Mulbarton Belles 0-2 Wymondham Town
By Darrell Allen at Carrow Road (26/5/22).
With EXCLUSIVE photos from pitchside by Hannah Parnell.
Above: Wymondham Town celebrate with the Norfolk Women’s Cup last night. Photo: Hannah Parnell for Impetus.
Wymondham Town produced a clinical and professional display to see off Mulbarton Belles and win the Norfolk Women’s Cup for the third time.
A goal in each half from Laura Nicholls and Natasha Youngs saw the favourites take the trophy home.
The game played at Norwich City’s Carrow Road in front of a record crowd, saw tier five champions Wymondham Town from the Eastern Region Premier Division play tier seven champions Mulbarton Belles of Norfolk Women and Girls League Division One.
Mulbarton started the game brightest retaining possession well in the initial phases of the contest and looking to try and find their prolific captain and goalscorer Rebekah Lake up top.
It was remarkable that Lake was even playing after recently suffering a broken arm.
After a quiet opening few minutes, Wymondham began to get in their groove as Hannah Waters played in Kyla Love but it was superbly dealt with by the Mulbarton defence and the danger averted.
Mulbarton responded with Alanta Griffith’s superb curling effort that was saved by Chloe Pearce in the Wymondham goal.
Ellie Hunter was next to look lively with some excellent closing down as Mulbarton did well to prevent Wymondham playing how they wanted to in the first half.
Wymondham came close again when Chelsea Clarke’s corner came off the top of the bar and away to danger.
A like-for-like change for the favourites followed when they lost Hannah Waters to injury and she was to be replaced by Laura Nicholls.
It didn’t take Nicholls long to impact on the game as she received an inch-perfect pass from Katie Knights before slotting home past Cara Anderson in the Mulbarton goal.
The Mulbarton heads continued to stay in a positive frame of mind as Lake found her way past the Wymondham backline again but this time Wymondham’s captain got rid of any risk.
Mulbarton missed a golden opportunity when Sophie Jermy delivered a corner and Alanta Griffith headed wide.
Wymondham penalty appeals were then turned away by referee Andrew Wilson when Newcombe crossed and Lincoln was under suspicion but referee Wilson was content no rules had been broken.
Before the interval, there was time for Griffith to find the side netting but Wymondham held their single goal lead at the break.
Wymondham found a second goal following a terrific team move started by Mary Croft who found Clarke on the left who found Youngs to volley home inside the box.
Clarke then had a thunderous shot wide as Wymondham looked to try and add to their tally but without success.
Despite being two goals behind Mulbarton continued to stick to their job and looked to get back in the game, roared on by approximately two-thirds of the 959 crowd.
They had three half chances. First, Alice Smith had a shot from distance which Pearce dealt with well. Jermy then found Griffith but her shot was scuffed. The final opportunity saw
Hunter got her feet in a pickle in front of goal and was unable to get her shot away.
Five minutes of stoppage time were added which saw Wymondham run the clock down through the duration of this period to run out 2-0 winners.
You have to applaud Wymondham. Their manager Alex Guy told everyone at the beginning of the season they were going for the Eastern Region Premier Division Title, the Eastern Region League Cup, and the Norfolk Women’s Cup they have delivered exactly to their targets and won all three. Guy is an astute operator and he and his players and staff have delivered in spectacular fashion this season for themselves and the town.
As for Mulbarton Belles, a season of incredible progression once more led by Martin Francis. Beaten comfortably 7-0 by Norwich City in this same final last year this time giving Wymondham from two leagues above a great game. They will be hoping to make it third time lucky next season.
Player of the Match: Katie Knights (Wymondham Town)
Further EXCLUSIVE ACTION SHOTS FROM HANNAH PARNELL:
Teams: MULBARTON BELLES: Anderson, Mcnorton, Mungham-Gray, Smith, Belsey, Hedtke, Hunter, Lake, Lincoln Jermy, Griffith. Substitutes: Belsey, Smith, Smith, Anderton, Ryan.
WYMONDHAM TOWN: Pearce, Kett, Newcombe, Croft, Youngs, Clarke, Waters, Russell, Love, Knights, Codman. Substitutes: Kindred, Catchpole, Nicholls, Studd, Luff.
Scorers: Nicholls, Youngs.
Referee: Andrew Wilson.
Attendance: 959.
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