

The scores remained the same for most of the second half before an action packed last seven minutes saw City extend their lead only for the Bloomfield brothers to combine well and Bristow to finish from close range to keep Crane in the hunt. The hopes of levelling were quickly dashed as a retaken penalty stroke from the City skipper ended the contest.