Norwich City Women soared into the Harrod Sport Women’s Cup final with a resounding 7-0 victory over Mulbarton Wanderers at The Nest.
A refreshingly consistent display from the Norfolk weather brought another dark, damp and drizzly afternoon to The Nest as the semi-final kicked off shortly after 2.30pm.
Mulbarton, a side that troubled the Canaries in last year’s County Cup final, began this fixture with equally high intensity, transitioning from low-block to fast counter-attack well in the opening 10 minutes.
However, in the 13th minute, the persistent pressure from the Canaries would pay dividends through the familiar face of Natasha Snelling. The prolific forward took a lovely touch just inside the box, swivelled onto her right foot, and fired home beautifully into the bottom-left corner to open the scoring.
Just 10 minutes later Snelling was at the double as an Alice Parker diagonal pass found the inside of the penalty area. After a single bounce of the ball, Snelling latched onto it and cheekily lobbed the helpless Mulbarton goalkeeper.
Lauren Tomlinson returned to the starting lineup and came close to a goal of her own in the 27th minute if not for a strong save and a subsequent corner. Skipper Anna Larkins on her usual corner-kick duties stepped up to take and shocked everybody at The Nest, including herself, as her effort whistled past an outstretched glove and into the far corner.
Mulbarton remained positive and continued to string passes and ask questions of Norwich, but the home side continued to attack with potency. In the 35th minute, it was Rachel Lawrence who was denied this time by another good save before the rebound sat perfectly in the path of an oncoming Katie Knights to make it 4-0 at the interval.
A trio of changes at the half saw the introduction of Olivia Cook, Shannon Shaw and Freya Symonds and it was the latter who would make the instant impact. Larkins sent Rachel Lawrence racing away down the right wing with a great pass, followed by an equally impressive first-time cross without a break in stride. Symonds, sensing danger, made the run across goal and gratefully side-footed her volley home for five.
The second half also brought the introduction of a returning Becca Russell and a City debut for summer-signing Felicity Limage, who both looked comfortable in their respective cameos.
The offensive pressure continued and amounted to another Norwich City first as Lauren Hailes coolly slotted home a sixth for the Canaries and her first in yellow and green. Two minutes later Hailes turned provider, finding Shaw at the back-post from a corner to wrap up an impressive set-piece display and a 7-0 victory for the hosts.
The result ensures Norwich will enjoy a second successive Harrod Sports Women’s County Cup final visit in May when they will look to retain the silverware.
Next Sunday, March 24, sees the Canaries return to Carrow Road for the second time this season where they will face QPR in a bid to keep pace at the top of the FAWNL South East.
Norwich City Women: Quantrill, Parker (Cook 46), Snelling (Shaw 46), Larkins (Limage 68), Knights, Hailes, Morran (Symonds 46), Tomlinson (Russell 62), Lawrence, Strauss, Pernet
Goals: Snelling (13,23) Larkins (28) Knights (35) Symonds (53) Hailes (76) Shaw (78)
Mulbarton Wanderers: Todd, A.Smith, O.Smith, Loveland, Belsey, Hedtke, Beksey, Hunter, R.Jermy, Lake, Walker.
Subs: Brown, S.Jermy, Griffith, Edwards, Escreet
HT: 4-0
FT: 7-0
Attendance: 245