Darrell Allen rounds up all the weekend’s games for Norfolk’s teams in 11-aside and seven-aside action, with Lucy Chen providing a detailed report of Norwich City’s FA Cup trip to London Seaward (24/10/23).
Above: Norwich City celebrate Shannon Shaw’s opening goal in their 3-1 win at London Seaward in the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round. Photo: Norwich City Women.
London Seaward 1-3 Norwich City
by Lucy Chen at Oakside Stadium
Norwich City traveled to the capital again on Sunday to take on London Seaward in the FA Cup’s final qualifying round. Both sides play in FAWNL Division One South East, and though the visitors are well above the hosts in the standings, Seaward are one of the only two teams to take a point off the Canaries so far this season, having secured a 2-2 draw against the Yellows at the start of September.
The game began with a series of open-ended exchanges as both teams looked to get the ball forward quickly and play on the break. The hosts had the first say when a through ball led to a chance just two minutes in. Norwich City left-back Lauren Tomlinson found herself the only yellow shirt between a Seaward forward and her goalkeeper but managed to clear the ball.
The Canaries looked to respond immediately and Megan Todd released Freya Symonds down the right. Symonds broke forward and fired off a shot that was saved by Seaward goalkeeper Tia Ginn. The rebound landed at Rachel Lawrence’s feet only for Ginn to deny the visitors once more.
The game never truly settled and remained an open-ended affair throughout the half. The absence of Ellie Smith – the Canaries’ player of the 22/23 season – was sorely felt and Todd – normally a wide forward – took her position at the tip of the midfield ahead of Eloise Morran and Katie Knights. Todd, however, is not a creative 10 like Smith, and manager Martin Herdman opted to make up for the missing creativity by doubling down on the high press to force turnovers in dangerous areas.
After several chances, Norwich finally hit the front with 16 minutes played. A bullet throw from Tomlinson found Shannon Shaw inside the box. Shaw’s effort hit the post and the rebound landed back at her feet. She struck the ball again and promptly buried it in the back of the net.
The hosts looked to respond after the restart and a ball in from the right forced a clearance off the line by Alice Parker just two minutes later. The ensuing corner led to a good delivery and a header that went just over the crossbar. The game continued in an end-to-end fashion with Morran releasing Tomlinson down the left flank once more. The cross from Tomlinson was cleared and the chaos that ensued inside the box ended with a flying shot from Knights being saved by Ginn.
While Norwich City continued pressing aggressively, they proved less incisive when playing out from the back. As Seaward maintained a compact shape to protect the center of the pitch, the Canaries sought to utilize the wide areas and release their wingers into space. And this was where they missed their number 9 sorely. While Smith is a modern 10 who would move from flank to flank to create wide overloads, Todd mostly played on the left and whenever the ball went to the right Morran – the holding midfielder – was the one who shuffled across to provide support. As a consequence, the right prong of Norwich’s attack lacked punch and the Canaries primarily attacked down the left via Lawrence and Tomlinson.
In the 28th minute, Tomlinson received the ball deep and played the long diagonal switch, finding Symonds high on the right. Symonds, however, lacked support from her teammates and was promptly crowded out by defenders. In an almost fortuitous turn of events, Todd found the ball at her feet and floated in a cross from an impossibly tight angle that somehow ended up in the back of the net.
The visitors almost expanded their lead again in the 31st minute when a switch found Lawrence on the left. The number 24 drove into the box and an intervention from a defender led to calls for a handball, though they went unheeded. Three minutes later, Seaward were on the break with Réa Thomas-Arayo picking up the ball and driving into the heart of the Norwich defence for a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, though Sarah Quantrill managed to parry the shot away.
The overarching theme of the first half was City’s front-footed press – whether the Canaries would successfully force a turnover high and have a shot on goal or whether Seaward would find one of their forwards in behind the visitors’ lines to test Quantrill. For much of the first half, the Canaries came on top in that contest and dominated territorially. Their dominance, however, was the result of what they did without the ball rather than what they did with it. As such, the game state was inherently chaotic and the Canaries relied on their relentless running off-the-ball to pin the hosts back.
An aggressive press, however, is very physically demanding. Moreover, it requires bravery and belief from the players. And as the hosts pushed for a goal before halftime, a subtle change set in. The Norwich City players increasingly dropped off and looked to hold onto their lead, which only served to urge Seaward on. The halftime whistle came with the scoreline remaining 2-0, but the shift in momentum was apparent for all to see.
The hosts came out of the second half flying and the visitors were firmly on the backfoot from that point on. Seven minutes after the restart, Seaward broke down the right and tested the Canaries’ defence and shortly after saw an effort just go over the top.
Norwich’s intensity had dropped off precipitously and the game turned on its head with the hosts now piling on the pressure, forcing the Canaries into turnovers. The Yellows struggled to hold onto the ball and the lack of movement from teammates led to the players often receiving under pressure and without short passing options. The visitors were forced to pump the ball long all too often and the wingers struggled to get into good positions to receive the ball and act as attacking outlets.
When the hosts found the back of the net in the 63rd minute, it was long overdue. Thomas-Arayo coolly slotted the penalty home and Seaward upped the pressure even more to push for the equalizer. They came tantalizingly close nine minutes later when Shamoy Campbell was one-on-one with Quantrill and promptly rounded her. Her touch, however, let her down, and Campbell could only direct the ball into the side netting. That proved to be the closest Seaward would come to equalizing.
Symonds had had a quiet game up until that point, but she intercepted a loose pass from a Seaward center back and burst through the half-space into the box. One-on-one with the goalkeeper, Symonds drilled the ball into the bottom left corner to restore Norwich City’s two-goal cushion. Seaward had created plenty of chances but lacked the quality in front of goal and Symonds punished their profligacy with a moment of brilliance.
Seaward continued to push forward in search of their second goal, but Norwich City dug deep to deny them with Quantrill impervious between the sticks. The visitors’ struggles going forward continued and Knights proved a lone bright spark. A classic English box-to-box midfielder who always brings incredible energy and tenacity on the pitch, the Canaries’ number 16 was relentless in her off-the-ball application long after her teammates’ had dropped off.
With Todd and Morran sitting deeper to provide cover, Knights jumped on the Seaward players in a bid to force turnovers high much like Norwich City had done as a whole earlier in the game. Her lung-busting runs from deep caught the hosts off guard and she was able to win the ball back high a number of times. Her best chance to get on the score sheet came in the 87th minute when she nicked the ball off a blue shirt just inside the home team’s half and sprinted into the box for a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. However, her effort went over, and after five minutes of stoppage time the final whistle was blown.
With a 3-1 victory Norwich City have secured a place in the FA Cup first round proper. They will play old foes Hashtag United who are now in the league above at the Nest on 12th November.
Teams: LONDON SEAWARD: Ginn, Lee, Carabott, Burrows, Lanza, Smith, Cannon, Wales Bonner, Thomas-Arayo, Butler-Williams, Bracelli.
Scorer: Thomas-Arayo 64′
NORWICH CITY: Quantrill, Parker, Todd, Larkins, Knights, Symonds (Stanley 78), Morran, Tomlinson (Daviss 55), Shaw (Hailes 55), Lawrence, Strauss.
Scorers: Shaw 16′, Todd 29′, Symonds 76′.
Norfolk Wrap
by Darrell Allen
FA Cup Third Qualifying Round
Elsewhere in the FA Cup ties involving Norfolk clubs, Hannah Fuller scored a hat-trick as Wroxham won 5-1 at Leyton Orient with their two other goals coming from Lauren Bullard and Lauren Kett. Liliana Almeida scored for Leyton Orient.
Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers also progressed to the next round, winning 2-1 over Islington Borough. Shanice Sutton and Victoria Leyer were the scorers with Freya Glen scoring for Islington Borough.
Shelley Woods gave Fakenham Town the lead at home to Hertford Town but goals from Ellie Young and Kaylie Clark saw the Norfolk side knocked out and Hertford progress with a 2-1 win.
The tie between Thetford Town and Lawford was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Mundford Road.
Eastern Region Premier Division
The match between King’s Lynn Town and AFC Dunstable was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at The Walks.
Eastern Region Division One North
Newmarket Town and Mulbarton played out a thrilling 2-2 draw, Newmarket had Holly Dryland and Bethany Woodfield to thank for their goals with Poppy Loveland replying with two for Mulbarton.
Norfolk Women and Girls League Division One
Bungay Town continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 4-0 win over Costessey Sports. Two goals in each half saw the home side take victory with Zoe Cossey and Lauren Purling scoring in the first half, Ciera Flatt getting a third from the penalty spot and Porsha Renwick making it four late in the game.
Sprowston went top of the table with a 5-0 victory over North Walsham Town. A brace from Rosie Milligan alongside goals from Mollie O’Callaghan, Holly Whayman, and Bailey Duffield saw the hosts claim a convincing victory.
Mulbarton Wanderers Development maintained the division’s only 100% record, but they were made to work hard for their 3-2 win at Thorpe St. Andrew. Lucy Kean scored a brace with Charlotte Groves getting Mulbarton’s other goal. Thorpe St Andrew’s scorers were Hannah Artis and Natasha Frankland.
The University of East Anglia (UEA) shared the points and six goals at Colney Lane. Pernille Nerland, Mia Everitt, and Cassandra Piejko scored for UEA with Elisha Bower, Caitlin Skipper, and Natatsha Youngs on target for Long Stratton. Maisie Johnson the UEA goalkeeper also saved a Long Stratton penalty and was one of the stars of a thrilling contest.
The match between Aylsham and King’s Lynn Soccer Club was postponed.
Norfolk Women and Girls League Division Two
Beccles Town were 8-0 winners over Horsford Harriers. Vicky Bloomfield scored a hat-trick, Libby Elder two, and the remaining three goals were scored by Megan Sergeant, Alesha Tuttle, and Mia Wilson.
Cerys Nicholas scored a brace in FC Viking Valkyries’ 4-1 win at Freethorpe with Paige Hill and Charlotte Kenny getting their other goals. Olivia Sutton scored for Freethorpe.
Bure Valley overwhelmed hosts Great Yarmouth 11-1. Emma Macmillan, Willow Nye, Maisie Redgrave, and Romilly Mclaggen all scored a pair each, with the other three goals coming from Eva Heald, Megan Swain, and Kate Tuffly. Lucie Morley scored for Great Yarmouth Town.
Kerri Eke scored a hat-trick in Stalham Town’s 6-1 win at Horsford Hurricanes, with Emma Gillespie adding two and Amber Mayhew one. Horsford’s goal came from Amelia Yallop-Nouira.
South Walsham Lingwood were 6-2 winners at Martham, Nicola Hazell and Leanne Smith both scored a brace with Samantha Wood and Tobi-Laurie Baker getting their other goals. Samantha Hill and Ella Saunders scored for Martham.
Mundford were 2-1 winners over Shrublands thanks to goals from Livvi Hodges and Ellen Kerbey. Rachel Adams scored for Shrublands.
Goals from Connie Gooch, Claire Weekes, and Hannah Cook saw Red Rose win 3-1 at Waveney. Chloe Dobson scored for Waveney.
Norfolk Women and Girls League Sevens Division One
Loddon United were 3-2 winners over Waveney. Two goals from Gemma Loades and one from Sarah Britcher made the difference whilst Maria Palmer and Hollie Langdale scored for Waveney.
Joanne Hooper scored the winner as Mulbarton Wanderers beat Left Field 1-0 in the day’s other sevens Division One match.
The match between Rockland United and Horsford was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Norfolk Women and Girls League Sevens Division Two
Hockering won 1-0 at Bulldogs thanks to a goal from Summer Davies. Aylsham were 2-1 winners at Madra thanks to goals from Samantha Robbins and Emma Wayte with Mel Chamberlin scoring for Madra. The match between FC Viking Valkyries and Cawston was postponed.
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