Darrell Allen delivers his final round-up of the women’s football action in Norfolk with coverage of the final two games of the season, with contributions from Tony Allen. (1/6/23).
Above: Caister completed a successful season with a 5-2 victory over the University of East Anglia on Sunday. Photo: SG Photography.
Norfolk Women and Girls’ League Division One
Caister 5-2 University of East Anglia
Caister finished their season on a high with an impressive 5-2 victory over the University of East Anglia (UEA) at The Allendale. A Bethany Turner hat-trick as well as goals from Poppy Loveland and Rebecca Waters saw Matthew Smith’s side claim a comfortable victory.
Caister were the dominant team through the contest as Bethany Turner and Poppy Loveland had early chances before UEA took the lead when a stunning cross from Rachel Lawrence was well-finished by Freya Standing. However, UEA were caught straight from the kick-off as a long ball to Bethany Turner saw the scores level within a minute.
Caister continued to be the better side but it was UEA who scored next when Rachel Lawrence’s shot cannoned off the post and into the net.
A carbon copy of the hosts’ first goal happened from the kick-off again as Caister made it 2-2 within a minute, a ball direct to Turner who blasted in for her second of the afternoon.
In a pulsating first half, Turner completed her hat-trick when she received the ball and danced around UEA goalkeeper Anoushka Williamson before slotting the ball home.
UEA, who were without many regular players due to the students’ examination period, battled on bravely as Lucy Gooding captained the team in her final game for the club before returning back home after her time at the university.
It was only Caister who looked like scoring in the second half and they did just that as Poppy Loveland struck a stunning fourth before Rebecca Waters added a fifth to complete a comfortable win for the hosts.
As a result, Caister and UEA finish the season level on 19 points with UEA higher due to a superior head-to-head record: the 7-1 victory over Caister earlier in the season secured them seventh ahead of Caister in one place below them. But both sides will be pleased with a good season seeing them staying comfortably in Division One after their first season at this level.
Norfolk Women and Girls’ League Division Two
North Walsham Town 9-0 FC Viking Valkyries
North Walsham Town rounded off a fantastic season in Division Two with a stunning 9-0 win at home to FC Viking Valkyries. Four goals from Rhiannon Holt, a hat-trick from Kiera Brown plus strikes from Grace Monsey and Paige Samwell saw the hosts claim a more-than-comfortable win.
After a cagey opening five minutes, North Walsham Town dominated the half. Rhiannon Holt scored the opener – a touch of Maradona’s 1986 classic against England as she went past three defenders before finishing hard and low into the net.
Kiera Brown’s hat trick began with a well-timed run and a good finish. A collision between Stella Fletch-Helps and the Vikings’ goalkeeper which saw both players leave the field meant the Vikings were then down to ten players.
After which, Brown added her second and North Walsham’s third, a nice move up the pitch from the team as Brown then received beat two defenders and scored. Despite the injury to Fletcher-Helps, North Walsham continued to play outstanding football.
Brown completed her hat-trick after a nice move started by Leah Carroll-Mileham: Brown received the ball and jinked past two defenders and scored to put Walsham 4-0 ahead.
Before the halftime break, there was time for Paige Samwell to add a fifth as she put away a rebound after Holt hit the underside of the bar with a shot.
FC Vikings Valkyries stand-in goalkeeper Chelsea-Louise Gladding made some fine saves to prevent the score being more than 5-0 at half time before Cerys Nicholas took over the goalkeeping duties for the second half.
North Walsham made several halftime substitutes introducing some of this season’s U16 squad for their first team debuts.
Grace Monsey made it 6-0 with a fantastic finish from distance and again hit the post as the hosts kept looking for more goals through the game.
Vikings went down to nine after a nasty looking off-the-ball knee injury and the game was turning into something of a training exercise for North Walsham and there was time for plenty more goals to be added.
Holt decided she wanted to be the star as she curled in an extraordinary effort, whilst, for the eighth, Brown hit the post then Holt was there to follow it for her hat-trick.
Holt made it four for herself and nine for North Walsham as she finished a good ball across from substitute Emily Hayes.
The emphatic victory completes a very successful season for North Walsham Town as they finish the season fourth.
impetusfootball.org 