Norwich City suffered a heart-breaking injury time equaliser in a FA Women’s National League Division One South East match with London Seaward.
The Canaries were just seconds away from clinching their first victory since September, in their battle to avoid the drop, but fourth-placed London Seaward scored a late header to get a share of the spoils on Sunday.
The game started off fairly even, with Seaward holding most of the possession, but City looking the bigger threat on the attack.
The Blues managed the first shot of the match, with a ball that floated into the box and was headed just high of the crossbar.
City’s first attempt came at the 11-minute mark, as they were awarded a free kick for a hand ball from 30 yards out. Anna Larkins stepped up to take, looping a ball to
Natasha Snelling, who just clipped it over the bar from close range.
Two minutes later, City were nearly ahead as the Blues stopper had to make a critical save after her own defender fumbled a clearance and headed the ball straight towards goal. The resulting corner was cleared away from goal, but only as far as Snelling on the left wing, who drove forwards into the box and managed to get a cross in, that was collected by Seaward’s keeper.
After 16 minutes, City continued to look dangerous going forward, as Stanley caught the Seaward defence off guard and managed to get a one-on-one with the keeper. She fired a strike on target but was denied by the Blues stopper, who made a brilliant block from close range.
London Seaward then dominated for the next 10 minutes, keeping the City back three on their toes. City were fortunate that a number of Seaward’s goalward runs were flagged for offside, keeping the score line level.
Ellie Bishop made a critical clearance in the 30th minute as the Blues were in a dangerous position on the edge of the box. She managed to beat her player off the ball and cleared it to safety.
City were then able to counter, with a lovely ball from midfield flicked on to Snelling, who was making her way towards goal with speed. She earned herself a one-on-one with the keeper and fired towards goal, her shot beating the Blues stopper but hitting the post with some force.
At the other end, Summer Ward, who had her first start for City this season after recovering from a long-term injury, worked hard down the left wing, regaining possession deep into the Seaward half. She managed a cross into the box, but the Blues keeper was quick to collect.
At 37 minutes, the deadlock was broken, as the visitors bagged the first of the game. Williams was caught off her line and a determined Seaward side went for goal, looping the City stopper and hitting the back of the net.
Williams was forced to make an important save two minutes later, as the Blues got another shot on target, and just one minute later, Leilah Gooding made a crucial clearance in the six-yard box.
As the pressure was mounting on City, seconds before the half-time whistle, Megan Todd had the chance to pull one back for the home side, as she caught the keeper out of place in the box but couldn’t quite hit the target .
At half time, Ward was substituted for Katie Lee, who had also just returned from a long injury.
After 49 minutes, Jodie Drake looked to get in on the action as Daviss linked up nicely with the number six, slotting a ball to Drake in the box who fired just high over the bar.
In the 54th minute, Todd worked hard down the right wing, making a run towards goal and picked out Snelling in the box. The number 10 was unable to connect with the ball, which then fell to Daviss, whose on-target shot was deflected away for a corner.
Todd managed to get her head on the end of this corner, but couldn’t hit the target.
At the 69-minute mark, City lost possession deep into their own half, forcing Williams to charge forward to make a clearance and in doing so, she collided with a blue shirt and both went down, having to receive treatment.
Five minutes later, City pulled one back through Natasha Snelling, after some deep pressing from the home side. Stanley made an excellent run down the left wing into the box, taking a shot which was initially blocked by the keeper, leaving the ball to fall to Snelling, who fired home for Norwich.
City kept pushing forward for the next 10 minutes, desperate to get a second, but they just couldn’t make it happen.
At 85 minutes, City lost possession deep in their own half, earning the Blues a one-on-one with Williams, who stood tall and made a crucial block on the edge of her box, allowing her defence to clear the ball from danger.
Two minutes later, she played a crucial part again in keeping the score at 1-1, as a free kick in a dangerous position on the left wing was fired on target.
With one minute of normal time to play, City had nothing to lose and looked determine to push for one more. Freya Fuller answered City’s prayers as she worked hard on the edge of the box to free herself up some space and fire into the bottom left corner to put City in front for the first time.
City continued to look the stronger side for the remaining five minutes, as they were desperate to hold onto the three points.
In the 95th minute, Seaward had one last attempt to take home anything from the game as they were given a corner for the last kick of the game. It looped the first few players in the box and was headed perfectly into the top right corner, making it all square again.
City looked understandably disappointed, but both teams provided an entertaining, end-to-end battle that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats.
Norwich City: Bryony Williams, Chardonnay Johnston, Anna Larkins, Jodie Drake (Freya Symonds 64’), Millie Daviss, Natasha Snelling, Megan Todd (Freya Fuller 81’), Kathryn Stanley (Jess Harper 90’), Leilah Gooding, Summer Ward (Katie Lee 45’), Ellie Bishop.
Sub not used: Rosie George