Norwich City Women secured a point in dramatic fashion on Sunday, scoring twice in injury time to deny Wimbledon victory on their home turf.
Wimbledon welcomed the Canaries to Carshalton Athletic Stadium in fierce form, going faultless in the FAWNL South East since the turn of the year.
The undefeated Canaries arrived off the back of draws in their previous two matches, looking to go one better this time out.
As expected, the hosts started on the front foot, looking to command the game and dominate possession.
Norwich contained them to little in the opening 10 minutes. It would take until the 17th minute for Sarah Quantrill’s gloves to be tested for the first time, with two goal-saving stops in quick succession.
Norwich’s chances were few and far between in the first half, the best arriving on the 20-minute mark as Ellie Smith glanced a header wide of the left post.
Just a minute later, the hosts had the opener. A good bit of build-up play amounted to a brilliant final ball, but a Norwich intervention would turn the ball goal-bound and beyond a helpless Quantrill to make it 1-0.
There was little notable action following the goal as a handful of Norwich counter-attacks amounted to nothing clear-cut, but demonstrated a sign of things to come.
The half looked destined for a one-goal deficit at the break, but the hosts had other ideas. Some good movement and build-up allowed league-leading scorer Ashlee Hincks too much space in the box to double the Dons’ lead before the break.
The theme of the first half remained consistent coming out for the second, with Quantrill shining, saving a number of good efforts before the hour mark.
Then came the City changes and with the changes an injection of energy, catalysed by Holly Kennard. Suddenly the closing 20 minutes of proceedings became waves of yellow and green attacks, but the Dons remained defensively sound.
As all looked to be too little too late, City were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous area. Substitute Freya Symonds whipped a vicious cross into the front post for fellow replacement Kennard to contort and redirect the ball beyond Lauren Allen to make it 2-1 in the 90th minute.
City sensed an opportunity and reacted to the goal by withdrawing centre-half Hope Strauss for centre-forward Shannon Shaw in a bid to draw level.
Three minutes later the change paid dividends. Shaw rose highest to meet a well-placed corner-kick to head home a dagger to the Dons in the 93rd minute of play.
All looked over, but one last Wimbledon attack in the 97th minute could only amount to a rattling Norwich City crossbar before the referee’s whistle drew a close to the frantic final 10 minutes.
The result ensures City’s unbeaten streak remains intact with six league fixtures remaining. Their next outing comes in the form of a visit to Cambridge United’s Abbey Stadium on April 7.
AFC Wimbledon: Allen, Russell, Highman, Ali, Hincks, Mackenzie, Grant, Donovan, Billingham, Dorey, Goddard
Subs: Baker, Brooks, Mann, Marting, Bazon
Goals: Own goal, Hincks
Norwich City Women: Quantrill, Parker, Flye, Smith (Hailes 82), Snelling, Larkins (Kennard 55), Knights, Morran, Tomlinson (Symonds 80), Lawrence, Strauss (Shaw 90)
Subs not used: Pernet
Goals: Kennard (90), Shaw (90+3)
Cards: Knights
Attendance: 625