Ebbsfleet 2, Norwich City Ladies 0Norwich City Ladies were brought down with a bump, suffering only their second league defeat of the season away to basement side Ebbsfleet.

Ebbsfleet 2, Norwich City Ladies 0

Norwich City Ladies were brought down with a bump, suffering only their second league defeat of the season away to basement side Ebbsfleet.

This result sees the Canaries needing a miracle to win the SE Combination League.

City face a busy Easter schedule which begins with a home game against Enfield on Good Friday, (1pm kick off), followed by Tottenham at home Easter Sunday (1pm) then on Wednesday they face Cambridge Women under floodlights also at home (8pm).

These three games will have a huge say on whether City can fight for second place.

Co-manager Emma Fletcher said after the Ebbsfleet game: “It's never nice to lose a game especially one like today. On paper we should have come away with all three points.

“But that just proves that in this league every game is a tough one. You have to perform to your maximum whatever the opposition.

“The girls are bitterly disappointed with the way they played and they will need to pick themselves up as quick as possible ready for their next game.

“Good Friday's game against Enfield is a great opportunity for us to get back on the winning trail. We will want to get something from that game as they are one of the teams that are fighting for second spot.”

The Canaries were lacking their normal fight and Ebbsfleet, with nothing more to play for in the league, wanted to finish their season on a high.

In the first half city were being tested in all areas and Ebbsfleet were playing some decent football.

The first goal came from Ebbsfleet from a cross that was not cleared by City.

Norwich then came to life and within five minutes of conceding would have equalised, but somehow Chelsea Garrett's fiercely-struck shot was well saved by the keeper and although it was parried it looped up in the air and back into the keeper's arms.

The second half saw City throwing everything at Ebbsfleet to get themselves back in the game.

A string of corners from City very nearly resulted in the equaliser but Kate Parson's header agonisingly hit a post, and really summed up the afternoon.

Ebbsfleet killed the game off and any chances of City's comeback with it.

Special mention must go to new signing Adele McCrory who made her Combination debut. Adele is one of the players who have progressed from the Norwich City Girls' Centre of Excellence programme.