Darrell Allen provides a detailed review of all the weekend’s 11-a-side and seven-a-side across the county, and Lucy Chen reports in depth from The Nest (14/11/23).
Above: Norwich City celebrate their superb win over Hashtag United in the FA Cup. Photo: Lucy Copsey for Impetus.
Norwich City 1-0 Hashtag United
by Lucy Chen at The Nest
Norwich City gained an impressive victory over higher-tier Hashtag United in the FA Cup first round proper on Sunday.
Hashtag are old foes of the Canaries, having beaten them handily twice last season to win FAWNL Division One South East and secure promotion to tier three. Both sides are second-placed in their respective league having started their campaigns in top form.
Hashtag won a free kick on the edge of the box less than a minute after kickoff, though they could not capitalize and Norwich goalkeeper Sarah Quantrill claimed the ball without trouble. The visitors dominated proceedings both possession-wise and territorially from the get-go and Canaries manager Martin Herdman set up pragmatically, opting for a mid-to-low defensive block instead of the usual high-press in a back three – often a back five in practice – with Anna Larkins remaining in central defense and Lauren Tomlinson and Alice Parker as wing-backs.
City’s first chance came in the sixth minute when Tomlinson launched a throw-in into the box. The Canaries, however, lacked the numbers, and centre forward Tasha Snelling was crowded out by defenders.
The hosts went ahead early on when a trademark bullet throw from Tomlinson found Ellie Smith – typically the 10 who was shuffled out to the left wing in the 5-4-1. Smith cut inside, evading a number of blue shirts with her characteristic technical wizardry, and coolly fired the shot into the bottom right corner. Hashtag United had been the dominant side but it was Norwich City who took the lead less than ten minutes into the game thanks to a moment of brilliance from their number nine.
The visitors almost leveled in the 25th minute, with a shot lobbed over the head of Quantrill, though Ceri Flye got there just in time to clear the ball over the crossbar. As Hashtag piled on the pressure, the Yellows relied on Snelling to drop, hold up the ball with her back to goal, and play in her teammates, with Quantrill invariably going long. Larkins would move out wide into her natural right back position to allow Parker to push up into the right wing position, which had the double advantage of providing Snelling another runner and allowing Smith to move into more dangerous areas.
Tomlinson would also advance when given the opportunity, though Larkins would strictly remain deeper like a third centre-back to ensure the hosts had numbers at the back at all times. However, chances proved few and far between for the Yellows, and the overarching theme of the first half was Quantrill’s imperviousness between the sticks, with the number 31 parrying shots and coming off her line time and time again to sweep up balls in behind.
The second half played out largely the same with Hashtag hammering the home defence for the equaliser. The Canaries found themselves pinned firmly on the edge of their own box and the two wingbacks had few chances to go forward with Hashtag attacking heavily down the flanks for crosses and cutbacks. The left flank in particular, was of the focus of their efforts with Parker put under immense pressure throughout the half.
A rare chance for Norwich City to expand their lead came in the 75th minute when Megan Todd picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch and made an audacious right down the right, winning a free kick in a dangerous position. Parker delivered a dangerous ball into the six-yard box but it failed to connect with Todd’s head by mere inches.
The visitors became increasingly frantic as the clock ticked on and tested Quantrill relentlessly. An especially dangerous chance came six minutes into stoppage time but Quantrill came through with the heroics yet again to deny Hashtag probably their best chance of the half. In the end, Norwich City held onto their precarious 1-0 lead until the final whistle to advance to the FA Cup’s second round. They will play fellow tier four side Boldmere St. Michaels on the 26th November at The Nest.
Teams: NORWICH CITY: Quantrill, Parker, Flye, Todd, Smith, Snelling, Larkins, Knights, Morran, Tomlinson, Strauss
Scorer: Smith 9′.
HASHTAG UNITED: Angel, Farrand, Gillard, Keogh, Garwood, Baker, Nicholls, West, Apindia, Rowland, Samways.
Norfolk Wrap
by Darrell Allen
FA Cup First Round
Elsewhere in the FA Cup, tier five Wroxham were beaten 2-1 in extra time at home to Peterborough United. After a goalless 90 minutes, Peterborough scored two goals early in the extra half-hour through Kier Perkins and Frankie Pim. Luci Middleton got one back for Wroxham but it was not enough.
Tier six Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers were narrowly beaten 4-3 at home by tier five Needham Market. Tallulah Bell scored a brace for Dussindale and Hellesdon with Victoria Leyer getting the other goal. Leilah Gooding, Molly Hall, Sheryce Slater, and Paige Wakefield got the goals for Needham Market.
Tier five beat Tier six again as Thetford Town were knocked out by Enfield Town 4-2 at Mundford Road. Kamile Omeleviciute scored both of the Thetford goals. Beth Lloyd scored twice for Enfield with other goals coming from Leah Littlechild and Brionne Fowle to see them win through.
Eastern Region Premier Division
King’s Lynn Town were beaten 6-1 at home by Royston Town. Gabrielle Cobb had given King’s Lynn the lead but a brace each from Jordanne Sillitoe and Emma Slater plus goals from Poppy Smith and Charlotte South saw Royston Town claim a comfortable win.
Eastern Region League Cup Second Round
Mulbarton Wanderers were 3-0 winners over Billericay Town Development thanks to two goals from Rebekah Lake and the other from Samantha Walker.
It was not a good day for Fakenham Town who were beaten 3-1 at AFC Dunstable. Shelley Woods scored for the visitors but two goals from Poppy Surridge and one from Mollie Knox saw the hosts claim victory.
Norfolk Women and Girls League Cup Second Round
Division One Aylsham were 3-1 winners over Division Two FC Viking Valkyries with two goals from Billie Myall and one from Jordan Arnoup. Cerys Nicholas scored for FC Viking Valkyries.
Division One Bungay Town were 7-2 winners over Division Two Bure Valley but were made to work for their victory. Bure Valley took a shock lead through Willow Nye before Ciera Flatt equalised for Bungay Town. Lola Barber-King gave Bungay Town the lead, but Romily Mclaggan scored for Bure Valley to force extra time. Lauren Goulder, Lauren Purling, Selina Rowland, Zoe Cossey, and Brooke Osborne all scored in extra time as Bungay Town powered home in the end.
Division One Caister scored sixteen without reply to beat Division Two Horsford. Bethany Turner scored a remarkable eight times, Ellie Hills scored four, Amy Roper scored three and Nicole Ali got the other.
In an all-Division One affair, the University of East Anglia (UEA) were 2-1 winners over Mulbarton Wanderers Development. Lucy Kean had given Mulbarton the lead but Katie Appleton equalised to force extra time before Evie Bloom won it for UEA.
Division One Long Stratton were 4-1 winners over Division Two Stalham Town thanks to a brace from Natasha Youngs and other goals from Elisha Bower and Elsie Downer. Emma Gillespie scored for Stalham Town.
Elsewhere Thorpe St. Andrew and North Walsham Town played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in an all Division One affair. Emma Clark and Abigail Langley scored for Thorpe St. Andrew with Jemma Bunting and Jessica Butler scoring for North Walsham Town. Thorpe St Andrew then won the game 5-4 on penalties.
Waveney were 1-0 winners over Shrublands thanks to a goal from Maria Palmer from the penalty spot.
The other all-Division One affair between Sprowston and King’s Lynn Soccer Club was postponed as King’s Lynn Soccer Club were unable to field a side meaning Sprowston were given a free pass into the next round.
Norfolk Women and Girls League Division Two
In the day’s only Tier eight game, South Walsham Lingwood ended Beccles Town Development 100% winning start to the season with a thrilling 3-3 draw at Lingwood Village Hall. Leanne Smith scored twice for South Walsham Lingwood with Gemma Burwood getting their other goal. Erica Hansen, Alesha Tuttle, and Vicky Broomfield scored for Beccles Town Development.
Norfolk Women and Girls Sevens Cup Quarter Finals
Dussindale and Hellesdon were 3-1 winners over Hockering with goals from Helen Finn, Alice Walker, and Eniko Kadar. Rachael Paine scored for Hockering.
Mulbarton Wanderers beat FC Viking Valkyries 2-0 with Alice Ladbrooke scoring both their goals. Two goals from Meadhbh Flynn and one from Joanne Baxter saw Left Field emerge 3-0 winners over Horsford.
Taverham were 3-2 winners at Rockland United thanks to goals from Kiera Braithwaite, Amelia Nelson, and Chantel Davison with Daisy Eke and Rebecca Humphries scoring for the hosts.
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