Norwich City Women claimed all three points at The Nest and extended their league run to eight games unbeaten, edging out Ashford Town 4-2 in a six-goal league thriller.
Despite the three-goal lead at half-time, it took the Canaries 40 minutes to find the back of the net, after much control of the first 45.
Martin Herdman had made five changes from the cup fixture against London Bees last week, bringing back Natasha Snelling, Eloise Morran, Katie Knights, Alice Parker and Rachel Lawrence to the starting line-up.
Snelling returned comfortably to her usual threatening position in the box, as she had the first shot of the half inside five minutes, but couldn't find enough power.
Parker, who was playing slightly higher up on the right, was feeling brave and had the most promising chance of the opening 20, with an effort that smashed the bar from distance.
The visitors were lucky to keep it 0-0 shortly after, as a looping ball going goalwards from an orange shirt was not collected by Vigolo in goal and Town were unable to clear from Lawrence who pounced, but her ball in was blocked.
This followed with an attacking spell from the Tangerines, who put the back line under pressure, but nothing came from any forward balls and an eventual offside was given.
Then came Norwich's goal-spree as Snelling's low shot went through the hands of Emma Vigolo and into the back of the net to make it 1-0 with five minutes to go in the first half.
It then became the Alice Parker show, as she made a drive down the right and was given space to shoot from distance, finding the bottom corner to make it two in injury time.
Two minutes later and she made it three as she replicated her Carrow Road goal from a free-kick, finding the top corner in the third minute of injury time.
There were shouts for a penalty early in the second half as Ceri Flye went down in Town's box but the referee gave her a yellow card for a dive.
Lawrence looked keen to get her name on the scoresheet as she had three chances in the space of five minutes, but she couldn't find the target or beat the keeper.
Parker was also keen to extend the gap as she shot from distance twice but couldn't find the accuracy of the first half.
Todd had a header denied from close-range before Knights looked to put the game to bed with Norwich's fourth. The number 16 made a drive down the left and with nine minutes of normal time to go, slotted home into the back of the net.
The Canaries relaxed a little too much and Ashley Cheatley punished them with three minutes to go, beating Sarah Quantrill in goal.
Just four minutes later and Ashford made it 4-2, netting from a free-kick.
It was a nervous finish for Norwich, but they held their ground in the final injury time minutes and it remained 4-2.
The Canaries are back at home next week in round one of the FA Cup against Hashtag United.
Norwich City: Quantrill, Parker (Stanley 75), Flye, Strauss, Larkins, Tomlinson, Knights (Daviss 84), Lawrence (Shaw 64), Morran, Todd (Harper 84), Snelling (Symonds 57)
Goals: Snelling (45), Parker (45+1, 45+3), Knights (81)
Bookings: Flye (47)
Ashford Town: Vigolo, Leys, Duncan, Kinnane, Durn (Riley 18), Down, Johnson, Bishop, Moore (Constantine 60), O'Callaghan (Cheatly 53), Hoesli-Atkins
Goals: Cheatly (87), Constantine (90+1)
HT: 3-0
FT: 4-2
Venue: The Nest
Attendance: 340