Pelicans begin 2025 with derby defeat

Pelicans finally got their 2025 and the second half of their season in the Premier Division underway with a derby defeat at home to Dereham.Following on from last week’s postponement, it did not go as planned as they found themselves on the wrong end of a narrow 2-1 scoreline.It’s fair to say their performance in the first half was scrappy with their passing and first touch proving to be quite tricky on a few occasions.The best chances for the home side in the first half fell to their captain Sam Phillips whose shot flashed wide of the post and the unlikely sauce of Sam Major who found himself, unusually in acres of space in the Dereham circle but just missed getting a crucial touch on pass which was fired into him.Dereham offered very little going forward throughout the 70 minutes but they came with a game plan, stuck to it and were rewarded.They opened the scoring from a penalty corner before adding a second goal on the break before half-time.The second half saw Pelicans much more solid at the back with Iain Page, Jason Esser and Chris Page looking solid. They also offered more in attack and on another day half chances that fell to Sam Landles, Toby Phillips and Dan Rix would have found the net. Clearer chances for Jacob Craig and Kirwin Christoffels came and went before George Van Aalst was set up by his captain Phillips, who showed some composure and finished well.In the reverse fixture earlier in the season the teams had shared 10 goals in a thrilling 5-5 draw.Despite being 4-1 up in that game, Pelicans needed a last-minute leveller from Christoffels to nick a point and lightning almost struck twice when a short corner in the last minute fell to Craig whose shot lacked the power to trouble the Dereham goalkeeper. Pelicans will look to right these wrongs in the first of back-to-back long away trips as they face Upminister on Saturday.Pelicans MoM sponsored by 4Way: Jason Esser.