MATCH RESULTS AND REPORTS
East Anglian Counties Competition
29 April 2008
Essex Women v Norfolk Women
At Wivenhoe Town FC
Norfolk travelled to Essex knowing that victory over their hosts could give them the runners up spot this season, whilst on the other hand, a victory for the home side could see them clinch the title if other results went their way. On a dreadful evening and on a very poor pitch Norfolk, with the conditions in their favour, started well and on five minutes, a good corner from Nicola Stolworthy was headed just wide by Nicola Bray and soon after another corner was volleyed just wide by Kate Parsons. Norfolk were keeping the home side penned in their own half and good work between Emily Coates and Bray saw Bray bring a very good save from home keeper Bridgeman. Despite dominating, Norfolk were caught out with a sucker punch, when a long ball thumped forward caught Norfolk keeper Emma Fletcher in no mans land and Carty nipped in to lob the ball into an empty net. Norfolk hit back and another good corner by the hard working Stolworthy was headed just wide by Jemma Smythe. A rare break by the home side just before half time saw Parsons block bravely, and in a scramble from the resultant corner, Manning fired over the Norfolk crossbar. Norfolk gained the equaliser they deserved deep into first half stoppage time when Bray bundled home yet another Stolworthy corner from close range.
Half time: Essex 1 – 1 Norfolk
Norfolk were almost caught cold at the start of the second period and only a good save from Fletcher stopped the visitors from going behind. Despite now playing against the elements Norfolk were still able to create chances and Coates brought a good save from the home keeper and a cross from Bray was palmed out by the keeper only for Parsons to fire wide. Some sloppy defending by Norfolk led to a needless corner which was headed home by Manning, but the home side’s joy was short lived as the goal was ruled out for offside. Essex were now on top as Norfolk seemed to find the going tougher and Essex had the ball in the net again only to see the linesman’s flagged raised once more. Norfolk went behind on 69 minutes when the home side produced a well worked corner that was finished by Rushen. Norfolk tried to raise their game once more but found it hard to create any clear cut chances and they were cut wide open towards the end when a flowing Essex move saw Bowman miss a good chance to extend the lead. Nicola Stolworthy was named Norfolk Player of the Match
After the game Norfolk Representative Chairman Stuart Dracup presented Long Service Awards to Emma Fletcher who in this her last game, had completed ten years service for the County, and Gemma Farman who has now played forty eight times for the County. Both ladies have been a credit to Norfolk.
Final score: Essex 2 – 1 Norfolk
26 February 2008
Norfolk Women v Suffolk Women
At Fakenham Town FC
Suffolk Ladies sensational unbeaten run, spanning the last eighteen months, came to an abrupt end last night after an entertaining clash with their Norfolk counterparts at Clipbush Park, Fakenham. It was performance of great maturity from a young and vibrant Norfolk Ladies team, who followed the tactical instruction of manager Darren Moss to a tee.
Suffolk came into the encounter buoyed by an impressive run of three consecutive victories, during which they notched sixteen goals and conceded only one and many had tipped them to continue in the same vain against their East Anglian rivals.
However Norfolk started the game in scintillating style, stifling their opponents and controlling possession during the early exchanges. It came as no surprise then when they took the lead in the twenty-fifth minute. Gemma Farman smashing home a penalty after Nicola Bray had been brought down after a darting run into the box.
The home team were reminded of the threat posed by Suffolk on the half hour mark, when the visitors centre-forward hit a rasping drive from just outside the box that narrowly missed the crossbar.
Nevertheless, Norfolk could easily have been further ahead before the break. Emily Coates seeing an effort from close range helped onto the bar by the ‘keeper before Bray slipped a shot inches wide of the post after being put clean through on goal.
Half-time: Norfolk 1 – 0 Suffolk
Spectators took their places after the interval expecting an onslaught from Suffolk, but it was Norfolk who once again made the headway. They were duly rewarded five minutes in when Coates’ deft finish from 12 yards doubled the lead.
Two goals to the superior, Norfolk sensed an upset was very much on the cards. But with Suffolk pushing for an elusive goal to bring them back into the game, the hosts were forced to defend for sustained spells. The visitors created two clear chances as the game wore on, but the attackers in maroon could only send their efforts wide of the post when bearing down on goal.
In the end, Norfolk’s rearguard stood strong and earned a well deserved victory against a talented Suffolk side who took the surprise defeat in commendable fashion.
Final Score: Norfolk 2 – 0 Suffolk
29 January 2008
Huntingdonshire Women v Norfolk Women
at Eynesbury Rovers FC
Huntingdonshire FA 2 Norfolk FA 3
A brace of goals, well into injury time by Fran Lambert and player of the match Emily Coates, saw Norfolk Women come from behind to win 3-2 against a very good Hunt’s side, on a wet evening at Eynesbury Rovers Football Club last Tuesday.
Norfolk, from the offset, took the game to their opposition and for the first ten minutes Hunt’s never ventured into the Norfolk half. Within the first minute, Gemma Farman’s free kick shaved the post and this showed the crowd Norfolk’s intent. With Hunt’s first attack, an incredible goal mouth scramble occurred with the ball twice hitting the post, twice cleared of the line, and eventually crossing the line only for the Referee to cancel the Hunt’s effort through hand ball.
Twenty minutes gone with Hunt’s on the break, Vicky Lines who plays for Leicester City scored her first of two with a lob from 25 yards. This was against the run of play and as seen in the past, the ladies were spurred on by their manager Moss and never dropped their heads. Within ten minutes of the start of the second half, Norfolk were level from Emily Lewin, who received the ball from the ever running Nicola Bray. Hunt’s battled back again with a fine near post header from Hunt’s # 10 lines, restoring their lead.
Ten minutes left on the clock saw an inspired substitution by the management team of Darren Moss and Shaun Howes by bringing on Jenna Thurtle, Fran Lambert and Nicola Stolworthy, whose fresh legs gave the Hunt’s defense no chance. Norfolk went on to record a memorable win to move third in the table with two to play.
11 December 2007
Norfolk Women v Cambridgeshire Women
at Fakenham Town FC
Norfolk FA 0 Cambridgeshire FA 1
Norfolk Women entertained their Cambridgeshire counterparts on a cold and damp evening at Clipbush Park, looking to build on an excellent performance in their last outing. Cambs settled early controlling the early stages and in the 7th minute only a superb block on the goaline by Jodie Allard prevented the visitors from taking the lead. The Norfolk back four were being kept on their toes by the lively visiting forwards, but there was very little to note of Norfolk as an attacking force. Cambs finally took the lead in the 21st minute, when a corner from the left was fumbled by the usually reliable Sarah Quantrill and the ball was bundled home from close range. In the 28th minute the game was stopped when Referee’s Assistant John Middleton collapsed, after a short break he was helped to the dressing room and a Cambridgeshire official took over the line duties. The game re-started and to their credit Norfolk stuck to the task, but for the remainder of the half, the Cambs keeper was rarely troubled and only a brilliant save by Quantrill at her near post prevented the visitors from going 2-0 up before half time.
Half Time Norfolk 0 Cambridgeshire 1
After a half time team talk from manager Darren Moss, Norfolk seemed to start the second half with more purpose and finally gave the visiting keeper some work when she saved an effort from Jenna Thirtle. A good run and shot by the Cambs number 9 brought another fine save from Quantrill and with play now going from end to end, a good run from Fran Lambert came to a halt when she was crowded out. After 70 mins a run and cross by Emily Coates produced a scramble in the Cambs goalmouth before the ball was hacked clear. The visitors became far less of an attacking force although they did hit the underside of the bar from close range. With ten minutes left Fran Lambert had a glorious chance to level the scores when she beat the offside trap only to fire just wide. Still, Norfolk were a different side to the first period and at last looked dangerous. As the game drew to a close, substitute Amy Brooke dragged the ball wide from a good chance and finally proved this was not to be Norfolk’s night. Despite the result their were some positive points, the performance of Player of the Match Luka Goodfield being one of them.
27 November 2007
Hertfordshire Women v Norfolk Women
at The County Ground, Letchworth
Hertfordshire FA 0 Norfolk FA 3
On a dreadful evening in Hertfordshire (weather) Norfolk’s young team of ladies gave a glowing performance to win 3-0.
This was a game that looked from the stand that Norfolk really enjoyed playing. Whether it was the weather being very wet or the size of the pitch where they could express their talent, it certainly brought out their passion to play and Norfolk excelled.
Player of the match Nicola Bray, whose continuous running threatened the Hertfordshire goal on numerous occasions, forced both centre backs to be booked when under pressure from her positive runs, resulting in a well taken hat trick on the evening. The first of these came within nineteen minutes of the start followed by goals in the eighty-fourth and eighty-sixth minutes.
Up until those later goals, Norfolk looked very comfortable, but with the conditions as they were there was always the chance that Hertfordshire could get back into the game and they never gave up. At 1-0 Hertfordshire forced two great saves from the Norfolk keeper Sarah Quantrill, the first shot she parried and then was forced into a full length dive to push the second shot past the post.
Logan Shepherd, Jemma Smythe and Gemma Farman all played their part as indeed the rest of the team did. Norfolk’s positive display allowed manager Darren Moss and assistant on the evening Shaun Howes the opportunity to play the three allowed substitutes to enter fresh legs to the fray and add to the result.
This was one of the most positive performances by the ladies in a while and with such a young side it bodes well for the future.
9 October 2007
Hertfordshire Women v Norfolk Women
at The County Ground, Letchworth
CALLED OFF DUE TO WATERLOGGED PITCH
18 September 2007
Norfolk Women v Bedfordshire Women
at Fakenham Town FC
Bedfordshire FA 3 Norfolk FA 0
Norfolk FA Women’s representative squad started the East Anglian Counties Championship campaign with a home defeat to Bedfordshire at Clipbush Park. After a slow start Norfolk soon found themselves a goal down after a direct through ball split the home defence to find Bedfordshire’s lone striker, who made no mistake from 18 yards.
The goal should have acted as a wake up call, but 10 minutes later Norfolk were undone by the same through ball for Bedfordshire's pacey striker to score her second of the game from the top of penalty area. With Norfolk now on the back foot and chasing the game after their dismal start, they soon found themselves further behind after a break on the left created a chance for a Bedfordshire midfielder to round Emma Fletcher in the Norfolk goal to head in at half time 3 – 0 down.
After strong and searching words from Norfolk’s Management team, Norfolk went searching for an early response, by changing personnel and their tactics. Half time substitute Nicola Bray, provided pace and height into the forward line and Jenna Thurtle provided experience on the right hand side of midfield.
These changes had an influence on the game forcing Bedfordshire backwards and creating chances for Bray, Farman, Lambert and Lown. Sophie Fuller came on for Farman and showed good touches and strength in the middle of the park.
A more pleasing second half display that saw Norfolk as the better side for much of the half and this bodes well for the next match.