Premier BNorwich City 5 Colchester 3Colchester suffered their second successive away defeat to Norwich City. Colchester welcomed back Tom Philp into the side, along with Mark Harris who had recovered from concussion suffered in training last week.

Premier B

Norwich City 5 Colchester 3

Colchester suffered their second successive away defeat to Norwich City.

Colchester welcomed back Tom Philp into the side, along with Mark Harris who had recovered from concussion suffered in training last week.

It was the home side that started the stronger as they pressed forward. Colchester were indebted to Liam Phillips in the Colchester goal after the keeper saved well from close range.

Norwich continued to press and again came close, this time Matt Low clearing off the line after the Norwich forward hand rounded Phillips.

It wasn't long before Norwich had taken the lead. A cross from the right found the forward unmarked in the 'D' before slapping the ball home from close range.

Norwich's lead was not to last long. Tim Wright picked the ball up inside the Norwich half, before finding Lloyd Dennis at the top of the 'D', Dennis' pass found Matt Brown on the penalty spot, whose finish found the back of the net.

Norwich however continued to press forward and were once again in the lead. A penalty corner to the hosts resulted in a shot from the penalty spot, which gave Phillips no chance.

Colchester were not out of the game and Brown had two further chances in the first half to bring Colchester back level, however it was not to be and the half ended 2-1 to the hosts.

Wayne Masters, the Colchester skipper, called for patience in attack as they looked to a get a foothold back in the match.

Colchester began the second half in the ascendancy and were pushing for the equalising goal, however a quick break-away by Norwich lead to a penalty corner, a slip right and strike found the bottom corner, out of Phillips' reach.

Colchester were not disheartened and soon had a goal to show for their early second half endeavours.

A penalty corner was awarded to the visitors, with Matt Low stepping up to drill a thunderbolt of a shot past the home keeper.

Colchester wasted no time in getting back on level terms when another penalty corner to the visitors found its way back to the injector Mark Thorogood who fired home.

Colchester were unlucky not to go ahead for the first time when Dennis had his stick baulked as he was about to ball into an empty net, a penalty corner awarded rather than a penalty stroke.

Norwich then regained the lead completely against the run of play. A speculative hit from the half way line found its way through the heart of the Colchester defence, where a deflection by the Norwich forward found its way past Phillips.

Colchester then saw the 'angry man' for the second match running as Michael Pearce got his stick tangled with one of the opposition, before ripping his stick through and sending his opponents stick flying through the air.

Colchester still pressed forward in search of another equalising goal, with Norwich on the back foot again, however Norwich extended the lead in the dying moments on one of their few attacks in the half.

Liam Phillips went down early as the Norwich forward fired his reverse stick shot over the stricken keeper.

Hills Residential Man of the Match was Lloyd Dennis for his good running and high work rate in attack.