Norwich City Women closed the gap at the top of the FAWNL South East with an emphatic victory over Actonians at The Nest on Sunday, January 28.
A beaming January sun set the stage at The Nest, but a cagey first-half display from both sides suggested a difficult afternoon was in store for the Canaries.
The visitors started the game with conviction, hitting the Yellows on the fast break at each turnover of possession. Ceri Flye was kept busy but remained unfazed by Actonian attacks early on.
At the other end of the park, Norwich looked to build in the wide areas through Rachel Lawrence and Holly Kennard, who both found Ellie Smith on a number of occasions, but to no avail.
The first big chance of the game came in the 25th minute, as Smith dragged an effort marginally wide of the left post. Smith continued to make herself a thorn in the side of the Actonians back line as the half developed.
Just four minutes later, the breakthrough would come. Kennard, who tested blue shirts with several dangerous corners throughout the game, found the head of Smith on 29 minutes, who would gratefully nod home at the near post for the opener.
In the closing stages of the half, both ‘keepers would have their gloves tested by free kicks. First Alice Parker saw a good effort palmed away by Amber Taylor before Sarah Quantrill matched her counterpart with an equally impressive stop that looked destined for the top corner four minutes before the break.
Norwich knew they had more to offer in the second half and looked to showcase this right out of the gate.
In the 49th minute, Kennard had a good shot denied by Taylor before Natasha Snelling’s rebound went agonisingly close to a second but was wide of the mark.
City’s leading scorer wouldn’t dwell for too long as fewer than 60 seconds later Snelling would fire home for Norwich’s second.
Home nerves were eased only briefly as no more than two minutes later, the visitors clawed one back to cut the deficit in half.
The flurry hadn't finished; in the 56th minute, Snelling found herself in another dangerous position through some great movement. The ball was set back on the left side of the area and without a moment of hesitation, she curled a brilliant first-time effort beyond a helpless Taylor and into the far corner to make it 3-1.
After a moment to breathe, Martin Herdman was allowed to make a few changes, bringing on Lauren Hailes, Freya Symonds, and Anna Larkins for some fresh legs as Norwich looked to kick on.
In the 72nd minute, Snelling looked certain to complete her hat-trick, before being brought down by the Actonians goalkeeper. Norwich’s penalty prodigy Hope Strauss stepped up to the spot-kick and calmly sent Taylor the wrong way to make it four.
With just over 10 minutes to play, Snelling had a second chance to complete her trio of goals and this time there was no denying her. Kennard turned provider again looping a lovely cross to the back post for Snelling to side-foot home a perfectly-placed volley.
As the game approached its conclusion, Norwich continued to push for one more, and it could have been a fourth for Snelling late on if not for the denial from the crossbar to ensure the 5-1 final score.
Norwich will return to league action on Sunday, February 4, when they travel to London Seaward to play the rearranged fixture.
Norwich City Women: Quantrill, Parker, Flye (Croft 81), Daviss (Larkins 70), Smith (Symonds 65), Snelling, Knights (Hailes 59), Morran, Lawrence (Cook 79), Strauss, Kennard
Goals: Smith (29), Snelling (50, 56, 78), Strauss (73)
Actonians: Taylor, Bramwell, Meade, Farah Luboya, Graham, O’Reilly, Netshova, Barrela, St Clair, Williamson, Shakes
Subs: Mohamed, Clement, Dredge
Attendance: 364