Cranes 4 Norwich Dragons III 2

NE14Hockey East Men's League

Division Four North East

Cranes 4

Norwich Dragons III 2

CRANES dominated this match against a stronger than expected Dragon's side and despite all of Crane's forward line getting on the score sheet, they may have expected to win by a more comfortable margin. Cranes started very brightly, Phill Larbey, finding left wing Robin Johnson regularly from the back and Johnson was causing all sorts of problems for the Dragons defence.

It wasn't long before he made the breakthrough, a fine individual effort that saw him ride several scything challenges before finding himself face to face with the keeper and calmly finishing.

Cranes doubled their lead shortly afterwards, another individual effort from skipper Andy Bristow who took the long way around the Dragon's backline before firing in.

This was due pay back for an horrendous tackle on Bristow moments earlier that had left him in a bloody heap and the aggressor getting away with only a green card - a disgraceful decision. Johnson soon grabbed his second, albeit with a touch of good fortune in the build up when Andy McManus' centre fell kindly for him to drill past the goalkeeper. Dragons won a flick from a penalty corner blocked on the line which they squeezed in to make the scoreline 3-1 at half time.

A couple of minor adjustments at half time brought Nick Tiley-Nunn and Andel Williams into the game in midfield and Cranes were dominant throughout the half. This culminated in Andel Williams' brilliant solo run to set up Paul Muchal to make the scoreline 4-1 and it was game over. A mix up in defence allowed Dragons to claw another back but the result was never in doubt. With five games remaining in the season Cranes are in command of their own destiny as they sit top of their league.