Impetus‘ Darrell Allen provides his weekly round-up of all the women’s football action in Norfolk (7/10/22).
Above: Samara Nche (9), scorer of a hat-trick for King’s Lynn Town in their FA Cup Second Qualifying Round win at Thetford Town. Photo: Richard Brown.
Main Match of the Week
Thetford Town 1-4 Kings Lynn Town
King’s Lynn Town progressed to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup with an eventually comfortable win at Mundford Road.
A Hat-trick from Samara Nche and a goal from new signing Chelsea Clarke was enough to send King’s Lynn through although they were made to work for it.
Thetford had their best-attacking chances early in the first half as Laura Martins forced an early save from Lynn goalkeeper Alice Collins after being brought down by Lily Porter to win the free kick.
There was a further chance for the hosts when Melissa Boulton found herself with the ball after the referee played a good advantage following Laura Martins being fouled but Boulton could only fire her shot over the crossbar.
Martins looked lively all afternoon for Thetford as she has done all season since her arrival in the summer and she fired over the bar from a corner.
Thetford paid for not taking an early chance when on the half-hour mark Nche fired past Amber Browne after a fine individual run to open the scoring and give King’s Lynn the lead at the break.
Kings Lynn started the second half slowly and Thetford sensed their opportunity when Zoe Klimcke fired a shot which came off both posts and this then found its way into the net to spark wild scenes at Mundford Road.
Thetford Town of the Tier Seven Norfolk Women and Girls League Division One, making their first-ever appearance in the FA Cup were roared on by a three-figure crowd in the sunshine as the players did the club proud against their opponents King’s Lynn from two tiers higher in the Eastern Region Premier Division.
The Thetford goal seemed to spark the visitors into life as super sub Chelsea Clarke on her debut after signing from Wymondham Town, hit a rocket past Browne a minute later from the edge of the box to restore the visitors’ lead.
With 20 minutes left on the clock, Nche then was found a delightful through ball and slotted calmly past Browne to put the game beyond Thetford.
Nche completed her hat trick with three minutes remaining after linking well with Amy Magnus and then firing past Browne into the net to round off the scoring.
King’s Lynn Town with an eventual safe passage into the third qualifying round, will now host Hitchin Belles to The Walks on Sunday 23rd October.
For Thetford Town, this was the defeat they expected, but they can be proud they made a club from two divisions higher work so hard for their win and this will only provide encouragement for the future league matches.
Teams: THETFORD TOWN: Browne, Levy-Twomey, Omeleviciute, Klimcke, Hardie, Martins, Howard, Rogers, Boulton, Bambury, Webb. Substitutes: Lloyd, Page, Richardson, Howard, Mae-Davies, Knight.
Scorer: Klimcke.
KING’S LYNN TOWN: Collins, Cropley, Burch, Rawlings, Peeling, Powell, Hopkins, Porter, Nche, Ford, Magnus. Substitutes: Clarke, Dack, Freeman, Davis, Skinner, Sands, Clarke.
Scorers: Nche (3), Clarke.
Referee: Craig Ellis.
Attendance: 107.
Norfolk Wrap
FA Women’s National League Division One South East
Norwich City maintained their unbeaten start to the season in Tier Four with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Hounslow. Braces from Kathryn Stanley and Ellie Smith as well as strikes from Megan Todd, Olivia Cook, and Ella Gambell saw the Canaries take a comfortable three points.
Wymondham Town‘s trip to AFC Wimbledon was postponed due to lack of player availability for Wymondham Town.
FA Cup Second Qualifying Round
Tier Five Wroxham from the Eastern Region Premier Division negotiated a tricky-looking trip to Tier Six Lawford winning 4-1 thanks to goals from Jess Horn and a hat trick from Hannah Waters. Annalise Ryan with the goal for Lawford.
Tier Six Fakenham Town were made to sweat by Tier Seven Beccles Town with Fakenham running out eventual 3-2 winners. A brace from Chloe Gravett and a goal from Nicole Costin saw Fakenham Town progress.
Tier Seven Mulbarton Belles were 5-1 winners at Stanway Rovers from the Essex County League thanks to a brace from Rebekah Lake and goals from Ellie Hunter, Molly Ryan and Analise Smith.
Tier Seven Bungay Town were comprehensively beaten 10-0 at home by Tier Five AFC Sudbury, Four goals for Holly Kennard, a hat trick for Alex Penny, a brace for Sophie Jeffers and Caitlyn Charles with the other completed an emphatic away win.
In the day’s final FA Cup game, Sprowston and Brett Vale played out a thrilling 2-2 draw. Rosie Milligan and Anais Winney scoring for Sprowston with Tarnya McKew and Kirby King scoring for Brett Vale. The game went to penalties with Sprowston winning 6-5 with, 16-year-old Lois King the hero sending Sprowston into the third qualifying round.
Norfolk Women and Girls League Division One
Long Stratton were the day’s headline makers in Tier Seven with a stunning 4-2 win at Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers. Luci Middleton netting all four goals for Long Stratton with a Shanice Sutton brace for the hosts.
Due to the FA Cup action, there was only one other Tier Seven game which saw the University of East Anglia beat Caister 7-1. Braces from Ella Burnley and Freya Fuller and further goals from Rachel Lawrence, Cassandra Piejko, and Lucy Wright saw UEA claim a big win. Bethany Turner was on target for Caister.
Norfolk Women and Girls League Division Two
Blofield United won a thrilling game 4-3 over FC Viking Valkyries. A Lola Eadie Hat-Trick and further strikes from Lucy Schug secured the points with Molly Howes, Cerys Nicholas, and Chloe Ward replying for Valkyries.
King’s Lynn Soccer Club claimed an impressive 3-0 away win at Mulbarton Wanderers Reserves thanks to a Jordan Turner hat-trick.
North Walsham Town beat Horsford 7-0 thanks to a brace from Rio Dobbie and other goals from Ella Cattermole, Charlotte Hardingham, Rhiannon Holt, Paige Samwell, and Lucy Taylor. In the day’s final game, Thorpe St Andrew beat Bulldogs 7-1 at home thanks to a hat-trick from Abi Simmons with Jennifer Brown, Jennifer Brown, Tabitha Mileham, Sarah Rooke, and Rebecca Sutton scoring for Thorpe St Andrew with Niamh Underhill getting the goal for Bulldogs.
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