Norwich City Women claimed an impressive win on home soil against Chesham United on Sunday, April 2, coming out 3-0 winners in their final game at The Nest this season.
Clinical finishing and a dominant defensive display helped Shaun Howes’ side to an important three points in the FAWNL Division One South East.
It was a typically tenacious start for the Canaries who piled early pressure on the Chesham goal, with the visiting side being forced into conceding possession on numerous occasions, thanks to the relentless press from the home team.
The away side had dangerous moments on the counter and had a good chance in the early stages from a set-piece. A foul on the edge of the box led to Norwich keeper Bryony Williams having to make a fine save down to her right after the well struck Chesham free-kick came flying over the wall.
Winger Ella Gambell was the continuous out ball for the Canaries in the opening 20 minutes and looked dangerous down the right touch line, causing the Chesham defence real issues with her quick feet and short passes.
The waves of Norwich attacks led to Chesham keeper Lucia Delves being forced into several smart saves, denying both Gambell and Ellie Smith from inside the penalty area.
On 13 minutes, the Canaries won a dangerous free-kick of their own right on the edge of the penalty area. Left-back Alice Parker made it evident that the ball was hers to hit and didn’t disappoint, as she curled the ball beautifully round the wall into the bottom corner, past the fingertips of the visitors' keeper.
Initially, Chesham responded well to the early setback and forced a defensive mishap to race through and sting the gloves of Williams.
On 23 minutes, Gambell appeared to be pushed as she was through on goal, but the referee waved play on, much to the dismay of both the City players and bench.
The hosts continued to look dangerous and nearly made it two as Natasha Snelling was found unmarked in the box on 40 minutes and headed just over after an outstanding cross from the left flank, but the home side could only take a 1-0 lead into the break.
The second half began with both teams unchanged and again it was the home side that made the brighter start.
Where perhaps Norwich lacked the clinical edge in the first half, this certainly wasn’t the case after the interval, as Gambell deservedly doubled the Canaries’ lead shortly after the restart. The young winger was picked out superbly by Snelling and made no mistake with the finish, picking out the bottom corner with a low driven strike.
A third goal looked on the cards for the home side and sure enough on the 62-minute mark, City worked the ball well down the right-hand side finding Smith free in the penalty area. She squared the ball to Kathryn Stanley, whose effort rattled the post and into the net off the retreating Chesham defender to make it 3-0.
With the game all but settled, the Canaries could have shifted down a gear, but centre-back Ceri Flye had other ideas, storming down the right flank after a Chesham turnover. The defender evaded two challenges before finding Snelling in the penalty area, who was only denied by an outstanding fingertip save onto the crossbar by Delves.
Chesham’s offensive pressure had somewhat fizzled out following City’s third, but they almost grabbed a consolation goal with 15 minutes to play. A loose City pass allowed Chesham to capitalise, but Williams was quick off her line to thwart Kat Bowers with an outstanding sprawling save.
For Chesham, insult was added to injury when a cynical foul from Doraine Senmani Sani forced the referee to show her a second yellow card, dismissing her with minutes left to play.
This proved to be the final action of the game as the referee blew from the resulting free-kick.
The result sees the Canaries move up to fourth place in the table as they return to action on Wednesday, April 5, when they take on Cambridge City at Ely City FC.
Norwich: Williams, Parker, Larkins (George 75), Smith (Symonds 66), Snelling (Cook 83), Russell, Stanley, Gambell (Williams 83), Flye, Croft (Harper 75), Morran.
Chesham United: Delves, Hull, Walker-Smith, Hetherington (Beloou 68), Bowers, Gladwin (Euman 56), Smith, Bloor (Fryer 71), Makowska, Fraser, Senmani Sani
Subs not used: Delves, Welling
HT: 1-0
FT: 3-0
Attendance: 238
Words by Billy Life