The Canaries put on a vintage away display to emerge 5-1 victors over Actonians on Sunday with goals from Megan Todd, Lauren Tomlinson, Katie Knights and Olivia Cook.
Norwich arrived at Rectory Park conscious of their past misfortunes at the ground, but this time around boasted a much better start to the season than their hosts Actonians.
In distinctive fashion, Norwich got off to a lightning start. Ellie Smith created the first real opportunity of the game inside five minutes, teeing up Rachel Lawrence who couldn’t keep the effort down.
Lawrence made amends just two minutes later, aiding a high press to win the ball in a dangerous area, before squaring the ball to a grateful Todd to side-foot home.
In the blink of an eye, the celebrations were cut short as Actonians immediately hit back from the kick-off through Jasmine Williamson.
With the goals out of their system, both sides were able to settle down and attempt to play their respective games, with the visitors in the driving seat for the longer spells.
A handful of chances stemmed from set-pieces for the Canaries, combined with the occasional sighter from distance, but it wasn’t until the interval loomed that Norwich would find another gear.
In the 42nd minute, the travelling faithful were treated to a first Norwich City goal for summer signing Tomlinson. The full-back was out on the right wing to take a signature long throw-in but instead found the ball at her feet. Without a second thought, Tomlinson cut in onto her favoured left side and curled a sublime effort past a helpless Elisa Dogor to restore Norwich’s lead.
Actonians were flustered and Norwich had found their groove, Just moments later, Todd was brought down in the area and would of course assume her role of spot-taker and convert for a third before the break.
The hosts’ composure seemed to have completely drained coming out for the second half, as they looked to physically assert themselves to get a foothold back in the game. Actonians had a first player sin-binned just eight minutes into the second half and Norwich capitalised on the numerical advantage with Knights getting on to the end of a perfectly weighted Natasha Snelling through-ball.
On the hour mark, Actonians would lose a second player to temporary suspension through dissent, compounding the worsening result.
As numbers drew level again shortly after 70 minutes, Actonians created a couple of dangerous opportunities, on one occasion forcing Sarah Quantrill into an exceptional double save.
An array of changes were made by Martin Herdman and again they paid dividends as all doubt was removed in injury time when Cook pounced onto a Todd through-ball before calmly slotting away for five.
Norwich City Women will be on their travels again next weekend when they head to Bournemouth for a League Cup first-round clash.
Actonians: Dogor, Drage, Bramwell, Meade, Clement, Graham, Orozco, D’Santos, Williamson, Ledezma-Viso, Shakes
Subs: Dredge, St Claire, Buckmire, James, Mace
Goals: Williamson (6)
Norwich City Women: Quantrill, Parker, Flye (Larkins 67), Todd, Smith (Daviss 75), Snelling (Cook 75), Knights, Morran, Tomlinson (Shaw 81), Lawrence (Symonds 71), Strauss
Goals: Todd (4, 45+), Tomlinson (42), Knights (55), Cook (90+)
Bookings: Parker (52), Quantrill (90+)
Venue: Rectory Park
HT: 1-3
FT: 1-5