Norwich Dragons (A)

Game Week 1 beckoned for an unusually under-prepared and disorganised NNHC men's 1st team...With the captain promptly selected on Tuesday and the half complete line-up confirmed on Thursday it was very much a wait and see fixture away at Norwich Dragons 2nds.

With the sun beating down on the dry AstroTurf players began to emerge from their summer slumbers, one-by-one the dragged their weary booze ridden legs onto the field, with a Sadler-Barker pushing time to it's limits sparing all but a few minutes to the first whistle!

Familiar faces, returning silouhettes and bright shiny new youngsters, both Leon and Arek were handed fully fledged debuts for the 1sts albeit Leon's was a revived debut between the sticks!

The season underway NNHC looks bright distributing the ball well around the pitch with skipper Sayer starting from a much deeper CB role commanding play...Returning brothers in Bear and Madeye looked menacing and reminded us all what they can bring to the fold! A midfield trio of Miles, Sadler-Barker and Whitby did well to control possession in the earlier stages and feed Ash Green and Farmer-Wright up the left and right flanks respectively and Cox the shining diamond at the top!

Early chances came and went, and a perfectly hit shot from Cox couldn't have been more sweet so much so he reeled away in early celebration only to see a cruel late summer's breeze push the bullet ball into the post...Dragons let off this time, but NNHC were unrelenting, Mad Eye regaining possession in a torrid fashion meant Dragons had to make do with the little possession they could have around the halfway line...Dragons held firm and it was only the fortune of Farmer-Wright with an unbelievably poor miss-flick that somehow found its way between keeper and post that broke their rigour.

1-0 to the good at half-time a hard working NNHC held a well earned lead and hardworking left and right backs Phil Hall and Bear could grab a well earned drink!

The second half saw a sleepy NNHC under pressure unable to see much possession in the Dragons half, but some stellar defending and some incredible saves from debutant Leon meant NNHC held their lead...It was only a audacious challenge from Sadler-Barker that was suspectly viewed and a flick was cruelly awarded...Leon could do little against a perfectly taken flick from a Dragon that had fallen from favour in their top flight!

NNHC awkened, not wanting to drop any points on the opening day...With Miles and Cox driving hard at the opposition...And for all their hard work Miles became the Sadio Mané to Farmer-Wright's Mohammed Salah and F-W selfishly looked bleary-eyed towards the league's top goalscorer award!

Arek looked to terrorise down the left flank and linked up well in his debut...For all NNHC's hard work finally a short corner was awarded...The old faithful moves were called upon and of course Hendo's nose was number one on the list, executed perfectly their was a moment of slow motion as the realisation hit that somehow someone had cleared off the line, but not for Salder-Barker who did not hesitate to follow up and sweep home for 1 in 1!

NNHC worked hard to see out the game, there was little blood a lot of sweat and whilst unconfirmed I'm sure there will have been a few tears tonight!

Congratulations to the men's 1's for getting off to a winning start, a special well done and congratulations to Leon and Arek for fantastic debuts and a warm welcome back to Mad Eye and Bear and of course all our returning 1's...Here's to an enjoyable season!!