FA Cup defeat then County Cup win for City Ladies

Norwich City Ladies faced Luton Town for the second time this season but this time it was the turn of the FA Cup.

City started the game strongly and opened the scoring in the 23rd minute following a good move between Anna Larkins, Kyla Love and Gemma Farman, resulting in Love racing through to score.

Norwich only managed to hold on to the lead for a further seven minutes when Luton counter attacked and the Luton striker cut in from left and passed the ball past Fiona Coombes in the City goal. 1-1

City were looking all out of sorts and Luton were not easing up and deservedly in the 35th minute scored their second to take them in to the lead, in a mirror image goal of their first.

Disaster struck again for City when in the 42 minute Luton were awarded a free kick following a foul by Hayley Collison. The resulting kick was hit with perfection, giving Coombes in goal no chance as it looped up and over her outstretched hand for 3-1 to Luton.

With half time fast approaching City put themselves back within distance of Luton and in the 45th minute a Farman corner was met by Kate Parsons as she fired the ball home.

City started the second half brightly and pushed for the equaliser, their pressure looked to pay off when they were awarded a free kick of their own just inside the Luton half. Parsons stepped up and fired the ball towards the Luton goal, much to City’s despair her shot hit the crossbar and was cleared to safety.

On a rare second half attack in the 60th minute Luton increased their lead further, but it was Norwich who gifted it to them when Coombes failed to clear a back pass and the ball fell to Luton striker to hit in to an empty net for Norwich 2, Luton 4.

City threw everything at Luton and looked like they had clawed one goal back when twice the ball looked like it had crossed the Luton goal line. However with the ref waving play on and Norwich creating no further chances Luton saw the game out.

Final Score: Norwich 2, Luton Town 4

Team: Coombes, Larkins, Parsons (45) (c) Gray, Farman, Collison, Love (23), Clark (Newcoombe 85), Stephens, Basson Un used Subs: Fletcher

This weekend City faced their second cup fixture in consecutive weeks welcoming Norfolk Women’s and Girls’ League leaders Colt Jags to Plantation Park for a Women’s County Cup match.

Norwich, as current holders, were hoping to get back to winning ways following three defeats and saw this as a great opportunity as they were facing a team three leagues lower than them. The game also gave them the opportunity to offer a debut to U17 Girls Centre of Excellence captain Grace Parker.

Despite Colt Jags’ defiant attitude City progressed through with goals from Vicki Stephens, Hayley Collison, Anna Larkins and Nadine Basson.

Final score Norwich 4, Colt Jags 0.

Team: Coombes, Diston, Cooper, Gray, Newcombe, Farman, Clark, Larkins (75), Collison (22), Stephens (8), Basson (82). Subs: Parsons, Parker, Love (roll on roll off).