Cambridge United A Norwich City Women A

Norwich City Women’s first match of 2024 was abandoned with seven minutes of normal time left due to a serious injury suffered by a Cambridge United player. 

The Canaries showed few signs of rust following a four-week break from action over Christmas, with Ellie Smith making the most of some poor defending to fire City ahead within the first quarter of an hour.

Smith was the visitors’ standout player in a first half that they dominated for large parts. In the 25th minute, Natasha Snelling doubled City’s advantage after Smith had made a superb tackle on the edge of the Cambridge box.

However, City were only one goal in front heading into half-time, with Cambridge defender Rachel Kosky poking home from close range in the latter stages of the opening period. And the U’s drew level less than four minutes after the interval, with their top scorer Alyssa Stojko-Down heading past Sarah Quantrill.

Hope Strauss then fired City back ahead from the penalty spot, but a suspected broken leg injury sustained by Brooklyn Cheal-Ferris meant that Martin Herdman’s side did not get the opportunity to see the game out.

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