Norwich City Women completed the Cambridge double on Tuesday, prevailing 6-0 against Cambridge City just two days after their road win against Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium.
The Nest hosted its first evening game of 2024 and any hopes of an early spring evening were rapidly foiled by descending darkness and a perpetual drizzle of rain throughout proceedings.
A stark contrast in opponents saw must-win Norwich take on a must-not-lose Cambridge City, with the latter’s plans lasting just minutes before Lauren Tomlinson capitalised onto a second ball from her own throw-in to fire home a venomous left-footed strike.
Though behind, the visitors brought a ruggedness and fight to The Nest leaving no ball or challenge uncontested. However, despite their disruptive demeanour, it was the yellow shirts that would enjoy the greater possession, stringing meaningful moves together with each opportunity.
At the quarter-hour mark, City made it two through a Natasha Snelling touch that navigated through a number of bodies prior to her effort.
Ten minutes on and there was nothing dubious about the gloves of Megan Frary in the Cambridge City goal as the young goalkeeper made a fine, sprawling save to deny a well-hit Alice Parker free-kick.
A couple of half-chances for each side looked set to draw a close to first-half proceedings until Rachel Lawrence fired home with conviction in added time to establish a comfortable 3-0 lead at the whistle.
Fast starts proved the theme of the evening as no more than four minutes into the second half, Lawrence had her second, calmly rounding the ‘keeper and rolling into an empty net.
Five minutes on and Lauren Hailes netted her second goal in City colours with a strike she’ll struggle to top in all her years to come, cannoning in off the left post from distance to make it five after 54 minutes.
The increasing deficit then allowed head coach Scott Emmerson to award some extended minutes to the bench. First substitute Freya Symonds wasted no time in making an impact, impressively looping the ball over a helpless defender and hammering home the sixth for Norwich just 10 minutes after coming on.
Sarah Quantrill remained alert to deny some good efforts from the visitors, whilst Frary displayed some good stops of her own late on, with the tie ending 6-0 to the hosts.
Norwich City Women: Quantrill, Parker, Strauss, Larkins (Pernet 70), Knights, Hailes, Tomlinson, Lawrence (Cook 76), Kennard, Smith (Symonds 55), Snelling (Shaw 60),
Subs not used: Daviss
Goals: Tomlinson (2), Snelling (15), Lawrence (45+1, 49), Hailes (54), Symonds (61)
Cambridge City: Frary, Hubbard, Mullhilvill, Freymore, Fitzpatrick, Marion, Jackson, Martin, Stephenson, Simpson, Wodham
Subs: Struthers, Briffa, Whinney, Whinney, Burling
Attendance: 247