City Women held to draw at Haywards Heath

Norwich City Women had to settle for a point as they were held to a 1-1 draw away to Haywards Heath in the FAWNL South East.

Norwich City Women had to settle for a point as they were held to a 1-1 draw away to Haywards Heath in the FAWNL South East.

The Canaries started out as the stronger side, with Rachel Lawrence creating a couple of opportunities in the game's opening stages.

Natasha Snelling would register the game's first real chance, latching onto Lauren Tomlinson's long throw before seeing a volley saved.

Haywards Heath created chances of their own, and saw Storm Bailey fire over Sarah Quantrill's crossbar.

Norwich would have the ball in the back of the net just before the half-hour mark, but Snelling's effort was ruled out for offside.

And just before the break, Norwich's best chance of the first half fell to Ellie Smith. Tomlinson's ball forward eventually fell into Smith's path, with her volley going just wide of the post.

The second half started with more Norwich chances, with Snelling seeing an effort blocked.

Alice Parker fired an effort from long distance, forcing the Haywards Heath goalkeeper into a smart stop.

The opener almost came to Snelling, as she met an Anna Larkins cross, but saw it go over the crossbar.

Eloise Morran was next to threaten for the Canaries, with her effort hitting the top of the crossbar after Snelling's nudged pass.

The pressure did pay off for Norwich, as Smith was played through by Katie Knights. Smith made no mistake as she finished calmly into the bottom corner.

But the points would be shared as Haywards Heath found a late lever, with Bailey netting the equaliser.

The Canaries will look to bounce back to winning ways, as return to action next week against AFC Sudbury at The Nest.

Haywards Heath Women: Greenwood, Young, Franklin, Cole, Fisher (Reid 68), Bailey, Garcia, Curran, Harney, Bagnall, Kabadaki (Staple 90+2).

Unused subs: Lambert, German.

Goals: Bailey (88)

Norwich City Women: Quantrill, Parker (Shaw 85), Smith, Snelling, Larkins, Knights, Hailes (Morran 60), Tomlinson (Flye 50), Lawrence (Symonds 60), Strauss, Kennard.

Unused sub: Pernet.

Goals: Smith (72)