Norwich City Women left it late to earn a point against a robust AFC Wimbledon side at The Nest on Sunday, January 22.
It was a quiet and cagey first 15 minutes of the game, with both sides enjoying limited chances at goal.
Stand-in goalkeeper Jess Harper looked cool as she had her abilities tested throughout the first half, bravely competing for crosses, and calmly collecting a barrage of long-range efforts.
The Canaries' first real chance of the game came in the 20th minute. Parker flew down the left before finding Ellie Smith. Smith looked up and set Kathryn Stanley through on goal, but she was under too much pressure to get a real shot away.
Just as the game was creeping towards an even interval, Wimbledon broke the deadlock with a back-post header on the stroke of half-time via Hannah Billingham.
On the hour mark, Wimbledon would have doubled their lead if not for an unbelievable goal-line clearance from the skipper, Anna Larkins.
Six minutes later and they had another chance to seal the three points. The away side found themselves in a two-on-two break after a stray pass, but Hincks’ first-time effort was straight at Harper.
The Dons would end up ruing these missed opportunities as they found themselves well under the cosh with a minute to play. Symonds danced down the left wing, squared up her opponent and whipped in a sublime ball to the far post. Megan Todd headed it back across goal for Snelling to poke home.
This got the 330 attendees absolutely roaring and this resonated with the players. Seconds later, the ball was back across the face of goal, but Megan Todd was left agonising as she failed to get a clean connection with her effort.
Despite the late Norwich bombardment, the points were shared. Norwich will return to league action again on Sunday, January 29, when they travel to London to play London Seaward.
Norwich City: Harper, Johnston (Croft 78), Parker, Larkins, Todd, Smith, Snelling, Stanley (Symonds 59), Knights, Flye, Morran
Subs not used: Russell, Gooding, Cook
AFC Wimbledon: Baker, Russell, Brooks, Highman, Billingham, Mann, Stow, Donovan (Taylor 83), Plewa (Newman 75), Hincks, Dorey (Siber 69)
Subs not used: Sampson, Bath
HT: 0-1
FT: 1-1