Impetus’ Darrell Allen provides his weekly round-up of all the women’s football action in Norfolk (15/11/22).
Above: Ellie Smith who scored Norwich City’s opening goal and won Player of the Match in their win against Enfield Town in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup First Round. Photo: Norwich City Women FC.
Main Match of the Week
Thetford Town 7-2 Bungay Town
Thetford Town produced a wonderful display of attacking football to come from 2-0 down and comprehensively thrash Bungay Town at Mundford Road.
Bungay Town thought they were in charge of the game as Selina Rowland scored a brace to give them a two-goal lead but Chelsea Page crucially halved the deficit before the interval before second-half braces from Laura Martins and Kerby Colgan plus further goals from Rebecca White and Rachel Lynch saw Thetford claim a stunning win.
It wasn’t all plain sailing though as like in their previous home match against the University of East Anglia, Thetford started sloppily and Bungay sensed their opportunity to pounce on their hosts.
Bungay Town captain Charnelle Riggall had the first shot at goal before Selina Rowland pounced and finished beyond Millie Askins in the Thetford Town goal to give the visitors the lead inside two minutes.
It wasn’t long before Bungay did double their advantage as Rowland beat the offside trap and was one on one with Askins with only one outcome expected as the experienced Rowland calmly slotted past Askins.
Thetford were urged by their bench of David Skipp, Stuart Terry, and Amber Browne were ordered to lift it. The team responded to the cries in stunning fashion.
Chelsea Page was first on the Thetford scoresheet as she finished emphatically on 26 minutes to half the deficit at the break.
David Skipp introduced Laura Martins to the stage at half time and what followed was poetry in motion. Laura lit up the park and produced one of the greatest individual football performances I have ever witnessed.
First, she glided brilliantly with some wonderful footwork down the left to find Rebecca White who precisely shot home to level the scores.
Then, nine minutes later, a perfectly placed header from Martins that completed the turnaround to give Thetford the lead for the first time in the afternoon.
That was followed by Martins’ best moment as she danced around three defenders before curling a brilliant shot over the keeper to make the lead comfortable. It will be remembered for a while at Mundford Road.
Martins, brings an energy and enthusiasm for football that is contagious, the crowd is on the edge of their seat watching her and the other players bounce off her dynamic ability and talent.
Next up, Thetford defender Rachel Lynch decided she wanted to be involved in the headlines again and when a free kick was won on the left in the most impossible angle. Lynch decided to put the ball down, signal to the crowd she was going to score before curling an incredible free kick right down the centre of the goal, over the keeper’s head, and in before turning to the crowd to lap up the plaudits. This was just outrageous, the audacity, the cheek, and confidence as the centre-back made it three goals in three league starts this season.
Due to the luxurious position Thetford found themselves in, manager David Skipp was able to introduce new striker Kerby Colgan for her debut who scored two thunderous goals in the final stages of the game to add further gloss with goals six and seven to complete an incredible day at Mundford Road.
For Thetford, this was their fifth straight win in all competitions, and life is just brilliant for the club right now as they sit second in the table riding a crest of a wave however they will be aware they cannot keep allowing teams head starts every week.
For Bungay Town, a fantastic first half, followed by a calamitous second but in what is a rebuilding year for the club, they will win more games than they lose and achieve their target comfortably of staying in the league this season.
Teams: THETFORD TOWN: Askins, Levy-Twomey, Klimicke, Omeleviciute, Lynch, Musgrove, Corbyn, Boulton, White, Page, Bambury. Substitutes: Lloyd, Howard, Martins, Colgan.
Scorers: Martins (2), Colgan (2), Page, White, Lynch.
BUNGAY TOWN: Flatman, Renwick, Walker, Serghiou, Galer, Purling, Flatt, Riggall, Hood, Rowland, Goulder, Subs: Leeks, Fenn, Hazell.
Scorers: Rowland (2)
Referee: Paul Gibson
Attendance: 120
Norfolk Wrap
Women’s FA Cup First Round
Tier Four Norwich City recorded a 2-0 victory over Enfield Town from the division below thanks to goals from Ellie Smith and Megan Todd.
Tier Five King’s Lynn Town were comprehensively beaten 12-0 by FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Divisions. Billericay Town. The team from two leagues above eased through asZoe Rushen scored four with Sophie Mcclean getting a brace with further goals coming from Jess King, Beau Parker, Charlotte O’Shea, Jay Blackie, Holly Turner, and Che Thomas.
Tier Seven Mulbarton Belles put up a brave fight but were defeated 8-1 by tier three Milton Keynes. A wonderful goal by Sophie Jermy was the highlight for the Norfolk side with MK goals coming from a Mollie Coupar hat-trick, a brace from Lucy Wood plus further goals from Nicole Pepper, Amy Mclean, and Laura Mitchell.
Eastern Region League Cup First Round
In an all-tier Six affair, Fakenham Town won a thrilling cup tie 3-2 over Lawford after extra time. The game went to an extra half hour after Chloe Gravett and Vicky Lubbock scored for Fakenham Town with Georgia Box and Sam Elliot scoring for Lawford. It was Sophie Lubbock who then won it for Fakenham Town.
Norfolk Women and Girls League Division One
A single goal from Georgia Belton was enough to give Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers an important away win at Sprowston in a game they had to work very hard to win.
University of East Anglia continued their fine start to their inaugural season in Division One by beating Beccles Town 5-1, four goals from Freya Fuller plus a goal from Cassandra Piejko secured the win with Lola Barber King scoring for Beccles.
Caister recorded a much-needed victory with a 5-0 away win at Stalham Town thanks to braces from Olivia Broughton and Beth Turner with Leanne Muffett scoring the other.
Norfolk Women and Girls League Division Two
Gorleston secured a fine 9-0 home win over Freethorpe thanks to braces from Hazel Saddington, Megan Bartlett, and Mary Croft with Kelsi Adams, Rebecca Waters, and Joana Patrica Da Cunha Teixeira scoring the others.
FC Viking Valkyries won a thrilling game at Horsford thanks to goals from Paige Hill, Chloe Ward, and Faye Albarn with Horsford goals coming from a Robyn Nash brace.
King’s Lynn Soccer Club were 5-0 winners over Bulldogs FC thanks to a hat-trick from Jordan Turner, a goal from Lucy Clarke, and an own goal.
Aylsham were 4-0 winners at North Walsham thanks to a brace from Hannah Claughton and Brooke Osborne and Carly Allum also finding the scoresheet.
Thorpe St. Andrew were 8-2 winners at Shrublands thanks to four goals from Abi Simmons, a brace from Poppy Le-Beau, and other goals from Rebecca Sutton and Natasha Frankland. Shrublands had Rachel Adams and Lacey Andrews to thank for their goals.
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