Norwich City exited the Vitality Women’s FA Cup at the second-round stage after they were beaten by Stoke City Ladies.
Stoke who play in the FA Women’s National League North, the division above Norwich, were 3-0 up at half-time but the Canaries battled back into the match in the second half before conceding two late goals to lose 5-1.
The opening goal came when Rosin Kivel latched onto a well-weighted pass to slot a shot past Bryony Williams and just inside the post from 12 yards out.
Freya Symonds responded with a shot over from 30 yards out before Stoke doubled their lead on 20 minutes when, following a half-cleared corner, the ball was crossed in for Alison Hall to head home.
Symonds then almost teed up Megan Todd, who was inches away from connecting with her cross to the back post. However, at half-time the Canaries had a mountain to claim as, unable to clear a free-kick into the area the ball fell to Naomi Bedeau and she struck a half volley past Williams from the edge of the six yard box.
Stoke began the second half strongly as well hitting an effort against the crossbar before Jess Harper had to come to Norwich’s rescue by clearing another goalbound effort off the line.
However, City then got back into the game when Symonds picked up a loose ball 35 yards out and lofted a good shot over Stoke keeper Callan Barber.
Moments later and it could have been 3-2 but unfortunately, when one-on-one with the keeper, Jodie Drake dragged her shot narrowly wide of the post.
And having had a good spell of possession and territory, Norwich then conceded in the 83 minute when Hall swept home from inside the area, following a good counter attack, to put Stoke back in control.
Substitute Nuala Miskiel then added a fifth deep into stoppage time following a goalmouth scramble.
Speaking about the result, Norwich City Women’s head coach Shaun Howes, said: “I think the result does not tell the complete story of the game and a 5-1 score line is harsh on the players. Stoke were a very well drilled, organised team and punished us in the first half with three well taken goals, and if I’m honest could have had more had it not been for Bryony (Williams), who was excellent again.
“We spoke at half-time about being more aggressive in our press and confident when we had the ball and for long periods of the second half we were the better team, and played some of the best football we have played all season. Freya Symonds scored an excellent goal and we had another great opportunity at 3-1 to score but didn’t take it. Towards the end we had to push on knowing it was a knockout game and Stoke caught us with two late goals.
“Credit to Stoke, they didn’t panic and kept trying to play their game and I think overall probably deserved to win, however had we scored the second goal then I think the game might have been very different.”
*Stoke City: Barber, Bedeau, Bowyer, Hall (Delle, 88), Holder, Hudson, Kivel (Garratt, 80), Knight (Miszkiel, 70), Roberts, Roberts, Steele, Craven.
*Norwich City: Williams, Johnston, Larkins, Drake, Daviss (c) (Gooding, 84), Todd, Stanley (Tate, 80), Symonds, Fuller (George, 75), Bishops, Harper. Subs: Lee, Tate.
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