MATCH RESULTS AND REPORTS
East Anglian Counties Competition
21 April 2009
Suffolk 1 - 4 Norfolk
at Woodbridge Town FC
Norfolk Women made it a clean sweep for the county as they joined the Under-18 squad in lifting the East Anglian Counties Competition trophy. The title success was sealed with an impressive 4-1 victory away to closest rivals Suffolk.
A three goal blitz in the final ten minutes of a fiercely contested encounter with Suffolk was enough for Norfolk to claim Women’s title for only the second time in the last 10 years.
Norfolk went into the game knowing a draw would probably be enough to take the title, but they were also determined to maintain their 100% record.
Straight from the kick off Norfolk were given an indication that it would be a tough evening when within 20 seconds Emily Coates required treatment after a crunching tackle from behind by Suffolk full back Turner.
After some initial sparring, Norfolk went close to opening the scoring on 10 minutes. Paige Shorten created space on the left to produce a teasing cross that eluded everyone and went just wide. The powerful running of Nicola Bray was once again causing an opposing side problems and she was unfortunate that, after breaking clear, she failed to really test Lunn in the home goal.
Suffolk first threatened after 22 minutes when Bass headed over from a corner. Although Norfolk were starting to take a hold of the game, neither side were producing any clear cut chances and some hefty challenges were being made out of frustration.
Bray and Shorten both required lengthy treatment for injuries but then combined to put Shorten clear on goal, but she seemed to be caught in two minds as she bore down on goal and the chance was lost. At the other end Kate Parsons produced a last ditch clearance to deny the home side and as play swept up field the outstanding Beth Bygrave burst into the Suffolk area only to see her shot crash off the right hand upright. As half-time approached, Bray had a shot deflected out for a corner, before Bygrave’s ball to the near post was met by Parsons to bullet home a header. It gave the visitors a half time lead that they had deserved.
Norfolk captain Gemma Farman was first to have an effort on goal after the re-start but her long range effort was comfortable for Lunn. With 59 minutes gone Bass was left with a clear run on goal, but keeper Sarah Quantrill produced a marvellous block to deny her. Rebecca Burton then replaced Coates for Norfolk and almost instantly Bray beat the offside trap, but dithered over her shot and allowed the Suffolk defence to recover.
Suffolk weren’t giving up without a fight and were starting to peg the visitors back, but with Smythe and Parsons showing why they are the leagues best defensive partnership the Norfolk goal was well protected.
Norfolk were now playing on the break and looked dangerous. Sophie Fuller saw a penalty claim turned down when her powerful shot from distance was charged down in the Suffolk area. The home side pressed again and won a series of corners which were dealt with by Farman and Quantrill in determined fashion.
Norfolk looked to have made the game safe after 83 minutes when a superb ball from Farman set Shorten free and the winger made no mistake with a cool finish. But within two minutes the home side reduced the arrears when Bass fired home to set up a tense finish for the many Norfolk supporters who had travelled.
As the home side pressed for an equaliser Norfolk broke clear again for Shorten to produce another quality finish to make the game and the title safe. As if to add icing on the cake Norfolk were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time when substitute Shelly Woods was brought down. Inspirational captain Gemma Farman stepped up to blast the ball home and complete the scoring.
All of the girls played their part on the night and deserve the highest praise for their efforts throughout the season, as do Manager Darren Moss, his assistant Shaun Howes and physio Avril Soards.
08 April 2009
Norfolk 5 – 1 Essex
at Clipbush Park, Fakenham
Norfolk ladies took a giant step towards the East Anglian Counties Championship title after a convincing second half performance against Essex. With manager Darren Moss unavailable, Shaun Howes stepped into the hot seat to guide a side playing their first game since November.
The home side got off to a flier when, in the fifth minute Jemma Smythe rose to meet a well taken free kick by Kelly Gray to give the Essex keeper Sian Jenkins no chance. Although not at their best Norfolk had made a solid start and Luka Goodfield was combining well with Paige Shorten on the left hand side. Few chances were being created but on twenty five minutes a good run and cross by Emily Coates created a chance for Gemma Farman whose shot was deflected out for a corner.
Essex’s Liane Prior needed lengthy treatment after a solid challenge by Kate Parsons and from the resultant free kick by Laura Brown, Nicola Carty found herself with plenty of space to head past Sarah Quantrill.
The equaliser kicked Norfolk back to life and Shorten had a great chance after being set up by Nicola Bray but fired over. However Shorten made amends on the stroke of half-time, when brilliant footwork turned her marker and she was able to place the ball into the corner of the net from the edge of the area. Despite being 2-1 ahead this was probably the sides poorest forty five minutes of the season.
Norfolk came out of the blocks quickly after the break and Bray broke clear only to be denied by the assistant referees flag. Little was being seen of the visitors as an attacking force, but Norfolk themselves had been guilty of some wayward finishing. A misplaced pass put the home side in danger as Brown broke clear for Essex but a combination of Smythe and Parsons cleared the danger.
Norfolk finally found their shooting boots with a three goal burst inside six minutes. Bray was first to score after seventy minutes when she latched on to a through ball to score a goal her non stop running had deserved. Within two minutes Sophie Fuller, who had got stronger as the game went on, played a superb ball through to Coates who finished well. Beth Bygrave then got in on the act in the seventy-sixth minute, drilling home from the edge of the area.
The rest of the game was played out in comfortable fashion and now barring a miracle, a draw in the last game should see Norfolk take the title. Whilst Jemma Smythe was named Player of the Match, there were also good performances by Farman, Fuller, Shorten and Goodfield in a much improved second half.
19 November 2008
Norfolk 6 - 0 Huntingdonshire
at Clipbush Park, Fakenham
Norfolk were looking to build on an impressive start to the season when they entertained Huntingdonshire, although it was the visitors who were first to look dangerous and a cross from the right by Jade Ovendale was well taken low down by Norfolk keeper Sarah Quantrill. The home side went forward and a good lay off by Shelly Woods set the ball up for Paige Shorten but her shot was saved at the second attempt by Nicola Kuch. Nicola Bray also tested the visiting keeper as Norfolk made a bright start, and on thirteen minutes the ball was played through to Shorten and she broke from midfield to produce an excellent finish and put the home side one up. Within a minute it was 2-0 as Beth Bygrave found herself with plenty of time and space to set up Bray for her first goal of the evening. Norfolk were now in control, and with Jemma Smythe and Kate Parsons dominant at the back, little was being seen of the visitors as an attacking force. A dangerous in swinging corner by Shorten, caused panic in the Huntingdon defence and saw Parsons head over from close range, but a few minutes later a header by Smythe found Gemma Farman in midfield and her superb first time ball sent Bray racing clear of the visitors defence to score with a lob over the keeper and make it 3-0. Bray then brought another great save from Kuch who was becoming overworked and a twenty five yard effort from Farman forced her into tipping the ball over the crossbar. Vicky Lines was working hard for the visitors and she went on a surging run from midfield only to be stopped by a great tackle by Parsons before she could shoot. This led to a quick Norfolk break and Luka Goodfield and Emily Coates combined well on the right only to see the shot from Coates flash across the face of the goal. In the 37th minute Shorten cut inside to hit a cracking shot which was once again very well saved by Kuch. The fourth goal was not long in coming though, as Bygrave strode onto a knockdown from Bray to smash the ball home. Two minutes later Goodfield and Coates combined once again to set up Bygrave who made it 5-0. Shorten was causing havoc on the left hand side and only a brave save from Koch prevented her from making it six before the break.
The visitors started the second half brightly and Jessica Evans broke clear on the left only to fire across the face of the home goal. Play was starting to get a little scrappy as the visitors to their credit were competing for every ball. In the 59th minute Jodie Drake replaced Bray and a minute later Smythe headed a good chance wide from a corner. Lines then put Donna Nichols clear for the visitors but her effort failed to trouble Quantrill, whilst at the other end a good run and shot by Woods brought an equally fine save from Kuch. Rebecca Burton then replaced Farman and soon made her presence felt, bursting clear to set up Woods who mishit her shot high into the air. As the ball came down Kuch made her only error of the evening as she failed to hold the ball and Burton was there to nod home. In their eagerness to add to their tally, Norfolk were beginning to fall foul of the offside rule on a few occasions. With seven minutes left, Kelly Gray replaced Caroline Rawlings and was immediately involved in a good move which ended when a shot from Coates came back off of the crossbar. Good play between Shorten, Burton and Drake resulted in Kuch making yet another fine stop and as the game came to a close Coates hit the crossbar again with another decent strike. This was another good display from the Norfolk side and only a good goalkeeping display by Nicola Kuch kept the score down.
As both sides enjoyed the excellent hospitality of Fakenham FC after the game, Norfolk FA Representative Chairman Stuart Dracup presented Jemma Smythe and Nicola Bray with their County Caps, but special words of praise were saved for Norfolk captain Gemma Farman who made her 50th appearance in Norfolk colours and has always been a credit to the County.
15 October 2008
Norfolk 10 - 0 Hertfordshire
at Clipbush Park, Fakenham
Three goals in a three minute spell early in the first half set Norfolk up for a comprehensive victory over Hertfordshire. The home side made one change from the side that beat reigning champions Cambridgeshire last week, with Nicola Bray replacing the injured Sophie Fuller.
Norfolk kicked off and were soon on the attack, a neat pass from Beth Bygrave found Bray but, the forward lost control on the edge of the penalty box. It was quite a tame opening to the match, but on eight minutes Shelly Woods broke clear of the visiting defence only to be hauled down on the edge of the area by Jones, who was fortunate to only see a yellow card. From the free kick, Bygrave fired straight into the arms of goalkeeper McGuiness. Norfolk didn’t have long to wait though as on fourteen minutes Woods was pulled down by the Herts keeper in the area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, from where Gemma Farman blasted Norfolk into the lead. A minute later good play by Bygrave put Woods clear to score. The visitors went further behind almost immediately when a poor goal kick by McGuiness left Bray in the clear to score with ease. Bray almost added another in the next attack but McGuiness saved bravely at her feet. From the resultant corner Jemma Smythe’s flick on just eluded Kate Parsons at the back post. Little was seen of the visitors as an attacking force and when they did go forward they found Parsons and Smythe in commanding form. The forward running of Woods and Bray was causing havoc in the Herts defence and the two players combined well to create a chance for Woods who shot wide. Another poor goal kick led to Norfolk going four ahead as excellent work by Emily Coates saw Woods lay her cross off to Bygrave who scored with ease. A rare slip by Parsons almost let the visitors in with a chance but Sarah Quantrill in the Norfolk goal was alert to the danger and cleared well. Norfolk’s passing and movement was good to watch and another flowing move ended when Coates shot high and wide. Four minutes from the break, great work between Paige Shorten, Woods and Bray left Shorten in the clear to score the fifth with a calm finish. The visitors were glad to hear the half time whistle, though not before Forster was booked for a cynical foul on Norfolk captain Farman.
Caroline Rawlings came after half time to make her County debut, replacing Luka Goodfield, but after the goal rush of the first half, the second period began in quiet fashion. On fifty seven minutes the visitors had their first real effort on goal but the strike from Betts was deflected wide for a corner, which was punched clear by Quantrill. Norfolk began lifting the pace of the game again and Woods headed wide from a Bray cross, but she made amends a minute later, latching on to a through ball and rounding the keeper to score. Two minutes later Woods should have been celebrating a hat trick but her shot from point blank range hit the Herts keeper and bounced wide. The corner brought the seventh goal when centre back Parsons stabbed the ball home from close range. Although the game was now one way traffic, Hertfordshire still competed and to their credit never gave up, but on sixty five minutes Coates created an opening for Bygrave to score from twenty yards. Bray went off to make way for Jodie Drake and the substitute provided some good work immediately but her shot was just too high. With twenty minutes left Woods finally got the hat trick her performance had deserved after good work on the right again by Coates. Rebecca Burton replaced Woods with twelve minutes to go and combined straight away with Drake, who brought a near post save from the keeper. Shorten was enjoying another fine game on the left, and produced a solo run into the Herts area that deserved a better finish. Bygrave completed the scoring, and her hat trick, with five minutes to go, a rasping drive from twenty five yards that gave the overworked McGuiness no chance. After the game a delighted manager Darren Moss said it had been “a scintillating performance from a competent squad”. The Representative Committee name Shelly Woods as Player of the Match.
8 October 2008
Cambridgeshire 1 - 3 Norfolk
at Cambridge City FC
A new look Norfolk squad headed to the home of the reigning champions for their first league game of the season. Paige Shorten, Shelly Woods, Jodie Drake, Lisa Ferdani and Caroline Rawlings were all included in the squad for the first time, whilst there was a welcome return for Beth Bygrave after a long absence through injury.
The home side kicked off, but it was Norfolk who almost scored in the first thirty seconds, Shorten’s effort being saved by Cook in the home goal. Then good work by Emily Coates almost created a chance for Woods but Cambridgeshire managed to scramble the ball out for a corner.
The first attack of note for the home side saw Sarah Quantrill called into action when she saved a good effort by Kayleigh Currie at the near post. This proved crucial, as on 7 minutes Norfolk took the lead when Shorten put Woods through and she finished through the keeper’s legs for a debut goal.
In response, the home side lifted their game and Quantrill was kept busy for spell, but Norfolk were playing some neat football themselves and a superb 30 yard ball from Bygrave put Coates in on goal, only for the her to be crowded out as she cut inside to shoot.
On 27 minutes Coates was forced off through injury and was replaced by Ferdani. The game was now opening up, with Thompson volleying over from close range for Cambridgeshire and Bygrave seeing an effort from fifteen yards cannoning back off the upright. Soon after, a brilliant last ditch tackle was needed from Jemma Smythe to prevent an equaliser.
With the home side now pushing hard for a leveller, Quantrill again produced a terrific save, tipping over a great effort from the dangerous Currie. However the home player was not to be denied and on the stroke of half-time she equalised with a quality strike, giving Quantrill no chance.
Fired up by the goal, Cambridgeshire started the second half brightly, with Kempski firing just wide from the edge of the box. Then on 50 minutes Lapish was booked for a poor challenge on Sophie Fuller, who after receiving treatment was helped off to be replaced by Nicola Bray.
Shorten was also impressing on her debut and created a glorious chance for Woods after a powerful run into the Cambridgeshire area, but the striker fired over.
The pace of substitute Bray was causing the home side real problems, with Norfolk now applying the greater pressure and reducing the home side to the odd chance. However a warning came when Holland’s header flashed across Norfolk’s six-yard box.
After 73 minutes Jodie Drake replaced a tiring Woods, and soon after a great tackle was needed from Kate Parsons to stop Thompson in her tracks as she bore down on goal. At the other end Drake and Ferdani combined to set up a chance for Bygrave, but again the final effort went wide.
7 minutes later Cambridgeshire were reduced to 10 players after another poor challenge fom Lapish saw her receive a second yellow. Now with an extra body, Norfolk were dominating, with the experienced Gemma Farman patrolling the midfield expertly. Her work was allowing Bygrave to break forward and on 88 minutes one such break was rewarded when the midfielder latched on to a through ball to finish in style.
The visitors were attacking at will and Drake made the game safe with two minutes to go, breaking clear after a defensive error to score her first goal for the county. There was still time for Bray to shoot against a post, before the referee brought the game to and end.
Overall an impressive start to the season, with manager Darren Moss pleased that his side had produced a “great, confident performance”.
Beth Bygrave was named Player of the Match, whilst Luka Goodfield and Kate Parsons received their County Caps.