Eyes were on the women to see if they could match the men’s performance and extend their winning streak, this time in the first round of the Women’s National League Cup, after City’s men overcame last weekend’s defeat to Plymouth with a mature performance and victory against Birmingham in front of the Carrow Road faithful.
As we should all be aware by this point, Norwich City Women win football games, however their opponents from the south coast, AFC Bournemouth, may have forced them to work harder than they have all season.
The Canaries and Bournemouth are both enjoying much the same season. The Cherries, who are presently two points ahead of Keynsham Town in the Women’s National League South West, are at the same level as Norwich on the pyramid and have won all five of their league games so far this season.
With technical competition in the sa, this game would brilliantly demonstrate the levels at which Martin Herdman’s side is currently performing.
Realistically, Norwich understood they wouldn’t blow out early leads like they had in the previous two games. City had the best of the chances in a composed first half, but they were unable to score the first goal and returned to the locker room at Bournemouth’s Ringwood Community Hub level at 0-0.
However, just before the half, City was forced to make an early substitution due to Liv Cook’s injury, much to the dismay of the travelling Yellow Army who had anticipated she could add to her tally after scoring the fifth goal in last week’s rout of Actonians.
Rachel Lawrence, who scored a hat-trick a fortnight earlier and had everything to prove after going goalless in London, took her spot.
We have a striker on the bench who just scored a hat-trick and who scores goals easily, highlighting the potential and squad depth of this young bunch.
After the break, City finally made a much-needed breakthrough, with August’s player of the month Freya Symonds returning to the scoring column with a superb side-foot shot that Teemu Pukki would have been proud of.
Benefit Norwich.
However, the Canaries were only ahead for a little more than 15 minutes before the home team tied the score through Lucy Cooper just after the hour mark. Here, Bournemouth proved that their standing in the league is no accident, dominating the chances and forcing the Norwich defence into a number of game-changing blocks and clearances to keep the score level.
We entered the extra period.
After a lacklustre first half, Rachel Lawrence, a replacement, exploded into the scene and scored a spectacular goal from 25 yards to seal the 2-1 victory and advance in the Women’s National League Cup, sending a message not only to the rest of the league but also to the other clubs at the level.
Cities are thriving and here to stay.
Naturally, Norwich has experience with protracted cup runs. Four months ago, in front of more than 2,500 people, the Canaries defeated Mulbarton Wanderers 3-0 at Carrow Road to reclaim the County Cup.
Permission to go off the rails?
The team’s flexibility and range of alternatives, rather than just the team’s togetherness, are its most striking qualities. For instance, Millie Davis, a definite leader who has established herself as one of the top midfielders at the level, stepped in at right-back and put on one of her best displays in the green and yellow.
Similar to this, squeezing out a victory when one’s back is against the wall exhibits all the characteristics of a top side. Apart from the opening-day triumph over Hull, the men’s team can benefit from this because it still feels like surrendering first can be the final blow for the first team.
The Canaries women have now lost two games in a row after grabbing the lead in the first few minutes. City’s poise and serenity allowed them to manoeuvre difficult opponents rather than collapse, as their male counterparts are infamous for doing in important matches.
As the weeks pass, Martin Herdman grows more proud of this attitude.
Next up for Norwich is a return journey to London for a league match, as the
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