Norwich City Ladies 3, Brentwood Ladies 1

Norwich City Ladies have finished fourth in the South-East Combination - and ended the season on a high with a comprehensive 3-1 win over Brentwood.

It was Emma Fletcher’s last game as manager of the Canaries, and her team won in convincing fashion to sign off in style.

She has been involved with Norwich City Ladies for 15 years and has been instrumental in their growth and success.

Starting in an attacking 4-3-3 formation, Norwich were looking to win their final game of the season, having already secured fourth place in the league.

Their opponents travelled with 12 players to face Norwich. When these two teams met earlier in the season, City played 75 minutes with nine players after two early injuries, but managed to draw the game 1-1.

This time round, Norwich were too strong with a full-strength squad and started the game brightly, passing the ball well and building some early attacks. Within 60 seconds, Anna Larkins called the Brentwood goalkeeper into action.

Soon after, a Larkins corner was met by the head of Nadine Basson, but her header was claimed well by the keeper.

There was an early opportunity for Brentwood, too, and Lucy Faraday fired wide in the sixth minute. However, Norwich capitalised on their fine start with their next attack as skipper Kate Parsons was afforded the space to stroll through the midfield and steer a precise finish into the bottom right-hand corner of the net from 22 yards out.

On 36 minutes, Brentwood went forward in numbers and a dipping shot flew into the back of the net to equalise.

Norwich went into the half time interval on equal terms, but a few changes to the style of play put Brentwood on the back foot early in the second half. Only four minutes into the second half, Vicki Stephens found Nadine Basson who calmly hit the ball into the bottom right corner.

Kyla Love them had a curling effort saved at her near post followed by another save to deny Basson a second of the game. Norwich’s third and the games forth goal was scored by Anna Larkins. She picked the ball up on the right and smashed the shot into the far right hand corner, leaving the goalkeeper no chance.

Brentwood sought an immediate response through Stimson, who appeared set to bear down on Coombes’ goal again, only for central defender Sasha Diston to get across and executive an immaculately-timed tackle. Love then struck the outside of the right-hand post with a delightful curling shot before Prior blocked from Basson with her legs in stoppage time, but there was no change to the 3-1 scoreline.

Norwich City: Fiona Coombes, Leah Newcombe, Kate Parsons, Sasha Diston, Gemma Farman (Naomi Cooper, 62), Kyla Love, Vicki Stephens (Rebecca Gray, 62), Nadine Basson, Anna Larkins, Natalie Clark, Hayley Collison.