Haywards Heath Town 1 Norwich City Women 1

Norwich City’s chances of promotion from the Women’s National League Division One South East are all but over after they could manage only a draw away at already-relegated Haywards Heath Town.

City’s first-half performance fell well below their usual high standards, with the hosts more than matching them in terms of physicality. 

The closest the Canaries came to scoring before the break was through Ellie Smith, who sent an effort just wide of Charlotte Greenwood’s right-hand post in stoppage time.

After regrouping at half-time, City began the second half with a better intensity as they sought to break the deadlock. Just beyond the hour mark, captain Anna Larkins delivered a neat cross from the right flank, but Natasha Snelling somehow headed it over the crossbar rather than into the Haywards Heath net.

City did eventually find the breakthrough through Smith, who latched onto Katie Knights’ pass and rolled the ball home confidently in the 72nd minute.

However, the hosts secured an unlikely draw with two minutes of normal time left when Storm Bailey poked past Sarah Quantrill from inside the City box.

Norwich City: Quantrill, Larkins (c), Strauss, Parker, Kennard, Knights, Hailes, Tomlinson, Smith, Lawrence, Snelling. Subs: Flye, Symonds, Morran, Shaw, Pernet.