Norwich City Women fell to a 4-0 defeat against Tier 3 opposition Watford Women in a pre-season friendly at the Avant Training Centre on Sunday afternoon.
It was a tough test straight from the whistle, with City required to be on the defensive in the early stages of the game.
Andy Cook's side reacted to the first-half blow of conceding four with a controlled second 45 minutes but lacked the killer touch in front of goal that the visitors had shown.
Sarah Quantrill was forced into action early on, punching away an effort on the edge of the area from Watford's Annie Rossiter.
The City stopper made another diving save shortly after, keeping the scores level early on in the game.
A header going goalward was then cleared by Freya Symonds off the line with six minutes played.
The first promising attack of the half for the Canaries came through Issy Moore, who battled on the left wing to slot a ball to Poppy Francis waiting on the edge of the area, only for her cross to be collected by a Watford shirt.
Watford then took the lead on the 20-minute mark, Coral Haines initially taking a shot that rattled the crossbar and Isabella Fisher getting the follow-up to eventually evade Quantrill and put the visitors in front.
Two minutes later, the midfielder had doubled their lead and her tally, rolling a shot into the back of the net for Watford's second.
Norwich had the chance to pull one back after Moore squared a ball across the goal but Olivia Cook was just out of reach to tap it into the back of the net.
With 15 minutes to play before the half-time whistle, Watford had their third through Madison Perry and with one minute left on the clock they netted their fourth from a deflected Megan Chandler free-kick.
A great interception deep into Watford's half from Lara Densley allowed Symonds to get a shot off, the Hornets' goalkpeeer initially spilling the effort, then collecting to relieve the danger.
After a flurry of Watford substitutions, City took advantage of the change in the visitors' shape, Snelling managing to land an effort on the roof of the net with 67 minutes played.
Substitute Holly Kennard created a good passage of play, making a run down the left and crossing into the box, the deflected effort landing at Sienna Booty's feet who fired just high.
A corner from Kennard fell to Hope Strauss, whose effort was narrowly over the bar from inside the box.
Evie Williams had the final chance for the Canaries with a free-kick just, but the Hornets' stopper was there to collect.
City's final pre-season fixture before the 2025/26 Division One South East season begins takes place behind closed doors on Sunday, August 10, against Moneyfields.
Norwich City: Quantrill; Daviss, Flye, Riglar (Williams 39), Francis (Bishop 60); King, Booty, Symonds (Kennard 60); Cook (Hailes 60), Moore (Strauss ht), Densley (Snelling 60).
Unused subs: Mears.
Watford: Trialist A, Garrad, Meiwald, Perry, Rossiter, Fisher, Georgiou, Chandler (C), Wilson, Kendall, Haines.
Goals: Fisher (20, 22), Perry (37), Chandler (44).
HT: 0-4
FT: 0-4
Venue: Avant Training Centre
Referee: Alice Parker