Norwich City Women secured an emphatic 7-0 victory over Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers in the Norfolk Women’s County Cup quarter-final at The Nest.
The Canaries arrived at a wet and windy Nest on Sunday as firm favourites heading into their County Cup clash, but were made to work for their chances for large spells of the first half.
A change in shape saw four wide players, Holly Kennard, Rachel Lawrence, Megan Todd and Ellie Smith, accompanying Natasha Snelling going forward and proving a focal point of attack in the early stages.
Lawrence proved the busiest of the bunch early on, trying her luck from distance on a few occasions and it took only 10 minutes for one to pay dividends. The winger let fly from just outside the penalty area and despite a fingertip from Tula Cole, found the back of the net for the opener.
Her wide-playing counterpart Kennard nearly doubled the lead within a minute of the first but saw her effort rattle off the post.
An early enforced change saw Anna Larkins replace Ceri Flye and with that came a barrage of signature long balls and crosses from the usual right-back, keeping Cole extremely busy between the sticks to deny Snelling, Smith and Lawrence on a number of occasions.
Despite dominating first-half possession Norwich struggled to nail the final ball and settled for sighters for much of the proceedings, taking just a 1-0 lead into the break, though deserving of more.
A response was needed and a response was delivered in the second spell. Cole’s first-half form continued to frustrate the Canaries, making a fine double save from Smith and Todd in the 47th minute.
But just three minutes later, Norwich were finally able to double their advantage through a side-footed finish from Todd, and subsequently breathe a sigh of relief.
The bombardment continued and on the hour mark Norwich hit their groove, scoring two in as many minutes. The first saw Lawrence double her personal tally for the day, tapping in a testing cross at the back post. In the 60th minute, Norwich were awarded a penalty, with Hope Strauss stepping up and sending the ‘keeper the wrong way to make it four.
With the air out of the game, the following half an hour saw comfortable possession from the hosts, occasionally having to nullify a Dussindale and Hellesdon counter.
Then came the second flurry. As the clock struck ninety, Eloise Morran found space in the box, beautifully taking a pass into her stride and firing home for her first in yellow. Less than a minute later it was another first for City as Kennard joined the procession with a fine finish of her own.
Finally, in the seventh minute of added time, Norwich were awarded a second penalty. The outcome was much the same as Strauss scored her second and City’s seventh to secure the victory.
Norwich City Women: Quantrill, Parker, Flye (Larkins 26), Todd (Symonds 56), Smith, Snelling (Shaw 78), Knights (Morran 67), Hailes, Lawrence (Tomlinson 67), Strauss, Kennard
Goals: Lawrence (10, 58), Todd (50), Strauss (61 pen, 90+7 pen), Morran (90+1), Kennard (90+2)
Dussindale and Hellesdon: Cole, Belton, Tink, Humphries, Bussey, Kennett, Barnes, Shipman, Moore, George, Juby
Subs: Bruter, Hutchin, Bell, Gregory, Kowalczyk
Attendance: 367