There was heartbreak at The Nest for the second week running as Norwich City were knocked out of the Norfolk FA Harrod Sport Women’s County Cup at the quarter final stage, after losing on penalties to Mulbarton Belles Ladies.
It came as a shock to the Canaries, particularly after they beat their opponents 7-0 in last year’s final.
City started off dominating the game, looking dangerous on every attack, but they couldn’t quite finish the job in the final third. Three shots were fired on target in the first 10 minutes but none strong enough to test the Belles keeper.
Mulbarton then took the lead on 20 minutes Bryony Williams raced out of goal to clear, but was beaten by the Belles player, who looped the ball into an empty net.
However, City responded immediately. Freya Symonds found herself in plenty of space down the left wing as she received a lovely ball from the midfield. She charged towards the box, took her time and netted City’s first.
City continued to press high and looked the more dangerous side when going forward. Rosie George got in on some of the action as she crossed a ball into the box for Kathryn Stanley who was just beaten to the ball by the Blues keeper.
At 33 minutes, City were in front, as George and Stanley linked up again in the box, working their way around their defenders to tap home for the Yellows. Stanley played a one-two with George and beat the keeper with ease from close range.
Mulbarton continued to hold their own, as they refused to let City run the game. They showed no signs of fear as they took every opportunity to shoot outside the box when enough space opened up. Luckily for Williams, their shots just couldn’t quite hit the target.
With one minute to go until half-time, Mulbarton were awarded a penalty as Bishop pulled down a Blues player going for goal. They stepped up to the spot and converted, as Williams went the wrong way.
Bishop almost redeemed herself a minute later, as the ball fell to her on the edge of the box after a scramble from a corner, and she shot just over the bar.
The second half then got underway, and the game was end-to-end to begin with, neither sides managing to break the deadlock.
City made four substitutions in the first 15 minutes, one of whom, Holly Williams, nearly put City ahead as she hit the side netting at her first opportunity.
City started to get frustrated as refereeing decisions weren’t going their way, one of which was a hand ball shout in the box that was waved away.
With seven minutes to go, City came agonisingly close to the winner, as substitute Anna Larkins crossed from the right into the box, beating the Mulbarton keeper. Neither Stanley nor Natasha Snelling in the six-yard box could get on the end of it to tap home into the empty net.
City’s last chance to steal the win came at 88 minutes, as Bishop was brought down on the edge of the box, winning City a free kick. Larkins tapped the ball to Snelling, who fired inches too high of the goal.
The game was then brought to penalties, as no extra time was to be played.
Mulbarton stepped up first, converting from the spot and Symonds followed, netting City’s first.
The second Belles penalty was saved by Williams, only for Larkins to hit the bar straight after.
Neither side missed their next two, as both Chardonnay Johnston and Megan Todd hit the back of the net for the Yellows.
Mulbarton then scored their fifth and it was down to Freya Fuller to keep City in it. The pressure got to her, as she stepped up and fired her penalty wide, meaning City were out of the cup.
Norwich City: Bryony Williams, Megan Todd, Kathryn Stanley(Freya Symonds on again), Rosie George (Natasha Snelling), Katie Lee, Freya Symonds (Holly Williams), Leilah Gooding, Summer Ward (Chardonnay Johnston), Freya Fuller, Ellie Bishop, Jess Harper (Anna Larkins)
Subs not used: Betty Booker
Goals: Symonds (22’), Stanley (33’)
Penalties (in order): Symonds (scored), Larkins (missed), Johnston (scored), Todd (scored), Fuller (missed)