A first-half goal from Ceri Flye was enough to secure three points in Norwich City Women's final FAWNL Cup group stage fixture as they beat Cambridge United 1-0 on the road.
Although the win left the Canaries second in Group L, following other results from second-placed teams in the competition, City fall just short of a place in the League Cup.
Norwich City will enter the FAWNL Plate competition alongside the remaining 12 runners up and the 20 best third-placed teams.
City spent the opening five minutes of the tie defending inside their own half, successive corners taken by former Canary Lauren Tomlinson unable to find an orange shirt for the opener.
Andy Cook's side had their first chance through Ellie Bishop, the left-back getting a shot at a tight angle in the six-yard box but goalkeeper Zoe Webb was there to stop and collect.
A dangerous attack from the hosts left Jade Bell able to cross the ball across goal for Mollie Couper waiting in the area, but the forward could not extend enough to latch onto the ball flying in.
Lara Densley found herself through on goal following a mistake at the back by United, dragging a shot narrowly wide.
A free header from Evie Williams was then headed over the bar after successive Lauren Hailes corners.
City eventually broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, Sienna Booty doing well to keep an attack alive deep in the hosts' half.
Flye found herself with the ball on the edge of the area after Booty's initial shot was blocked, shooting and finding the bottom left corner to make it 1-0.
Following the goal, Bell had the chance to level things up by her shot was blocked well by Holly Mears, who bravely raced forward off her line.
Some great hold-up play from Eloise Hall allowed Hailes to get a shot on the edge of the box, but she could only send her effort wide of the post.
Cambridge were required to do some more desperate defending, Tomlinson clearing a shot from Densley off the line that had beaten Webb.
More controlled play from City gifted both Issy Moore and Hailes with chances to strike but neither effort could find the target for a second Norwich goal.
The second half had fewer chances in the opening stages, with neither goalkeeper tested much before the hour mark.
Mears was forced to tip a strong strike from United's Shannon Shaw onto the bar, Bell latching onto the rebound but firing wide.
Densley then broke away moments later but Webb was alert to her attack and denied the forward from close-range.
Mia Richards thought she had the all-important equaliser with 20 minutes to play as she managed to hit both posts, the ball somehow not rolling over the line.
With plenty of fresh legs emerging from the bench, City were able to hold onto the clean sheet and pick up three points in the final group stage tie.
The draw for the FAWNL Cup and Plate will take place on Monday, September 29, at 7.15pm, live on the FAWNL Instagram.
Cambridge United: Webb; Miles (Stephenson 87), Rouse, Jackson, Tomlinson; Edgar (Stephenson 75), Wood (C) (Cullum 87), Richards; Shaw (Stojko-Down 63), Couper, Bell.
Unused subs: Shults, Cheal-Ferris, Jarvis, Hjaltun-Rayner.
Bookings: Rouse (82)
Norwich City: Mears; Flye, Strauss (C), Williams; Francis (Kennard 90+1), Moore (Wilson 70), Booty, Bishop, Hailes (Symonds 75); Hall (Snelling 70), Densley (Cook 87).
Unused subs: Quantrill, Daviss, Kennard, Symonds, Cook.
Goals: Flye (13)
Bookings: Bishop (80)
HT: 0-1
FT: 0-1
Venue: St Neots Town Football Club
Referee: Emma Beevor