Heigham v Hillside FC

Only three games left in the league including this clash at Recreation Road. Hillside have always put up a strong fight against us, although we beat them at their ground early in the season 4 - 2.

Heigham started off with a 3-at-the-back defence formation of Sam, Max and Frankie who took a few minutes to get into their stride allowing a couple of Hillside attacks to worry Ted in goal. Heigham soon countered with Aidan getting a shot on goal with the ball deflecting off the bar from the resulting corner.

Archie R had two shots soon after with the first saved by the effective goalie and the second sent sailing over the bar.

Arthur managed to break the deadlock with a goal from close range into the bottom left corner. Heigham celebrated too easily and were found off guard as Hillside broke through and equalised from the resulting kick-off.

Heigham kept up the attacking pace and were unlucky not get another one before the halftime whistle as the Hillside keeper stopped another of Aidan's shots on the line.

Halftime biccies and a change of formation. For the second half Felix partnered Frankie in a two man defence with Aidan staying in the middle, joined by Arthur to right and Sol on the left. Archie R was instructed to stay upfield.

The second half was a different game (two halves?). Maybe the change around had caused the desired confusion with the visitors. Virtually all of the play was at the Hillside end with Sol playing an excellent job on the left of the pitch.

The attacks were relentless but the ball would not find the net, much to the forwards dismay. Time was running out and we were looking at a draw (this happened twice last season against Hillside) but the players kept up the pressure. Ted had little to do, except on two possible occasions, as the defence expertly kept the play moving in the right direction.

Eventually the fine, passing play came to fruition and Arthur found the back of the net - via the post, for the second time. It was a long time coming.

Hillside didn't look like equalising again and their goalie had work to do. Aidan fired a high shot in from distance that he couldn't deal with, however, and Heigham came away with a 3 - 1 victory.

Another spirited and determined performance with every member playing their part. The stakes raised next week though in the cup quarter final as we visit Poringland again - who have just beaten Hindolveston 5 - 2 and the Corinthians 3 - 2. Time to think about tactics.

Heigham Park v Lighthouse & ENYP

Another brilliant, sunny and nearly warm (the woolly hat was off!) morning. The fixture we were supposed to play against Heartsease had to be cancelled so the Lighthouse (from Sheringham) fixture was brought forward from 8 March to give the team a competitive game followed by a friendly against ENYP.

Lighthouse had six players available so we matched them with six of ours; Evie in goal, a lone, last man in defence - Frankie, Fynn right and Luke left, Max in midfield and Archie G up front. Heigham started of in a very shaky fashion, although we had most of the play at the Lighthouse half and the team passed the ball around well - Lighthouse were able to break through leaving the last man exposed on several occasions.

Eventually Lighthouse got clear though after Frankie slipped and the Heigham wingers were elsewhere and took the lead before half time. This despite one of their players being clearly not of this league (possibly an under 8?).

Felix came on for the second half on the left and Luke moved to the right. Some better moves were made and the wingers and midfield covered the defence better than the first half.

Heigham managed an equaliser from Archie G due to constant pressure, although the build up was not pretty. A second from Archie G came and put us in the lead. Our third came from a decent strike from Felix on the left to edge us into a win, 3 - 1 - although not one of our best performances! The result keeps Heigham Park third in the Christian league with a couple of games in hand.

For the second game, Gabriel donned the goalies gloves, Evie came into a defensive partnership with Mark, Frankie moved to midfield, Luke and Fynn were back on the left and right and Archie G was again, up front.

Heigham soon had the measure of this side and were attacking from the off. Some clever play with great thought and accuracy ensued, but the ball would not go in the net - mainly as ENYP were defending with most of their team (see below).

The breakthrough came from Luke's determination down the left side, followed soon after by his second - nifty back-heel in front of goal. From here the Heigham side found their stride with the players controlling the game.

Frankie's link up work in midfield paid off eventually as he was able send a great shot in from distance.

The pressure stayed on and Fynn's determination on the right brought the fourth from the Heigham side just before halftime, although a winded Archie G was replaced by Luke who was in turn replaced by an eager Felix.

Max came back on after the chocolate Hobnobs were finished, playing up front, and the chances kept coming until his shot stayed below the bar and took it to 5 - 0.

The final goal came from Felix to seal the play at 6 - 0, a deserved result this time with some nice open play and ball possession. Shame there wasn't a third match as the players were now in their stride.

Well done everyone, a nice clean sheet for Gabriel who delivered some great drop kicks up the pitch and for the defence of Mark and Evie who kept the attacks at bay.

The next league games will be tougher than these with fixtures against Brooke and Stoke Holy Cross U10s.

Heigham Park v Cringleford + Stoke Holy Cross U9s

Well the weather certainly wasn't what we'd expected, a nice bit of sunshine if a slightly blustery instead of the forecast heavy showers. First match was against Cringleford who we managed a draw against back in September.

Playing on a smallish 3G pitch, the pace was always going to be fast, and so it proved with neither team able to get possession of the ball for any length of time. Heigham survived many early scares as the ball pinballed around the Stripes goal area.

A flash of proper football from Heigham (possibly the only time in the first half) saw the ball rolled out by Evie to Frankie in right defence, passed through to Archie G who laid it on for Sol who sent it home to give us the lead. Amazing what a good piece of passing can do!

Somehow we hung on to the lead until halftime when Fynn came on to the right and Sol went up front. The midfield of Max and Felix in right defence had plenty to do and Evie kept us ahead a couple of times with strong hands.

Cringleford's break through came from a great lob close to the halfway line that came in at such an angle that Evie had no chance.

The player's battled on making more chances, but the final whistle had gone as Sol put the ball past the keeper. Not a bad performance and a 1 - 1 draw, but possession of the ball is key on these smaller pitches.

Game number two and Gabriel took over in goal with Mark starting in right defence. The Heigham squad soon had the measure of the Stoke U9s and again Sol was in the right place to bag the first goal of the match.

Soon after Felix was able to double the score with Max netting a third from a Frankie set-up. From here the Heigham team dominated with Gabriel getting only a couple of touches until the break, by which time Archie G had put a fourth away.

Evie, Fynn and Luke  replaced Max, Sol and Felix for the second half and as the rain clouds gathered Archie G netted another three before the end of a game played out in a hailstorm. Stoke had pulled one goal back and nearly had another, but the quick acting Heigham defence did their job well.

A 7 - 1 victory for  Heigham Park and four points from two matches putting the side third in the Christian League table with two games in hand. A tougher challenge awaits next Saturday 15 February with a clash against league leaders Stoke U10s. Time to batten down the hatches for that one.

Heigham v Scole Lads

Scole Lads are up against it with only nine matches played (including this one) this season. Apparently, according to an informed source, their groundsman is prone to calling off matches at the drop of a hat if their pitch is damp - and from memory part of their ground is a swamp.

So it was lucky that we were allowed to play the match at Recreation Road with the sports hall out of action due to a gas leak and all other events cancelled until further notice. Persistence pays off, as we found during the game.

Our first encounter with this team saw us get a drubbing. We weren't prepared for their movement and skill (and of course the 10.30 kick off and a 20 mile drive) and were beaten 4 - 1. No excuses this time though. Our pitch was remarkably good with the bright sun over two days drying the surface adequately.

The plan was to try out three defenders as opposed to the two we have always fielded. This would give us strength at the back, but ask more of the two forwards - Arthur and Archie R, and Aidan, who would need to hold the middle ground.

Things started very well with a Heigham goal in the first five minutes from Arthur taking the visitors by surprise. Scole soon countered with their big number 9 causing problems for Frankie in right defence, a deflection off Ted's leg and it was 1 - 1. The teams were well matched so it was unfortunate that their forward got past Max and Sam to get their second.

Heigham were producing some great football and the opposition realised they had a job on their hands. Both Archie R and Arthur came close, but Aidan's run through the middle fed from Archie R's accurate pass just went wide. That would have been such a memorable goal if only.

The visitors scored another before half time and we were in the same position as our last encounter, 3 - 1 down - although we had belief this time and the new formation was holding up with Felix now in left defence and Sam and Max moving to centre and right defence. Release the Hobnobs!

Heigham had the best chances in this half and Ted's goalkeeping was exemplary despite a nasty knock in the gentlemen's area! Heigham pushed and pushed and were rewarded by a great strike from Archie R and we were back in the game.

Fortune smiled on the home side (although it was backed by serious hard work) when the ball was deflected from a Scole player into the net. The boys had pulled it back and nearly had a fourth as a Scole goalie/defender blunder saw the ball heading for the net again, only to spin to a stop just short of the line.

So persistence paid off and we came away with a well earned 3 - 3 draw against one of the toughest sides in the league. Let's hope we can keep the momentum going next week when we take on Poringland in the quarter finals of the Under 10s Cup.